all hallow’s eve

Happy Halloween ghoulfriends!

I cannot believe how fast it has snuck up on us this year, I actually feel like Fiona Goode crashing out right now that it’s only one last night of spooky season. Crashout incoming. Sadly, life has been so crazy busy that the vibes did not hit as hard for spooky season, I could cry. November is still just as spooky, though. My costumes this year were Cleo de Nile from Monster High and Aphrodite, the goddess of love. We’re going solely mediterranean this year, to match my roots lol. But, Cleo de Nile was certainly not beguile last night, that’s for sure.

Halloween is traditionally celebrated on October 31st, the evening before All Saints' Day, believed to be when the veil between the human and spiritual world is at its thinnest. Its name comes from the phrase All Hallows' Eve, meaning the evening before All Hallows' Day. However, the holiday's history also connects to older seasonal traditions, particularly Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the transition from the harvest season into the darker half of the year, which has been mentioned in ACOTAR as I am reading it right now eek. Samhain was associated with the changing seasons and beliefs about the dead and the supernatural. Over centuries, different cultural and religious traditions influenced one another, eventually helping shape the Halloween we recognize today. The idea that the boundary between the living and the dead becomes thinner around this time has remained one of the holiday's most fascinating associations. And honestly, what is Halloween without a little mystery?

Speaking of traditions, have you ever wondered why we carve pumpkins, wear costumes, and go knocking on strangers' doors asking for candy? Beyond just being sweet tooths and in my case, eating 30 chocolates in one sitting because I’m a pig? As much as I love a good excuse to dress up, these customs have surprisingly interesting histories. In Ireland and Scotland, people carved turnips into lanterns, sometimes using them in folk traditions associated with spirits and supernatural beings. When these customs travelled to North America, pumpkins became a popular alternative because they were larger and easier to carve, the plump pump.

Dressing up also has historical connections to seasonal customs involving disguises and beliefs about spirits, while the modern tradition of trick-or-treating developed through a mixture of community customs and twentieth-century Halloween celebrations. What began as a holiday shaped by folklore, religion, and seasonal change eventually became the perfect excuse for children and adults alike to embrace their creativity, collect treats, and dress up as literally anything they can imagine. While as a kid it was something cute, like a cow, bob the builder, a Disney princess, or maybe even a cute little pumpkin, now the ideas are slutty nurse, Disney princess (all grown up), or as Mean Girls said best, “The hardcore girls just wear lingerie and some form of animal ears.” Trick or treating turned into getting obliterally drunk and sorting out your candy became shoving it in your mouth without so much of a second glance. Or maybe that’s just me?

Without further ado, it is time for a QUIZ. What kind of Halloween creature are you? Take till the end to find out …. and if you get the same amount of letters then there will be an opportunity for you to figure out based off your personality shortly after, or just be a hybrid creature, ghostvamp or zombiewolf. Now, ghoulfriends, I will shut up so we can find out which Halloween creature you really are!

WHAT HALLOWEEN CREATURE ARE YOU?

It's Friday night. Where are we finding you?
A. At home, lighting candles, listening to music, and romanticizing my life.
B. Out looking fabulous. I didn't spend two hours getting ready to stay home.
C. Out with my friends, causing a little chaos. Someone has to keep the energy alive!
D. Rotting in bed, watching the same show for the fifteenth time.
E. I said I'd come, but I've mysteriously disappeared without saying goodbye.
F. Asleep. Don't call me unless it's an emergency.
Pick your dream aesthetic.
A. Dark academia, black cats, antique books, and a cottage in the woods.
B. Gothic glamour, red lipstick, lace, and expensive-looking jewellery.
C. Wild, leather jackets, messy hair, and a little bit of attitude.
D. Oversized hoodies, messy buns, and looking unbothered.
E. Ethereal, angelic, sheer fabrics, silver jewellery, and a touch of mystery.
F. Like royalty; gold accessories, dramatic eyeliner, and lux fabrics and brands.
3. What's your biggest personality trait?
A. Intuitive. I can sense when something is off before anyone else.
B. Magnetic. People remember me, whether I want them to or not.
C. Protective. Mess with my friends and find out.
D. Tired. Just permanently tired.
E. Elusive. I'm either everyone's favourite person or nowhere to be found.
F. Patient. I take my time with everything.
4. Choose your Halloween activity.
A. Visiting a psychic, reading tarot cards, or making mysterious little potions.
B. Exploring a haunted castle in the most gorgeous outfit imaginable.
C. Going to a Halloween party and dancing.
D. Watching horror movies while eating an unreasonable amount of candy.
E. Exploring an abandoned mansion and taking spooky pictures.
F. Visiting an ancient tomb or dressing up like royalty.
5. What's your biggest red flag?
A. I overthink everything and trust my intuition a little too much.
B. I'm dramatic, stubborn, and occasionally convinced the world revolves around me.
C. I get defensive quickly, especially when someone I love is involved.
D. I procrastinate until my entire life becomes one big emergency.
E. I disappear when things get overwhelming and forget to explain myself.
F. I love comfort a little too much and will avoid inconvenience at all costs.
6. Choose your supernatural power.
A. Spellcasting and seeing glimpses of the future.
B. Immortality, hypnotic charm, and superhuman beauty.
C. Super strength, heightened senses, and incredible speed.
D. Being impossible to kill and having absolutely no sense of urgency.
E. Invisibility, floating, and walking through walls.
F. Ancient knowledge, protective curses, and eternal preservation.
7. Your friends would describe you as...
A. The wise one who always seems to know something everyone else doesn't.
B. The glamorous one who makes every occasion feel like an event.
C. The fiercely loyal one who brings everyone together.
D. The funny one who is barely functioning but keeps everyone entertained.
E. The mysterious one who is hard to reach but impossible to forget.
F. The comfort-loving one who always has snacks, blankets, or a place to relax.
8. Pick your ideal Halloween colour palette.
A. Black, dark green, and deep purple.
B. Blood red, black, and hot pink.
C. Charcoal grey, lavender, and silver.
D. Acid green, neon purple, and bright fuschia.
E. White, pale blue, and ghostly silver.
F. Gold, ivory, and sandy beige.
9. Choose your biggest weakness.
A. Curiosity. I need to know everyone's secrets.
B. Temptation. If it's beautiful, mysterious, or forbidden, I'm interested.
C. My temper. Sometimes I react before I think.
D. Motivation. I'll do it tomorrow. Probably.
E. Attachment. I care deeply, even when I pretend I don't.
F. Change. If my routine works, why would I mess with it?
10. Finally, choose your dream Halloween home.
A. A witch's cottage filled with plants, spell books, and black cats.
B. A luxurious gothic castle with velvet curtains and a grand staircase.
C. A secluded cabin surrounded by forests and mountains.
D. A spooky old laboratory filled with strange experiments.
E. A beautiful abandoned mansion that only appears at midnight.
F. An ancient palace filled with gold, treasures, and endless sleeping quarters.

THE ANSWERS

Mostly A’s: The Witch - You're intuitive, curious, and a little mysterious. You love a cozy atmosphere, have a soft spot for the unusual, and probably romanticize things other people wouldn't even notice. Your energy says black cats, rainy afternoons, and knowing everyone's secrets before they do.

Mostly B’s: The Vampire - You're glamorous, magnetic, and just a little dramatic. You appreciate the finer things in life and know that confidence is an accessory you should never leave home without. You're the main character walking into the room, and everyone knows it.

Mostly C’s: The Werewolf - You're fiercely loyal, energetic, and protective of your people. You have a wild side that can't always be tamed, and you're not afraid to stand up for what you believe in. Your friends know they can count on you, even if your temper occasionally gets the better of you.

Mostly D’s: The Zombie - You're effortlessly funny, relatable, and operating on 2% battery at all times. You're the CEO of procrastinators who somehow makes chaos look like a lifestyle. Your motto? If you can't fix it, take a nap.

Mostly E’s: The Ghost - You're mysterious, independent, and a little difficult to pin down. You value your personal space, love a little drama from a safe distance, and have perfected the art of disappearing when the vibes are off. You're unforgettable, even when you're nowhere to be found.

Mostly F’s: The Mummy - You're comfort-loving, elegant, and perfectly content doing things at your own pace. You appreciate your routines, enjoy the finer comforts in life, and believe that rest is an art form. You might take a thousand years to get ready, but you'll look fabulous when you finally emerge, despite how annoyed it might make others.

Of course, we cannot talk about Halloween without talking about the creatures that have made it so iconic. Witches, black cats, vampires, ghosts, and werewolves have become practically inseparable from spooky season. But these figures did not all originate from Halloween itself. Many come from folklore, religious beliefs, and stories that existed long before the holiday took its modern form. While I do have two whole articles on these two which you need to go read before the clock strikes 12, witches and vampires are always the easiest to explain lol. Witches have been portrayed throughout history in vastly different ways, from frightening figures associated with supernatural powers to wise women connected with healing, herbs, and folk traditions. Today, the image of the witch has been reimagined in so many different ways, from the mysterious spellcaster living in a cottage in the woods to the glamorous, fashionable witch we see in films and television. Literally Misty Day versus Fiona Goode. Somewhere between the black cats, pointy hats, and bubbling cauldrons, the witch became one of Halloween's most recognizable symbols and thank goodness for that.

And what about vampires? Oh, my favourite little bloodsuckers! Vampire folklore has existed in different forms across cultures for centuries, often reflecting fears surrounding death, disease, and the unknown because our past civilizations were such big scaredy cats. However, the vampires we obsess over today have evolved considerably from the frightening creatures of traditional legends. Bram Stoker's Dracula helped establish the iconic gothic vampire in popular literature, while later books, movies, and television shows transformed these creatures into everything from terrifying villains to romantic heartthrobs. Think Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and, of course, our beloved Monster High. One minute, vampires are sinister beings lurking in dark castles, and the next, they're sparkling in the sunlight or wearing pink and black while refusing to drink blood. Honestly, what a time to be alive! If you're curious about how differently vampires have been portrayed, I have plenty to say about that, because apparently, even the undead cannot agree on a dress code.

Beyond witches and vampires, Halloween has given us an entire supernatural wardrobe of creatures to obsess over, the more you dig, the more gold you find. Werewolves represent the transformation from human to beast, ghosts connect us to stories about spirits returning from the dead, and zombies have become staples of modern horror. Mummies, meanwhile, draw on ancient Egyptian burial practices and the fascination with death, preservation, and the afterlife, although the frightening, resurrected mummy familiar from horror films is largely a product of modern storytelling. Over time, literature, cinema, and television have taken these creatures and reinvented them for new audiences. They can be terrifying, funny, misunderstood, or even fashionable. This is probably one of the reasons Halloween continues to be so much fun: there is no single way to interpret the supernatural, and everyone gets to choose their favourite little corner of the spooky universe, my own favourite being the witch woo woo.

The Creature’s Starter Pack

I did this for the medieval times post, where I provided a starter pack and my friend used both as a semi-quiz if you get what I mean, so do as you please. It only adds a bit more fun to do so and really ties into the costume aspect of Halloween!

The Witch

Undiagnosed cat whisperer.
Mud pie and potion maker as a child.
An obsessive need for more candles and crystals, despite having 100 at home.
Romanticizer for rainy and gloomy days.
The intuition never lies!
Moon-worshiper, with 1000 pics in your camera roll.
The coolest style, a mix of everything.
Master manifester …

The Vampire

A night owl by genetic nature, ofc.
Medium rare steak lover.
Dramatic entrance, always.
Emotionally attached to the color red.
The best style in the game, black lace galore.
Obsession with fictional men.
A bit of an over thinker and yearner.
Red flag romanticizer.

The Werewolf

The alpha of your pack.
The Queen of feeling hangry.
Full moons make you go crazy, your hair usually takes the brunt of it.
Wayyyyy too much energy in the middle of the night.
Protective over family and friends a little too much.
A lot of bark and no bite.
Grungy style with lots of leather, metal, and fur.
Loves dance music, soft spot for heavy metal.

The Zombie

Bed rotter, day in and day out.
Netflix obsession.
Master of dissociation.
Energy drink lover.
Always always tired, 24/7.
Lover of messy buns and oversized clothes.
Attempts many hobbies but ditches them after 3 days.
Eclectic and fun style, bright color obsessor.

The Ghost

CEO of irish goodbyes.
Physically present, mentally absent.
Takes awhile to answer texts.
Soft yet angelic in style and personality.
Loves supernatural and paranormal stories.
Disappears for 3 business months at a time.
A bunch of social media accounts, dropped and active.
Vintage clothes and jewelry lover.

The Mummy

An unhealthy desire for sleep.
Takes about 400 years to get ready.
Very extensive hair and skin care routines.
CEO of being fashionably late.
An attachment to their ‘crypt.’
A bit high maintenance.
The most glamorous person you know.
Gold-jewelry and bold makeup lover.

I noticed recently how I never share my quiz results on this blog? I am quite forgetful, but I got a witchpire TWICE. Too spooky for this world.

And speaking of fashionable monsters, can we take a moment to appreciate how Monster High changed the game? Monster High was my THING growing up and I am not ashamed to admit that the movies are my guilty pleasure every now and then. Growing up, we were introduced to characters who were not simply ordinary teenagers but the daughters of famous monsters, each with their own personality, aesthetic, and supernatural quirks, which made them SO lovable AND iconic. Draculaura was the cutest vegetarian vampire, Clawdeen Wolf was a confident werewolf with a love for fashion, Frankie Stein was the incredibly new to life and school girl as Frankenstein's daughter, and Cleo de Nile brought ancient diva hood and glamour into the mix. For a holiday traditionally associated with frightening the living daylights out of people, Halloween has also become a celebration of individuality, creativity, and self-expression, which I LOVE, it is truly so cool to see everyone bring out their creativity. Whether you're dressing up as a terrifying creature or your favourite fictional character, it's an opportunity to experiment with a version of yourself you might not get to express every other day of the year and that is what so special about it.

Personally, I think this is what makes Halloween so special. It combines history, folklore, fashion, nostalgia, and just the right amount of darkness, while also making it so incredibly fun. I love how it gives us the chance to decide whether your costume should involve vampire fangs, dramatic eyeliner, or an unreasonable amount of glitter. It's a holiday where the spooky and the beautiful can exist together, and where you can be as theatrical, mysterious, or ridiculous as you want, it’s literally like the broke girl version of the Met Gala. For me, it brings back that childhood excitement of choosing a costume, watching Halloween movies, and imagining a world where monsters might be hiding just around the corner, always under the bed in my head. Growing up does not mean we have to lose that sense of magic and that is the beauty of our 20s.

COSTUME THIS OR THAT

So, whether you're a witch, a vampire, a werewolf, or simply someone who considers October an excuse to wear black for thirty-one consecutive days (like me), I hope you make the most of the season. Light your candles, carve your pumpkins, watch your favourite spooky movies, and, most importantly, have fun with it. After all, Halloween only comes around once a year, and we might as well make it fabulous.

Sadly, hate but am also glad to announce that I am ditching the red background literally as soon as midnight hits, trying to write during the day with a glare on my laptop has been a major eye roll, but it was fun while it lasted, I love a little random switch up, especially when its my favourite color. I may be ghosting you guys for a couple weeks, applications and assignments are a calling! Hopefully everyone has a fun and spooky weekend, I know I’m excited to see all the costumes hehe. I hope these posts have been fun and that those who have been reading have enjoyed, it has been super fun and enjoyable for me to draft these up. Hopefully I can be back soon with some non-spooky posts for you guys, but sadly, Blogoween has come to a close. Boohoo. Only 365 days till next Halloween :(