Halloween Party Ideas

Halloween costumes and parties are traditionally modelled after supernatural figures. Works of Gothic and horror literature (such as novels and movies like Frankenstein and Dracula) have also played a major part in our vision of Halloween.

So why would anyone dress up as an apple on Halloween?   

What's the relevance to apples and Halloween costumes? 

Well at a Halloween party dunking or apple bobbing, (dooking in Scotland) is very popular. This is where apples float in a tub or large basin of water (some over 18’s use beer/cider) and the participants must use only their teeth and mouth to pick up and remove an apple from the basin.  Another apple Halloween game played by women is to carve an apple in one long strip, then toss the peel over their shoulder. The peel is believed to land in the shape of the first letter of their future spouse’s name.

Halloween imagery also includes themes of death, evil, and monsters such as ghosts, skeletons, witches and werewolves.  Skulls also have a unique reference to Halloween, traditionally served as “a reminder of death and the transitory quality of human life”, hence why they have a common place in Halloween. Images of skeletons and the dead are also traditional Halloween decorations to use for your party.

Homes are often decorated with all types of other scary symbols from magic cauldrons to mythical monsters. Some traditional Halloween colour themes to follow are black, orange and purple for decorating your home and dinner table. Keep this in mind when decorating your Halloween party.

Now for desert, so how about literally sticking to another traditional game, It involves simply hanging up treacle or syrup coated scones, buns or cakes with string. These must be eaten in the same manner as apple bobbing, without using hands while they remain attached to the string, an activity that will almost certainly end up messy and with sticky faces, even horrific looking sticky faces, but nevertheless its fun.

So whether you are holding a children’s party or a Halloween party for adults at the office or at home, bear in mind that your costumes and decorations need to be well thought out.

The simpler costumes usually are the best ones. Now there are second skin/morph skin tight bodysuit costumes available and they are really cool and very easy to wear, they truly do look amazing! They are well made and will definitely help you stand out amongst the rest of the costumes at the party for sure...

Halloween Vampire Fancy Dress Ideas

Vampires have always been a popular Halloween theme, but it seems like we are currently in the Age of the Vampire thanks to a whole range of vampire-focussed films and television shows featuring fangs. It all started a long time ago of course, with Nosferatu and Dracula being the most well known of the silver screen vampires, and classic Dracula costumes are still popular every year. But today's vampires are more likely to look like one of us, with the addition of a pair of fangs and a lot of dripping blood.

Television shows such as True Blood and the Vampire Diaries, as well as films like Twilight, have made vampires sexy and not just scary. Vampire costumes are not just for men, there are lots of vampiras and vampiresses too, with slinky black dresses and plenty of attitude. Just add some thick black eyeliner, a pair of fake fangs and pop some fake blood capsules and you will have the perfect fancy dress for Halloween.

If you are hosting a party, there is a fabulous range of Fangtastic disposable tableware that can be perfectly mixed and matched with our plain black or red tableware, as well as vampire scene setters, Halloween hanging decorations and balloons.

The History of Halloween

 
Halloween used to be something that we'd see in movies and tv shows from the USA, but not something that we really celebrated in the UK. In recent years it's become more and more popular and now there are huge ranges of fancy dress costumes and Halloween decorations to suit everyone's tastes and pocket. Children start planning what they're going to wear and how many sweets they're going to collect weeks in advance.

The history of modern Halloween comes partly from the Christian celebration of All Saints Eve, also known as All Hallows Eve, which takes place on 31st October. Hallows Evening eventually became Hallowe'en which is how the name we know came to be. It's a day when martyrs and saints (known as hallows) would be remembered and the idea was to confront the power of death. Halloween is also based partly on the ancient Celtic festival of Samhaim (pronounced "sah-win"). The ancient people that celebrated Samhaim believed that on 31st October the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead would overlap and the dead would come back to life and wreak havoc.  One of the things they did was to build bonfires to frighten away the dead, which would attract bats and insects which then became some of the holiday's traditional symbols and the bonfires have since been replaced by candles used to light up carved pumpkins. The popular tradition of wearing masks and fancy dress costumes comes from the Celts disguising themselves so  that the ghosts of the dead would not recognise the living and leave them alone.

One of the most traditional ways of celebrating Halloween is for children to go Trick or Treating. The origins of this go back several hundred years and combine the idea of Mischief Night, when children would play practical jokes on their neighbours, such as taking hinges off gates or changing shop signs; and an old European custom called Souling, whereby beggars going door to door would be given Soul Cake (a bit like a hot cross bun) in exchange for prayers for a donor's dead relatives. Today this has become a tradition whereby children in fancy dress go door to door calling out "trick or treat" in the hopes of being given sweets and chocolates.

April Fools Day Facts and Pranks

 
So money doesn’t grow on trees but apparently spaghetti does!
That's what the BBC had a lot of people believe when they ran the now-classic prank on the Panorama TV programme on APRIL FOOL’S DAY – way back in 1957!
The scenes of Swiss harvesting spaghetti from trees conned hundreds of people into calling up the BBC requesting directions to grow their own ‘Pasta Plant’. The response was so overwhelming that the prank sort of backfired and the BBC had to declare on the news that the video was fabricated. This was a pioneering instance of TV been used to stage an April Fool’s Day hoax.

The origins of this annual leg-pulling celebration are shrouded in the mists of history. There is a supposed reference to April Fool’s day in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales while some link it to Pope Gregory XIII reinstating January 1 as New Year’s Day. Either way it’s nothing to be serious about, especially since the Romans celebrated the festival Hilaria (-sounds like a hoax disease by itself) on 25th March. Spanish speaking countries still celebrate a Feast of Fools in December which has continued down from medieval times.
For the Italians, French and Belgians it’s all fishy business. Tradition demands that a paper fish be stuck to the victim’s back with the call of ‘April Fish’!

Around the world April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day is an occasion to let mischief loose and play practical tricks and jokes on others. The butts of the ensuing jokes could vary in number from a single individual to an entire television audience. Arguably, the BBC holds the crown of creating widespread delusions on this day using the power of mass media. In 1965 the BBC feigned an experiment allowing the broadcast of aromas over airwaves. Apparently, many viewers reported that the experiment was successful!  The BBC even re-ran the hoax in 2007 as an online version.

In another memorable April Fool’s gag, the British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore announced on BBC Radio 2 that due to an ultra-rare planetary alignment earthlings could experience the effects of a diminished gravitational pull at precisely 9:47 a.m. on April 1, 1976. All they had to do was jump in the air and enjoy a ‘strange floating sensation. What followed was mass gullibility, with hundreds of calls regarding experiences of levity. 

As Einstein has famously quoted “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” So this April 1st put on your pranking socks, arrange the plastic joke cockroaches around the house and go forth and explore this landscape of human stupidity. And DO NOT underestimate your own!

St. David's Day

For those who have Welsh origin or ancestry, the celebration of the life of Wales’ patron saint-St. David-is recognized on March 1st of each year. It is also a time for people to learn about the Welsh culture and traditions.

Some of the traditions include attending a special St. David’s Day church service, or cooking traditional food to share with family or friends. Such as herb lamb chops, Welsh pot bread, or Caerphilly Crumble.

Many groups organize special events or parties that include carrying the flag of Wales, hanging up paper bunting with Wales flags, dressing up in traditional costumes, and wearing daffodils or leeks on clothing. The Welsh flag, a red dragon on a white and green background, is displayed throughout on this festive holiday.

As mentioned earlier, St. David is the patron saint of Wales. He plays a very important role in Welsh culture, but little is known about his life. He founded a Celtic monastic community at Glyn Rhosyn (The Vale of Roses) on the western headland of Pembrokeshire, at the spot where St. David's Cathedral stands today. His legacy was his teachings known throughout the Celtic world. His foundation at Glyn Rhosyn became an important Christian shrine and center in Wales. The date of Saint David's death is recorded as 1 March, but the year is uncertain – possibly around 588.

At Party Tracker, we supply a variety of Welsh flags in various sizes that are perfect for celebrating St David's Day  or using for supporting and celebrating Wales sporting events. 

Some Interesting Facts About Valentine's Day

As Valentine's Day approaches us on February 14th, here are some interesting traditions and superstitions about this romantic holiday you may not of known about:

• The first man that an unmarried woman saw on February 14th would be her future husband.
• If all of the names of a girl's suitors were written on paper and wrapped in clay and the clay then put into water, the first piece that rose to the surface would contain the name of her husband-to-be.
• If a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a rich man.
• In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. Then they would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. Or otherwise known as 'wearing your heart on your sleeve'.
• In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on Valentine's Day. Hearts, keys, and keyholes were the most popular decorations on the spoons. This decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"
  

This year, see what Party Tracker has in store for you with a romantic-themed Valentine's Day. Give your loved one a special Valentine balloon, have fun on a night out with your friends wearing a  festive wig or hat from our accessory line. Perhaps a romantic dinner at home using our Valentine tableware and Valentine decorations. The possibilities are endless, let Party Tracker be your one-stop, easy and always fun place for all your holiday needs. 

Hollywood Themed Parties

How to create the perfect Hollywood party

Mission Impossible? The Godfather? What is your fantasy Hollywood Party? Hollywood themed parties are incredibly fun, with an endless amount of possibilities as to what to dress up as! The typical Hollywood themed party would be a “tux ‘n’dress “ party, or a masked ball. Why not try a more unique dress theme, for example, a cartoon character, Buzz Lightyear? Or a gangsters theme, so you look like the Godfather? Or perhaps a Star Wars Anakin Skywalker look for men? Tableware at a Hollywood party should be classy and electrifying – wine and champagne glasses, metallised forks, knives and spoons, and elegant plates and bowls.

Hosting a Hollywood theme party would require many exciting decorations, perhaps chandeliers, ice sculptures, and stars to decorate the floor and tables? These would ensure a truly remarkable experience for your guests and it would pull off a suave look for your theme. 

Homemade Christmas crackers

Create your own crackers this Christmas

For some families, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a few corny jokes, some festive paper crowns and a surprise gift. But, let’s face it − most of us would agree that crackers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Although their brightly coloured exterior may spruce up the Christmas table, their contents are usually a huge disappointment. The bang is sometimes inaudible, the paper hat never sits on your head properly and the gift is usually pointless or broken within minutes. But if the thought of going sans crackers this year is too great a step to take, why not consider making your own? Although it may sound like too much hard work, you’ll be surprised at how easily and cheaply a decent cracker can be made. 

Cracker snaps come in packs of 144 for just £3.50

What you’ll need

• Coloured crepe paper or good-quality luxury wrapping paper
• 1 toilet roll per cracker, plus another 2 to form the shape (these can be used again and again)
• 1 cracker snap per cracker 
• String or ribbon
• Decorations such as bows or beads
• Treats for the crackers
• Glue

Step-by-step guide

1.    Lay out your wrapping paper or crepe paper (if using crepe paper, use several layers of different colours).

2.    Place the three toilet rolls in a line on the paper, spacing them out evenly. This will create the shape of the cracker.

3.    Glue along one edge of the paper and roll tightly over the three cardboard rolls. Stick the edge down firmly.

4.    Stick on any decorations you have. Beads and bows work well, but anything goes.

5.    Place one cracker snap inside the cracker and add your chosen treats. The beauty of making your own is that you can add whatever you like. You may want to include a coloured hat and a joke, but you can also slip in other small gifts, such as luxury chocolates; miniature bottles of wine/spirits; mini bottles of perfume/aftershave, hand cream, body lotion and bubble bath; lip gloss; nail polish; earrings; little wind-up toys; erasers; balloons, tattoos; mini pens; and scratch cards. Just make sure they are small enough to fit inside your toilet roll. 

6.    Use ribbon or string to tie the two ends of the cracker (i.e. both ends of the middle toilet roll) and remove the two end toilet rolls. 

7.    Your cracker should now be finished and ready to pull when the time is right. 
 

Office Christmas party themes, part 5

Hurrah for Hollywood!

Basing your office Christmas party on a particular theme will be certain to get your colleagues and friends talking before the big day, especially if they’re required to dress up for the occasion. The question is, what will appeal to your diverse mix of workmates?

We’ve already shared ideas about themed parties spanning decades from the 1920s to the 1980s and a casino-based event. But if none of them excite you, why not consider a Hollywood-themed affair instead?

Most people will have some interest in films or have a favourite actress or actor, so everyone should be able to get into the party spirit in one way or another. And with a theme like this, you can take it as far as your imagination and budget will allow.

Hollywood face masks
(pack of 6)

Invite your colleagues and friends to come dressed as an actual movie star for the night or to wear a tuxedo or evening gown. After all, if they want to feel like a movie star, it’s only fitting that they should look like one. A Charlie Chaplin outfit should be easy to put together for the men, while the women could transform themselves into Marilyn Monroe with the right dress, a blonde wig and red lips.

No Hollywood party would be complete without a red carpet to welcome the stars of the show. Encourage everyone to pose as they walk down it and, if possible, enroll a colleague or two to help you film them or take photographs. 

You could even ask one of your more extrovert team members to announce each guest as they walk down the red carpet and then interview them with questions such as, 'How do you feel about your new movie?’ or ‘Who designed your outfit tonight?’ If your guests are up for a bit of role-play, then this could be a really fun way to get them in the mood. There will undoubtedly be a few witty responses among your more good-humored work colleagues that will be sure to raise a few laughs. A red-carpet, lifesize stand-in cutout will also create a great photo opportunity and get everyone pairing up.

These film reels are perfect to use
as  table centrepiece or  decorations

You can go all out on jazzing up the party venue itself as there’s so much Hollywood paraphernalia available. Decorate the walls with clapperboards and Hollywood street sign cutouts, and adorn tables with film reel centrepieces, Lights! Camera! Action! confetti and black glittered star balloons with co-ordinating star balloon weights. And to help your workmates feel they’re in good company, you could even have them mingle with celebrity guests such as Daniel Craig or Marilyn Monroe – well, lifesize cutout versions of them anyway.

As far as the entertainment goes, you can organise anything from an awards event to a talent show. An entertainment trivia quiz on award-winning actors and films is likely to go down well, or why not hold a ‘name that tune’ contest and have your workmates guess which film each song came from.

Whether you create your Hollywood celebration on a grand or smale scale, one thing’s for certain. If you do it in style, it’s sure to be a bit hit.

Office Christmas party themes, part 4

Why a casino-themed office Christmas party is
a sure bet for success

If you want something a bit different for your office Christmas celebration this year, a casino-themed party is sure to be a winner − and it doesn’t have to cost you big bucks.

There are several things you’ll need to think about, including decorations to create the right atmosphere, which games to provide, what refreshments to offer and whether to introduce a dress code.

  
How to jazz up the place

You’ll be amazed at how a few decorations and touches can give your office or party venue a real casino feel. Having arranged your gaming tables in a way that looks like a casino floor, why not add green or black felt tablecloths? Make your colleagues and friends feel special with a red carpet runner and a VIP entrance sign. Casino sign cutouts, with the names of games on offer, will be useful for guiding your workmates to the table of their choice. Balloons with pictures of cards and dice will also liven up the place, as will playing-card cutouts, casino confetti and banners, or a slot machine backdrop. Go all out or go minimalist. The choice is yours.

What to play?

Give your casino party a genuine Vegas feel with games such as blackjack, roulette and poker. For the more novice gambler, you can put up ‘how to play ...’ and ‘rules of the game’ posters, as well as organising simple dice games and bingo. After all, you’ll want to ensure everyone feels included. You may have to get a few of your colleagues on board to help run each game, but if you’ve got the budget, how about hiring a professional dealer or two for a few hours. If the funds are available, you could also give every party guest real notes or chips. If not, just play with fake money. A nice touch would be to provide everyone with a scorecard to mark down their earnings or a little bucket for their winnings. If using fake money, you could give a prize to the person with the highest score or greatest number of chips at the end of the evening.

Nibbles and tipples

Finger food is definitely the way to go if you’re having a casino-themed evening. It’s easier to carry around and means your workmates will be able to snack between games. Mini sandwiches, chips, chopped veggies and dips, pizza slices, chicken wings, lamb skewers, mini meatballs, mozzarella sticks, garlic bread and slices of bruschette should fill empty tummies, while platters of apples, cherries and bananas provide a fitting link with slot machines. Bowls of crisps, nut, pretzels and wrapped chocolates throughout the room will be a nice accompaniment to the drinks. Make sure you have lots of punch, beer, martinis, margaritas, non-alcoholic cocktails, fruit juices and other soft drinks on hand throughout the evening. And, for a nice touch, add casino-themed plastic stirrers with your beverages.

Dressed up to the nines

If it’s a classy do that you’re laying on, why not get your colleagues and friends to dress accordingly, with tuxedos and suits for the gents and evening gowns for the ladies. But if it’s glitz and glamour that you’re after, encourage the women to accessorise with sequins and boas, and the men to don flashy shirts and ties adorned with playing cards and dice.

If after reading this, you decide that a casino night for an office Christmas party doesn’t come up trumps for you, why not consider organising a casino or Vegas night-themed fundraising event for charity instead. It’s sure to be an ace affair.