Spooky Halloween Pictures - Free Halloween Pictures

Take a drink from the poisoned chalice

And remember, there's many a slip
'twixt cup and lip


Image: Photo by
Diana Grant /Glorious Confusion

            

                            Halloween Ghoul

              Blood trail leads from empty coffin,
              Over to the moon-bathed manor
              Shadowy figure swathed in rags
              Blood soaked, death-stained
              Wild eyes sightless
              Bony fingers black and bent
              A Chilling shriek,
              A silent scream
              Welcomes in the Halloween

© Diana Grant                      5th October 2011


Image: Photo by
Diana Grant /Glorious Confusion

Spooky Door Knobs




Image: Photo by
Diana Grant /Glorious Confusion

Halloween activities include games such as Apple Bobbing, where apple are floated in a barrel of water and the participants compete to grab the apples in their mouth, without using their hands - very splashy; or toffee apples are suspended in the air, and competitors vie to get the apples without using their hands - very sticky!

There is also a fortune telling game, where young women peel an apple in one long strip, and then toss the peel over their shoulder. It is then inspected to see what alphabetical letter it represents, and that (of course) is the initial of the man they are going to marry. It works every time - not! I remember doing this when I was at school over fifty years ago. Regretably, I can't remember whether I ever got the initial "J" - my husband's initial - but as I later got divorced, it was a somewhat underwhelming result!

Other activities include fancy dress parties, telling ghost stories and watching horror films about such abominations as Dracula, Frankenstein and other Monsters, Weirwolves, murderous maniacs on Halloween, Mummies, Zombies, The Witches of Salem and other stories about witchcraft, exorcism and the undead, of the "I'm immortal and I'm coming to get you" variety.

Trick 'r Treat
Buy This Allposters.com

Why "Trick or Treat"?

In the Middle Ages, on special occasions such as Christmas and All Hallows' Day (1st November) it was customary for the poor to dress up, sometimes in fancy dress, to go begging by knocking from door to door, asking for food and money (alms) in return for prayers for the dead. Sometimes they would perform by singing a song, such as Wassailing at Christmas.

Nowadays children dress up and go to houses asking "Trick or Treat?" - in effect mild blackmail, asking for a gift or threatening some mischief. Traditionally if the homeowner does not give them a Halloween treat such as sweets, cake or coins, they will play a prank or trick, which might take the form of throwing an egg or mud at the window of the householder (who, presumably, has kept all the lights switched off and is lurking about with head below the window parapet, pretending they are not in, or, worse, coming to the door and telling the children to go away).

It's quite paradoxical that a custom which started in Europe and only went to America in the 20th Century has been far more prevalent and popular in the USA than in the UK - that is, until recently, when commercial markets saw their opportunity and grabbed it very successfully. All my own pictures in this web page were from photographs I took in our local 99p shop, and I was amazed by the variety and quality of goodies you could buy for under £1.00 (approximately $1.50).

Walpurgis Night falls on April 30 and is, in fact, directly opposite Halloween on the astrological calendar, falling exactly six months earlier and it shares many of the traditions of Halloween.
Walpurgis has its roots in ancient pagan superstitions, customs, and festivals. At that time of year, the Vikings would light big bonfires to scare away evil spirits - a ritual to hasten the arrival of Spring and ensure fertility for their crops and livestock. According to ancient legends, Walpurgis was the last chance for witches and evil spirits to stir up trouble before Spring arrived.

You can find this Image on
Eugene Plawiuk's Blog

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You Can Get this scary Fire-Breathing Monster Design on a Mug or T-Shirt on Zazzle:



Fire-Breathing Aztec Mug - Titled "Hot Stuff" by GloriousConfusion



See more Travel Mugs

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Just to Wind up this Web Page, Here's a bit of Fun - You Can Get this Design on a T-Shirt on Zazzle:







I love you - In Robot Tee by BADR0B0T
Make cheap custom t-shirts at zazzle.co.uk