Halloween

Halloween

Halloween is the scariest, spookiest holiday of them all; it’s also the most fun because we get to dress up and be whatever and whoever we want. What better than to have a costume party or organize your own Halloween festival?! Or maybe you want to visit a pumpkin patch, a haunted maze, or take a hayride. Firstly, you have to find an awesome costume, and all of the little accessories that are going to set it off. Hold a contest for the best costume; give the winner a gift basket of candies and other treats. Save them the footwork of trick-or-treating.

Face painters can provide you with the look you desire, whether it’s a zombie, a fairy, a princess, or a tiger. There are airbrush artists that can also airbrush your entire body to make you look like anything from a wild animal to a superhero. Decorating should be easy as this time of year presents you with all the pumpkins, black, orange, creepy and spooky décor you need. Hang fake webs across your patio, or hook up a fog machine and lighting effects to make for a ghostly atmosphere in your yard. Playing eerie music is always a good accent. You can rent a sound system to expand the ambience across your lawn.

Carnival rides and games could turn a dull party or fair into an exciting one. Imagine hayrides, pony rides, or carriage rides through a foggy cemetery, while horrifying costume characters pop out at you to scare you. A really cool and fun idea would be to have an Elvis impersonator or someone of the like, dress as a zombie version and perform live music all night.

Sukkot

Sukkot

If there was ever a time to be positive and upbeat, Sukkot is the time; as a matter of fact, it’s about seven to eight days of positivity and thankfulness toward God. Sukkot is a Jewish holiday in which the people are encouraged to reflect on the good fortune over the past year and celebrate God’s role in their lives. Some don’t go to work on the first two days, as a demonstration of respect to God. Specific prayers are completed each day.

Traditionally, Jews will build what’s called a Sukkah; it is supposed to represent the small huts that Moses and the Israelites would use as shelter during their journey through the desert. They are built to stand against the wind. The roofs are to be made of plants, foliage, flowers, and other matters of nature. They are to be decorated with homemade décor such as religious drawings or stained glass. You can gather your children and airbrush some religious images to put up on the walls.

Families will gather and feast inside of it while some will go as far as to sleep in it for seven days. Prepare a Hebrew meal that includes foods such as stuffed cabbage, harvested vegetables, and other items made with pastries and honey. Gather a collection of your favorite traditional music or melodies and have someone act as a DJ for the evening. Present a stage or platform for a dance floor, as this is a time for rejoicing!