Halloween celebrations

Top tips to make your Halloween party a huge hit

If you're planning a Halloween party, it's now time to start making preparations so that you'll be ready for the big day. Here are a few ideas to get you started in the run-up to your celebrations.

Costumes

As host of your Halloween party, you'll need to look the part. There is a whole range of fancy dress costumes to choose from - and for every member of the family. Girls can take their pick from a midnight spirit to a spider queen, while boys can be anything from a skeleton to the screecher. For women, become a devil or a demon for the evening, and watch the men transform themselves into Freddy Krueger or a crazy clown. But, if it's just accessories that you're after, there are no shortages of those available. A long black wig or a satin witch's hat will be sure to turn heads.

Decorations

Whether you're holding a Halloween party at home or in a hall, you'll certainly want to create the right atmosphere - and you'll be amazed at how a few decorations can transform a room. A well-placed black furry rat and a few plastic spiders, scattered here and there, will undoubtedly scare your guests - especially the arachnaphobes. Or, raise a smile or two with  a couple of hanging demons and a neon blinking skeleton.

Party food

You may be surprised at the number of recipes available with a Halloween theme. If you're planning on dishing up a meal, why not boil up a pumpkin soup, rustle up a goulash (ghoul-lash, get it?) or create a spiderweb-inspired pizza. A pumpkin risotto will always go down well, as will devilled chicken. And for dessert, how about a pumpkin pie, Halloween cupcakes or skull-shaped biscuits? Serve your culinary delights on the Mozaik plastic tableware range and everyone will be suitably impressed.

Entertainment

It wouldn't be a Halloween celebration without a few party games to get everyone in the right spirit - and there's something for everyone, whatever their age. For the little ones, bobbing for apples is always fun. Just fill a large pool or bucket with water and apples and get your younger guests to pick them out without using their hands. To make it more of a challenge, tie their hands behind their backs or use a blindfold. Filling a jar with candy corns or Halloween sweets - and getting the children to guess how many there are - is another way to keep them entertained. The child who guesses closest, gets to take the jar home with them.

As for the adults, there are countless games to keep them amused. When your guests arrive, tape a piece of paper to their back with a Halloween movie character written on it. Then encourage them to find out who they are by asking questions to the other partygoers. The first to guess their identity receives a prize. After a few drinks, your friends and family will be sure to find Mummy Wrap a good laugh. Just get your guests into pairs and have one from each pair wrap the other in toilet roll, spinning them as they go. The first person to get fully covered is the winner. And if you're guests are up for even more fun, a Halloween movie and trivia quiz or a dance contest with Halloween-themed music will get everyone mingling and in the party spirit.

So now you have a few ideas to get your Halloween celebration preparations underway, what will you be doing on Thursday 31 October?

Celebrate Guy Fawkes Fireworks Night on 5th November

FIREWORKS NIGHT NOVEMBER 5TH 2011

Guy Fawkes Night also known as Guy Fawkes Day and Bonfire Night is an annual event observed on the 5th November every year, primary in Great Britain.
In history itself on the 5th November, 1605, Guy Fawkes a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was caught guarding explosives placed beneath the House of Lords and was consequently arrested. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observation of the 5th November was enforced as an annual day of thanksgiving for the failure of the plots.

Bonfire Night these days tend to be large extravagant events and on November 5th, throughout Britain we commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes with Bonfires and Fireworks, Sparklers and burning a effigy of Guy Fawkes.

If you are planning on going to an organised firework event, or having a bonfire party at home this year, we have a full range of party essentials, tableware and glow in the dark novelties available for arranging an awesome event.

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah the Jewish New Year

ROSH HASHANAH

(JEWISH NEW YEAR)

29 September 2011

The two day festival of Rosh Hashanah is observed on the 1st and 2nd day of Tishrei.

In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means literally, "Head of the Year", and it is the beginning of the Jewish New Year. The anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, it is the birthday of mankind, highlighting the special relation between G-D and humanity.

On Rosh Hashanah, most of the day is spent in Synagogue. The central observation of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the Shofar, the Rams Horn. The Shofar is sounded on both days of Rosh Hashanah, (unless the first day of the holidays fall on Shabbat, then the horn is sounded only on the second day).

Also on Rosh Hashanah, there are many observations: Everyone eats a piece of apple dipped in honey to symbolise a desire for a sweet new year, as well as many other food: They also bless each other with the words Leshanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year".

Also, with any major Jewish holiday, the women and girls light candles each evening of Rosh Hashanah and recite the appropriate blessings. They also recite Kiddush on wine, make a blessing over the Challah and enjoy a festive repast.

Celebrate the Jewish New Year with some white tableware and cutlery.