How to Make Halloween Fun: Costumes, Treats and Sound Effects

(ARA) - Scariness and spookiness are upon us. And we're not talking about opening 401(k) statements. Ghouls and goblins will be running through neighborhoods searching for candy and scares alike. Trick-or-treaters will be heard screaming and screeching while being haunted by neighborhood houses decorated for one of the most anticipated holidays for children -- Halloween.

Halloween's history has changed over the years. Centuries ago, Halloween night was known as "devil's night." Superstitious people associated this day with death and supernatural happenings, such as bad omens, black cats, and bats or spiders. Halloween night was known to be one filled with vandalism as well.

Fast forward several hundred years, and you have a more modern, contemporary holiday of fun, food and decorations. Today, Halloween has turned into one filled with lavish costumes, home decorations, and more candy than a dentist cares to know about. Party-goers of all ages dress up in fun, scary or outrageous costumes for school, college and other celebrations.

If you're getting back to the simple ways of life, nothing's better than an easy costume for kids and adults. How about the chiton?

"OK, so not everyone recognizes what the term 'chiton' means," says Kathy Colussy, fashion design instructor, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. "But if I mention the word, 'toga,' we can recall images of togas from movie epics or from college fraternity parties. Our mind conjures up bodies draped, swathed and pinned in bed sheets." The gown is remarkably simple to construct and designed to be belted or draped to flatter any figure. By following the steps below, you're sure to impress everyone at your Halloween party.

Now, it's on to the food portion of your celebration. According to Michael Holderfield, chef instructor at The Art Institute of Houston, families are looking for more creative recipes to entice children to eat more traditional and seasonal favorites, such as pumpkin muffins.

Party and baking instructor Kim Smith, of The Art Institute of Seattle, recommends her pumpkin muffins to start Halloween morning off right. "These are a great start to anyone's morning."

For those wanting to create their own spooky haunted house sounds, they can use tapes or CDs of graveyard sounds, doors slamming or screams. "It's fun to make your own tape of Halloween sounds," says Rob Lehmann, chair of the Audio Production Department at The New England Institute of Art & Communications. "Popular sound effects include doors slamming and people screaming. Kids, and adults, can have so much fun creating their own haunted house sounds." Simply recording such sounds on your tape or CD recorder will allow you to spook those trick-or-treaters.

For further information about The Art Institutes go to the Web site at www.artinstitutes.edu.

Courtesy of ARA Content

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information contact Amy Kowal, (412) 995-7641 or Jeff Durosko (412) 995-7232 at The Art Institutes.

SIDEBAR:

How to Make a Toga
By Kathleen Colussy, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

Traditional Toga

In making a toga, there are two simple variations. The first involves one long rectangle (approximately 5+ yards of fabric) that will be swathed around the body. The second is constructed of a semi-circle cut from fabric that is the side of a double or queen-size sheet. More fabric is obviously required based on the size of the gentleman who will be sporting the toga, as well as his desire for more coverage for aesthetic or functional preferences.

To create a female version of the toga, visit The Art Institutes Creative Solutions web page at http://www.artinstitutes.edu/about/about_02.asp.

Supplies:

One old sheet or several yards of muslin 1 1/2 times a person's height
Sewing thread to match
Several large safety pins
One large brooch to fasten at shoulder, optional

Note: To allow for minimal sewing skills, men should wear some sort of shorts because the toga will later be fastened to what is worn UNDER the toga.

Directions:

Using your large bed sheet or fabric, begin to form a semicircle shape in the cloth.

Next an additional cut into the top center of the semicircle approximately the size of 1/4 to 1/3 into center of the fabric should be made. This cut will allow the semicircle to be wrapped and draped successfully around the body.

It is totally optional if you wish to construct a finished hem where the fabric has been cut. If you are an overachiever you can opt to sew a 1-inch hem.

Taking one large safety pin, secure one corner of the semicircle to the waist on the right side of the body and pin again on the left side of the body.

It should be noted that once the fabric has been secured the amount of fabric from the waist down should fall to approximately the knees or mid calf. If it does not you may opt to cut additional selvage from your semicircle.

Before proceeding simply make additional fold in the cloth to compensate.

Next the fabric will be wrapped several times around the body.

Finally, once you have the amount of draping and folding you are comfortable with, take the excess fabric and throw over either the right or left shoulder, and fasten with safety pin or brooch.

Accessorize with sandals, armband, laurel leaf crowns and plastic shields and swords and voila!

Pumpkin Muffins
By Kim Smith, Pastry and Baking Instructor, The Art Institute of Seattle

1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
3 each eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cups melted butter 1 1/2 cups sugar
4 1/2 cups pastry flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups raisins

Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

Add all ingredients into large bowl and mix together until well blended. Batter will be lumpy. Spoon into lightly greased muffin pan. Sprinkle generously with topping mixture. Bake at 350 degrees until toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm or heat in microwave until warm.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen

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