Halloween is right around the corner! It’s celebrated every year on October 31. Did you know that the origins of Halloween date all the way back to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain? During the festival, people would “light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.”

Today, Americans celebrate Halloween in many ways, such as carving pumpkins, visiting haunted houses, or watching scary movies. One major tradition is trick-or-treating, most popular among children and families. You wear a costume and walk around your neighborhood, knocking on neighbors’ doors. When someone opens the door, you say, “Trick or treat!” The neighbor will give you a treat (usually candy) in order to avoid a trick.

At Shoreline, the International Student Leaders traditionally hold an annual Halloween Party on campus. Students can wear costumes and join some fun activities, such as playing Halloween games or learning about other cultures’ scary traditions. Check out these pictures from last year’s event:

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Missing the Halloween Party this year? Celebrate Halloween with us virtually!

Join us for a costume contest or pumpkin carving contest: Take a photo of your creative costume or pumpkin carving (virtual and drawn pumpkins are welcome) and submit it here by October 27. Submissions will be posted on social media for open voting until November 1, and we’ll announce winners on November 2. 

Finally, join the ISLs for a live Zoom Halloween celebration on Thursday, October 29! Costumes are encouraged. We’ll have activities like sharing ghost stories, playing scary (or less-scary) games, and more. Join us on Thursday between 8:00-9:00 on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87897254464

Have a safe and fun Halloween, no matter how you decide to celebrate!