Last Call: Make Halloween a truly creepy affair with killer tidbits

[ With Jessica Bowman ]

Published: October 22nd, 2008 10:34 PM
Last Modified: October 22nd, 2008 10:33 PM

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It's almost Halloween, the time of year when little kids dressed up as monkeys and skunks are suddenly, inexplicably, the cutest things in the world. When it starts to look like something vomited orange-and-black festoonery all over your local grocery store.

Last year my column listed costume ideas for nightlifers with fun and spooky cocktail recommendations. But this year I've realized that for most Anchorage party people, Halloween is a no-brainer.

Get a costume. Check. Find a party or persuade your friend to host one and invite a ton of friends. Check. Have a ghoulish good time and prove once again to the nay-sayers that you are never too old to dress up. Check.

So, to celebrate the season and the fortunate fact that Halloween actually falls on a Friday this year (finally!), I've decided to list interesting holiday tidbits to use at the party, the bar or if you just need an ice breaker to talk to the cute girl dressed like Gov. Sarah Palin (all seventy-three of them).

For example, did you know that the reason orange and black are traditional Halloween colors is because black is the color of death and orange represents the fall harvest? Or that other than orange, pumpkins can also come in white, blue and green hues? Not only that, but Halloween is the second most lucrative commercial holiday after Christmas, and in some parts of Ireland it's actually called "Pooky Night," supposedly after a mischievous spirit called a "pookah."

Nothing's more fun on Halloween than seriously creeping someone out, so try some of these fun facts during the party: First, they say that if you see a spider on All Hallows Eve, it means the spirit of a loved one is watching over you. If a candle flame flickers or turns blue, there's a spirit in the room. Also if you see a vampire costume that looks a little too authentic, back away. There still exist vampire clubs and societies with members who claim to be "real" bloodsuckers.

To seal the spine-tingling deal, strike up a conversation with someone and ask if they know that in about one in four autopsies, a major disease is discovered in the body that was previously undetected. Uncomfortable yet? Mwahahahaha.

But aside from random raunch, you can also try a party game to liven things up. There's always bobbing for apples in vodka, horror movie trivia or "which dead celebrity am I?" And then there's "ghosting," which is apparently the hottest thing since flaming bags of excrement and entails making ghost figures to leave on people's doorsteps with goodies and a note that usually says "You've been ghosted," kind of like a watered-down, holiday "Punk'd."

And you can ghost at any time in October, not just on Halloween. Sounds interesting, but really? My recommendation is to leave beer, not candy. I'd rather be Schnapps-ed than ghosted.

But whatever you do and however you spend Oct. 31, remember Halloween is a time for camaraderie, costumes and celebration. A time for copious candy and cans of brew. So live it up, enjoy yourself and remember to stay safe so you can plan for a whole 'nother haunt next year.

Find horrific drink recipes and kooky cocktails online at play.adn.com/lushlife. And for more creepy facts and folk tales, visit www.halloween-website.com.

• Find nightlife columnist Jessica Bowman at adn.com/contact/jbowman or visit Play's Lush Life blog at play.adn.com/lushlife.

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