The most popular Halloween costumes are influenced by tradition and what is trending in pop culture that year. There are always options for the classic characters like one of the Ghostbusters or an FBI Agent. Choosing a Halloween costume that can be reused or altered to allow the wearer to go as a different character the following year is ideal, particularly for the more thrifty shoppers. If you want to be inspired when picking out a Halloween costume, we are here to help!
Halloween's History
Halloween originated approximately 2,000 years ago when people attempted to ward off ghosts. They wore costumes made chiefly of animal skins and lit bonfires during an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. The ancient Celts' new year began on November 1, which marked the end of summer, the time to harvest, and the beginning of winter, which they associated with death.
They believed October 31 was a day the worlds between the living and the dead merged, allowing the ghosts of the dead to return to the land of the living. They lit sacred bonfires to burn animals and crops as sacrifices to the Celtic deities they believed would help protect them from the spirits throughout winter.
Traditional Halloween Costume Ideas
Traditional Halloween costumes could be as simple as a pirate costume. Typically, the most popular Halloween costumes are a devil, a mummy, a princess, a vampire, or a clown. The great thing about these Halloween costumes is they are versatile, so they can be worn for multiple years. In movie franchises like "Hotel Transylvania," "It," and "Pirates of the Caribbean," these costumes could be famous for years.
When those movies are no longer trending, adding or removing a few things from the costumes can create a fun new outfit for Halloween night. With a creative mind, any traditional costume could be transformed into an evil costume, or you could be inspired to create adorable costumes to wear.
A great example is an all-black suit that covers your face. You could trick or treat as Peter Pan's shadow or as Kim Kardashian. If you have an afro, you could go as a 70's disco dancer if you add some white knee-high boots, or as Bob Ross. The possibilities are endless!
Pop Culture Ideas
Aside from the suggestions above, many pop culture ideas for Halloween costumes exist. For a fun group costume, you and your friends could dress up as the Avengers to attend a Halloween party or go trick-or-treating. You can never go wrong with a Marvel superhero costume.
If you're looking for a colorful costume, you could pay homage to the late Betty White by dressing similarly to her attire in "Golden Girls." If you want to channel your inner diva, you could go as Mandy Rose from WWE.
The most popular costumes will be from a show or movie with the most recent release date. Shows and films like "Stranger Things," "House of the Dragon," "Lightyear," and "Thor: Love and Thunder" are popular. A true classic will always be dressing as the Sanderson sisters from "Hocus Pocus," which only takes wearing a red, purple, or green robe and witch hat.
You can always dress up as your favorite character from any movie, show, or even your favorite book if you want to stay in your comfort zone.
Most Popular Halloween Costumes for Kids
Picking outfits for kids is difficult enough. Children want to feel empowered and inspired by their heroes, whether it's Wonder Woman or the latest Disney princess. Throwing in the ability to be anything they want for a whole night is another level! Below are some costume ideas sure to make a child's Halloween great!
Witch
There is nothing wrong with kids wearing classic cute witch costumes for Halloween fun. Kids often love dressing as witches, but now there are so many variations! For starters, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" was released this year, so the Scarlet Witch will be a popular Halloween costume.
Animals
Kids dressing up as an animal is always an adorable idea. There are a lot of duck, rabbit, and lion Halloween costumes on the market right now. Kids could wear a variation of animals from the Savanna while a couple of others dress as tourists on Safari!
However, since "Jurassic World: Dominion" was just released this year, a dinosaur will probably be a trendy Halloween costume again.
Superhero costumes
Due to their recent releases, Spiderman, Dr. Strange, and Thor will probably be trendy kid's costumes this year. But let's not forget about the classic superheroes. Superman is the all-time most popular Halloween costume. Every few years, it comes back as one of the most trending costumes.
Some of the best reasons kids wear superhero costumes are the ability to feel super strong and fast. Still, most superheroes also have a great suit and a cool mask.
If a couple of kids want to dress up in a themed Halloween costume, never forget the dynamic duo: Batman and Robin!
Family Costumes
The most popular Halloween costumes for your whole family may also be fun! "The Addams Family" allows plenty of options for a large family, or the costumes can be for a smaller family of four.
Some of the best Halloween costumes for families can be characters found in your favorite classic shows and movies like "The Jetsons," "Scooby Doo," "The Incredibles," and "The Wizard of Oz."
There are plenty of places to draw inspiration for these themed ensembles, but before you make or buy your costumes, ensure everyone is on board!
Safety Elements on Halloween Night
Halloween is a big night, but if you're going out for trick or treating, don't forget to add some safety measures to the costume. Those not celebrating Halloween may drive around while families walk on the roads.
Add reflective patches to Halloween costumes and wear shoes with reflectors to help vehicles see where you are. Also, carrying flashlights and trick-or-treat bags with lights on them could save a life. Not only will it allow you to see your surroundings better, but it will also help others see you.
Please remember to leave your porch light off if you aren't accepting trick-or-treaters. For those trick or treating, remind little ones to leave the dark houses alone, do not enter any homes, and do not wander out of sight.
Halloween safety is something everyone should practice. While getting candy is fun and delicious, someone could get hurt if family and friends aren't safe.
Conclusion
If you're looking for other Halloween costume ideas, Google can help but be sure you put in the correct search terms for the costume genre of your choice.
There are so many character ideas on the world wide web and many ways to look the part without breaking the bank. If you're looking for an easy costume, something simple like a black cape and a black mask could turn you into Zorro. If you're dressing like a princess, a tiara and a flowy dress could complete your look.
Halloween is one of the most fun nights of the year when people can be whomever they want and wear any number of outfits for one evening. Put your game face on, enjoy the spectacular Halloween costumes around you, eat plenty of candy, and party the night away!
