New to Halloween in Canada? We Have You Covered.
Halloween in Canada is a highly anticipated and widely celebrated festival, occurring on October 31st every year. While not a public holiday, it ranks as the second-largest commercially successful holiday in the country. Canadians of all ages enjoy spooky activities, dressing up in costumes and indulging in sweet treats.
As a newcomer to Canada, especially if you have just moved into a house for rent in Brampton, you may be curious about Halloween. Of course, your children may be more interested in how the festival is celebrated and how they can join the fun.
This article helps you explore Halloween, its traditions and customs and provides practical tips on making the most of this festive occasion.
Table of Content
Decorations and Costumes
Two major traditions account for Halloween’s popularity.
One is the opportunity to unleash your creativity through decorations and costumes. Canadians go all out when transforming their homes into spooky dens. Pumpkins are an essential symbol of Halloween and can be found adorning front porches across the country. Many Canadians take pride in carving intricate designs on their pumpkins, creating eerie faces or elaborate patterns.
Halloween is all about imagination, as kids and adults get into costumes for a day. Traditional choices encompass spooky figures like witches, ghosts, vampires, and skeletons, yet modern Halloween offers many options, from superheroes to animals to pop culture idols.
DIY Costumes
Get creative with a homemade touch. Become a convincing zombie by tearing old clothes, adding makeup for wounds, and splashing on fake blood. Transform into a scarecrow with old jeans, a plaid shirt and a straw hat. Or design your very own superhero persona with colourful clothes, capes, and masks – let your imagination take flight!
Group Costumes
Team up with friends for coordinated costumes. Step into the world of “The Addams Family” as Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, or other beloved characters.
Dress up as the Avengers or journey down the rabbit hole with “Alice in Wonderland” characters – the Queen of Hearts, Alice and the Mad Hatter
Pop Culture-Inspired Costumes
Inspired by Pop culture, you can dress in “Stranger Things” character costumes or cast a spell in Harry Potter-inspired outfits. Join the superhero craze with costumes portraying iconic characters like Spider-Man, Batman, Wonder Woman, or Iron Man.
Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treating is another cherished Halloween tradition. Children dress up in costumes and visit their neighbours’ homes, knocking on doors and exclaiming, “Trick or treat!”.
Houses wishing to participate in trick-or-treating leave their front porch lights on to signal that they welcome trick-or-treaters. If you do not want to participate, turn off the lights or display signs indicating your non-participation.
There are safety precautions that you should take before trick-or-treating. Use reflective tape to enhance visibility during nighttime. Lighting your path with a flashlight or glow stick is also a good idea.
Parents should accompany young children, teaching them to stay on sidewalks, obey traffic rules, and never enter strangers’ homes or accept unwrapped treats. Check for allergen information to ensure the safety of children with allergies. Treats with any signs of tampering should be discarded immediately.
Get Your Home Halloween-Ready
You can unleash your creativity and embrace the spooky spirit of the holiday. Here are some ideas to get your home Halloween-ready.
Spooky Decorations
Decorating your home for Halloween can be fun. From cobwebs to skeletons, there are tons of decorations to turn your space into a haunted house. Begin with pumpkins, Jack-o’-lanterns, and spooky lights on your porch or front door. Hang fake spiderwebs, scatter plastic spiders, and add witch hats, broomsticks, and cauldrons. For that extra eerie touch, you can also use Halloween-themed wall art, banners, and window stickers.
Jack-o’-Lanterns
Carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns is another Halloween tradition. Get a giant, ripe pumpkin from the store or a pumpkin patch. Use a knife or special tools to cut off the top to make a lid. Clean the inside by removing the seeds and goo (save the seeds for roasting if you like). Draw your design on the pumpkin, then carefully cut along the lines, being careful not to cut yourself. When you’re done, put a small candle or battery light inside to make it glow.
Haunted House Vibes
Turning your home into a spooky haunt can be a fun activity with your kids. Lower the lights and use candles, string, or flickering bulbs to create an eerie vibe. Play scary music in the background. Add fake cobwebs, drape sheets over furniture for a ghostly touch, and put spooky stuff around your home. You can even make a backyard maze or a mini haunted house in your basement or garage.
Community Events and Activities
Beyond trick-or-treating and home decorations, Canada offers a wide range of Halloween events and activities. When you are comparing condos for sale in Barrie or other cities, you can get a feel of the neighbourhood during the festive season. Here are some popular Halloween festivities in Canada:
Community Festivals
Many communities organize Halloween festivals and parades featuring live entertainment, costume contests, pumpkin carving competitions, and food vendors. Check with your local community center or city website for information on upcoming Halloween events.
Haunted Attractions
Visit local attractions such as haunted houses, corn mazes, or trails. These attractions are designed to give visitors spine-tingling experiences. From jump scares to eerie atmospheres, haunted attractions are a unique way to celebrate Halloween.
Pumpkin Patches
Choosing your own pumpkin from a patch adds a classic touch to your Halloween festivities. Visiting a pumpkin patch is a fall activity, with many farms and orchards opening up, offering pumpkin picking, hayrides, and other fun activities.
Treats and Recipes
No festive celebration is complete without delicious treats and snacks. And if you like to cook, we have some recipes for you.
Whether hosting a Halloween party or simply baking for your family, you can make some Halloween-inspired treats.
Classic Halloween Treats
- Spooky Spider Cookies: Decorate chocolate cookies with black icing to create spider web designs, and place a chocolate candy or pretzel stick for the spider’s body.
- Caramel Apples: Dip apples in melted caramel and cool until the caramel sets. Optionally, roll the caramel-coated apples in crushed nuts or chocolate for added flavour.
- Pumpkin Sugar Cookies: Bake pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies and decorate them with orange icing to resemble jack-o’-lanterns.
Spooky Snacks
- Monster Popcorn: Toss popcorn with green food colouring, melted white chocolate, and candy eyes to create a colourful and spooky snack.
- Witch’s Broomsticks: Attach pretzel sticks to the bottom of cheese sticks or breadsticks to create mini broomsticks.
- Mummy Hot Dogs: Wrap hot dogs in strips of crescent roll dough to resemble mummies. Bake until the dough is golden brown, and serve with mustard or ketchup for dipping.
DIY Halloween Treats
- Candy Corn Bark: Melt white chocolate onto a baking sheet. Layer orange and yellow candy melts on top and swirl with a toothpick to create a marbled effect. Sprinkle candy corn pieces on top and let it set before breaking into pieces.
- Ghostly Marshmallow Pops: Insert a lollipop stick into large marshmallows and dip them in melted white chocolate. Use black icing to draw ghostly faces on the marshmallows.
- Witch’s Brew Punch: Combine green-coloured lemon-lime soda, pineapple juice, and lime sherbet in a punch bowl. Serve with gummy worms as a spooky garnish.
Halloween Movies and Entertainment
A cozy Halloween movie night is a fantastic way to enjoy the holiday. Whether you prefer spine-chilling horror films or family-friendly classics, here are some Halloween-themed movies and entertainment options to consider:
Scary Movie Marathon
- “Halloween” (1978)
- “The Exorcist” (1973)
- “The Shining” (1980)
- “Psycho” (1960)
- “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
Family-Friendly Halloween Films
- “Hocus Pocus” (1993)
- “Coraline” (2009)
- “Casper” (1995)
- “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
- “Hotel Transylvania” (2012)
Spooky TV Shows
- “Stranger Things”
- “The Haunting of Hill House”
- “American Horror Story”
- “Supernatural”
- “The Walking Dead”
Conclusion
Halloween in Canada is a festive occasion that brings together communities and showcases creativity and imagination.
Whether you engage in trick-or-treating, spookily decorate your home, or enjoy Halloween treats, this holiday has something for all. So, embrace the Halloween spirit, craft cherished memories, and relish the joy it offers you and your family.
And, if you find the sense of community during these festivities captivating and are considering becoming an investor or a first-time homebuyer, we’re here to assist you in exploring real estate Canada.
Happy Halloween!
About The Author
