Ghosts, pumpkins, black cats – what do Halloween motifs mean?

The pumpkin is the classic Halloween motif, but it was originally only a makeshift solution: When the Irish immigrants emigrated to the USA, they brought the customs of All Saints' Day from their homeland. Instead of the large turnips, from which in Ireland eerie lanterns called Jack O'Lantern had been carved, they used the pumpkin common in the USA – and All Hallows’ Eve became Halloween.

Black cats are considered in many cultures as bringers of bad luck, partly also as lucky charms. Like many black animals, for example ravens, they are linked with the \"black magic\" of witchcraft. At Halloween they symbolize, similar to the broom, the witchcraft, since witches are often depicted with a black cat on their shoulder.

Bats make many people shudder and have long inspired spooky stories andmyths. The small mammals probably have their scary image because they do fly but are not birds, and because they are completely silent and only in the darkness are active. This confused people in earlier times and filled them with fear. It is often told that the famous vampire Count Dracula can transform into a bat to silently surprise his victim. For this reason, bats are a popular Halloween motif.

Spider webs: Spiders themselves have no mystical or magical meaning. The small animals and their webs rather symbolize decay and loneliness, as one would expect in gloomy castle walls, abandoned haunted houses or gloomy cellars.

Skulls are associated in Western culture with death and the transience of life. No wonder then that the skull is a popular spooky motif at Halloween. The skeleton as an extension of the skull stands for death and is often used as a Halloween motif.

Monsters have long stimulated our imagination. These powerful, supernatural beings embody both power and strength as well as terror. Creepy monsters appear in mythology worldwide and are portrayed in different ways. Sometimes they arehybrids of human and animal, sometimes eerie creatures, which are hardly describable in words. At Halloween we encounter monsters of all kinds in creative costumes or as a motif in the Halloween decorations.

Ghosts and spirits are almost inseparable from Halloween. Risen from the dead they haunt and wreak spooky havoc, to carry out unfulfilled tasks on Earth and finally find their rest. Ghosts are very versatile: Whether as decoration, food or costume – the whole house will be haunted.

What can I craft with Halloween motifs?

Spooky garlands: Garlands are uncomplicated easy to make yourself and achieve a great effect. For a simple paper garland you can either choose one Halloween motif – for example ghosts – or combine different motifs. Draw the motifs as a template and help your child cut out the shapes. You can either punch holes on both sides and thread them onto a string, or connect the shapes directly to each other so that a garland without gaps is created. You can easily find templates for a stencil online or get creative yourself and draw a simple outline.

Paper lanterns: Homemade paper lanterns are great window decorations, but also look great as table decorations and provide a pleasant, dim light.

Tip 1 for crafting paper lanterns

Collect a few old cereal or cornflakes boxes and cut out the front and back, leaving only a narrow border. You can also trim the top edge of the box smoothly or with scallops.

Choose any Halloween motif and draw a template on paper. Cut this out and glue it onto sheets of baking paper or colored tracing paper. To bathe the apartment in a dim, spooky light it is best to choose tracing paper in warm fiery colors.

An orange or yellow paper produces a light similar to a candle. Then glue the sheets from the inside to both sides of the box and place an LED tea light in the middle.

Tip 2 for crafting paper lanterns

Use the bottom and the lid of a round cheese box, to make a lantern out of it. To do this, draw your favorite Halloween motif as a template on paper, cut it out along the black outlines and glue it onto sheets of sturdy tracing paper. If you don't want to draw the template yourself, you can find numerous templates online. Now roll the glued tracing paper sheet into a cylinder. Glue the bottom of the cheese box to the lower edge.

Cut out the flat side of the lid and leave a narrow rim. Now glue the lid to the top of the lantern. If desired, you can paint or decorate the bottom and lid beforehand. Place a candle or tealight on the bottom of the lantern – and the ghost light is ready.

Quick cake decoration:

With very little effort a regular cake becomes a Halloween artwork. For this simply choose a suitable Halloween motif and make a paper stencil. Place the template on the cooled cake and dust generously with powdered sugar. Carefully remove the template – and the cake is adorned with a sweet Halloween spooky image that will delight every child.

Halloween placemats:

If you like, you can decorate the seats at the Halloween party with personalized placemats. For this, prepare enough Halloween motifs in DIN A3 format and write the guest's name over the respective motif with a blood-red or gold-colored marker. Get your child to help you with this. The placemats look even nicer if your child decorates them with spooky colors.

Halloween costume:

With the right spooky motifs you can homemade Halloween costumes for children perfectly complement. For example, you can cut out spider webs from construction paper using a template you make once and sew or glue them onto a spider or witch costume. The same works with cut-out pumpkin motifs (for example for a creepy pumpkin man) or with bats that adorn a vampire costume.

Image credits

Pumpkins with carved faces on the stairs © Stefan Werner - stock.adobe.com