This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Molloy chapter.

Let’s Talk Spooky Etiquette

Greetings Ghouls, Gargoyles, and All Monsters In-between: The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. Leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and in a few short weeks Halloween will be upon us!

With that said, here’s a few do’s and dont’s to keep in mind during October.

1. DO dress up!

Obvious, right? What’s Halloween without a costume or two? There’s so many different ideas to choose from. If you’re picking a theme and dressing up with a bunch of friends, there’s a ton of choices for you, too!

2. DON’T be offensive.

This goes without saying (I hope), but there are just some things that shouldn’t be worn as a costume/dress up. This isn’t to say that you aren’t free to express yourself, you do you! Just keep it respectful so everyone can enjoy Halloween :)

If you’re not sure what’s considered “offensive”/are wondering if your costume is “offensive” in some way, here’s a small list of some definite no-no’s and the reasons why.

3. DO decorate!

Decorating your space for Halloween is the best fun you’ll ever have, and the scarier the better!! You’ll be the top house for trick-or-treaters. Put up a spider web or two to charm (or terrify) the kids that visit your block.

4. DON’T “prank” a house.

Egging, TP-ing, Silly-Stringing, etc. a house just because there was no candy is childish and– quite frankly –obnoxious. A house will eventually run out of candy, kids. There’s no endless supply of sweets in the back room. There is, however, and endless supply of houses you could visit. So instead of vandalizing your neighbors front yard, move on to the next one.

5. DO trick-or-treat as a group!

Trick-or-treating as a group is awesome for two reasons: 1) You get to walk around… with your friends… knocking on doors… and getting free candy. What’s better that?? 2)The bigger the group, the safer you are. No, seriously. As much as I love Halloween, I know it can be dangerous for a lone werewolf on a candy run. Plus, it’s a lot more fun if you go with friends anyway!

6. DON’T be greedy.

Sometimes a house will leave a bowl of candy out for the kids because they can’t be home to give it out in person. Usually, said bowl with come with a “Please Take ONE!” note in the hopes that the bowl can last for all of the trick-or-treaters that visit. Don’t be that person that grabs a fistful/dumps the whole bowl into their bag. That’s no fun. Take ONE ( 1 ) and move along!

7. DO host a party!

If you’re able to put together a Halloween party for your friends and family, do so! It’s a lot of fun, and there’s so many cool things you can put together for your guests! (p.s. you can make it a haunted house experience, too!)

8. DON’T host a séance.

Don’t play with Ouija boards. Don’t open doorways you can’t close. Don’t try to summon anything. Don’t mess with Spirits, kids. Just don’t.

9. DO indulge in spooky things!

Ghost stories, scary movies, realistic props galore. This is prime time to get a full dose of all things horrific and down right terrifying! Here’s a couple of lists to fill your needs: MOVIES STORIES PROPS GAMES

10. DON’T overdo not-so-spooky things.

As mentioned before, Halloween parties and get together’s can be a lot of fun! But doing certain things in excess can lead to a-lot-less-fun spooky situations. What ever you do on Halloween night, make sure you do it safely and in moderation!

Above all: stay safe and have a scary time!

The DO’s and DON’T’s of Halloween