I won my work costume contest with this picture...I put on lots of make up so maybe I didn't frighten them! I have a Raven on my at and the wall plaque is a miniature reproduction of the Leaky Cauldron sign from Harry Potter. My prize was a copy of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas!
This was one of several lanterns I had out in the yard. I think the words kind of set the theme for the event...which lent itself to the short ritual we had.
This is a close up of Snabby's costume, as a "Ditch Witch" (a kind of digger tool company we have around here). I wanted him to go as a "Witch Gynacologist", but he decided to go with a less provocative outfit!
All three of these pumpkins we grew in our backyard, so the didn't cost us anything. Beaniac made the spiral-eyed one, her boyfriend made Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Snabby made a girl from the Fruity Oaty Bar commercial (in the film Serenity). They were a hit!
Here's our friends Becca (The Big Cheese) and Bob (Le Chef). He's reading my Day of the Dead pamphlet to get an idea of how to decorate his sugar skull. Isn't he studious? You can see a glimpse of the festive "papel" with Danse Macabre themes at the top of the picture.
This is a cute picture of the Beanic (as a mouse) and her boyfriend (as...surprise! a high school Marching Band member!). They had to go to a competition that day, but were able to get off early, enjoy the party and even go trick-or-treating!
Finally, here is a picture of our Day of the Dead altar. This is after our guests brought out the lighted votive candles and placed them beside the picture of their choice. Little colored corn, the aroma of Ginger Pumpkin wax melts and burning herbs (Calendula for Healing, Rosemary for Remembrance, Wheat for the Harvest time, and Rose Petals for End of Summer/Remembrance)were offerings for our Sacred Dead.
