KIDS CRAFTS FOR HALLOWEEN

Halloween is great fun for kids and they'll love to scare all their friends with some ghoulish craft ideas and activities.

History of Halloween:
Halloween is observed on the evening of 31 October, preceding the Christian feast of Hallowmas, Allhallows, or All Saints' Day. The rituals connected with Halloween are thought to have originated among the ancient Druids who believed that on that evening, Saman, the lord of the dead, called forth hosts of evil spirits. The Druids lit great fires on Halloween to ward off all these spirits. 

Among the ancient Celts, Halloween was the last evening of the year and was regarded as a favourable time for examining the future. The Celts also believed that the spirits of the dead revisited their homes on that evening.

The Celtic tradition of lighting fires on Halloween survived until modern times and the concept of ghosts and witches is still common to all Halloween rituals.

After the Romans conquered Britain they added to Halloween features, and traces of the Roman harvest festival survive in the custom of playing games involving fruit, such as ducking for apples in a tub of water. Of similar origin is the use of hollowed-out pumpkins carved to resemble grotesque faces and lit by candles placed inside.

Why not have a halloween craft party and make the 31 October a Halloween evening to remember for the kids?

Here are a few ideas.

Chenille Stem Spider

You will need:

• 5 Black chenille stems
• Coloured card or foam for eyes (or wiggle eyes)
• Scissors and glue

1. Take four black chenille stems together in a bundle. Twist a fifth chenille stem tightly around the middle of the bundle to hold it together.
   

 

2. Then shape the ends of this fifth chenille stem into a circle to form the spider's head and twist the ends together, leaving about 2cm straight on each end.
3. Turn these short ends into the circle and stick on eyes made from black and white card or foam or use wiggle eyes.
4. Spread out the spider's 8 legs and bend them to form knees and ankles. Your spider will stand up on his own.