Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets Blog

Archive for October, 2009

Ever Wondered Where Going Door-to-Door Saying Trick or Treat on Halloween Came From?

Halloween is my favorite holiday hands down.  One of my favorite things is having all the kids dressed up in their adorable costumes coming to our door saying 'Trick or Treat'.   We almost always go all out decorating our house for Halloween so the kids love venturing up the driveway just to see the decorations including the spiders on the doorbell and skeletons coming up from the ground.  They always know they'll get a good treat at our door too!  In fact, my husband is at Wal-Mart right now stocking up on Halloween candy.  Last year, we had nearly 300 kids stop by our door and I expect even more this year.

Apparently the tradition of dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door to beg for treats goes back to the Middle Ages.  The costumes are said to be a Celtic tradition which placates evil spirits.  The handing out of food originated in Britain and Ireland where poor people would go door-to-door on November 1st. They would be given food in exchange for their prayers for dead souls on November 2nd. This practice was known as 'Souling'.  The practice of trick or treating in America is believed to date back to the early 1900's and it became a more widespread activity in the 1930's.   Whatever the origins, I am glad that this is one tradition that has caught on for the long term.  Happy Halloween and be sure to check out these Halloween safety tips to keep your pets, children and yourself safe this year!

When I think of Halloween, images of ghosts and goblins immediately come to mind.  Although my 7 year old son loves the goulish side of Halloween, my soon-to-be 3 year old gets spooked pretty easily.  So this year our Halloween decorations focus more on non-scary images, and I thought I would share some tips for an un-scary Halloween Party - perfect for younger crowds.

1. Celebrate the Season:  Take advantage of the fall harvest and have partygoers bob for apples.  Make sure to have plenty of towels on hand!
2. Have a Pumpkin Toss:  Choose some small pumpkins and mark off a place in the yard where it's OK to make a mess.  Have participants choose their pumpkin, mark it with their name and see how far they can throw it from the starting line.  I recommend separate pumpkins for each guest just in case they go "splat!"
3. Decorate in Black and Orange:  Hang crepe paper in the doorway, light the path to your house with friendly jack-o-lanterns, and utilize balloons for decorations.  If you don't have helium balloons, hang some balloons down from the ceiling and let others float around on the floor.
4. Create a "Friendly" Witch's Brew:  Using a large black cauldron, flavored drink mixes and dry ice (if available), give each child an ingredient to pour into the brew while you stir it together using a large ladle.
5. Don't Forget the Candy:  Have a large bowl of candy or a Halloween Treat Basket on your table for the kids to nibble on.  Bake sugar cookies in advance, and have colored frosting on hand.  Give each child a cookie, some frosting and a bunch of candies (red hots, candy corn, M&M's, etc) so they can come up with a unique Halloween cookie creation!

With this simple tips, you can host a fun Halloween party with no need for scary parts!

We've added a line of Pink Ribbon Gifts!

At Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets, we've added a whole new line of gifts and gift baskets that incorporate pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness month.  With gifts starting at just $20 and a huge variety of treats such as gourmet cookies, brownies, chocolate covered oreos, and gourmet nuts, we've got something for everyone.  Part of the profits from some of these gifts will be donated to various cancer foundations in the U.S.

The pink ribbon has come to symbolize the solidarity behind the breast cancer movement and to support the thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year.  In 1991, the Susan G. Komen foundation first passed out pink ribbons to wear in their New York City race for the cure.  A breast cancer awareness stamp featuring a pink ribbon was incorporated on a U.S. stamp in 1996.  Most Breast Cancer Research Fundraisers are held during the month of October when many groups including the NFL in 2009 wear pink and buy pink items in support of the movement.

Click here to view all of the Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon Merchandise available from Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets.