If you're looking for a bit of a backstory on how Halloween came to be what it is today then you should read this fascinating and informative article by Jack Santino found at The Library of Congress American Folklife Center site.

There you will discover all you need to know about how Halloween became a holiday celebrated worldwide, and the cultural traditions of various countries that are linked to All Hallow's Eve.

American Folklife Center- it's historically terror-ific!

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Take a gander at the well made kid's Halloween costumes found at the link below and I'm sure you'll say to yourself "my, those were well made costumes", and you know what- you'll be right!

They're costumes for kids, well made ones, take a look because you really, really want to...or because you're an awesome costume aficionado.

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Want to serve Jell-O shots at you Halloween party, but want the presentation to fit the theme? Then try serving them in syringes or even an IV bag. My Science Project has some other great holiday cocktail ideas as well.

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Better not dribble that ball too hard, but other than that, this is one heck of a great Halloween costume for a pregnant woman. Oddee has 11 other great costumes including Humpty Dumpty,  The Death Star and more.

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Getting all liquored up on Halloween is how many adults trick-or-treat, but you'll have to decide for yourself whether these gruesome looking Zombie Brain Shots are a trick or a delicious treat!

Created using vodka, lime juice, grenadine and irish cream, only those with a strong stomach and a desire to channel their inner zombie need apply.

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Pooh Bear is a popular costume choice when you're a kid, but when you're all grown up it's way too easy to do Pooh Bear costuming all wrong!

Photo: Loozrboy/Flickr

The guys in this pic are doing it right- happy faces, soft clean costumes and they both look pretty cuddly despite being grown men in Pooh and Tigger getups. Even their face painting says "Don't be afraid, we're nice guys!"

Photo via FilmDrunk

However, the creepy guy in this second picture is doing Pooh Bear all wrong- from the terrifying face paint to the scary look in his eyes to the short sleeves and short pants look, this is one Winnie you wouldn't want to run into in a dark alley!

Photo: F. Tronchin/Flickr

Here's a tribute to the Dark Side of pumpkin carving- it's a jack-o-lantern carved to look like everyone's favorite killer space station the Death Star.

I bet this finely carved work of pumpkin art would look quite spectacular being blown up in slow motion, but that'll have to wait until after Halloween!

Since folks are putting up a tree for Halloween these days, why not go all the way and hang a funeral wreath from your door as well?

It would make a gorgeous addition to any haunted house or tomb, and putting it together is fun and easy.

Check out the Instructable by Brass Paperclip and channel your inner crafty creature for a bit of decor that's sure to have the ghouls knocking down your door!

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Photo: Bissolis/Wikimedia Commons

Who says the pumpkin you carve into a jack-o-lantern this Halloween has to be the same old boring shade of orange?

This big ol' smiley guy is a Ton-Gua pumpkin which is native to China, although this particular carving comes to us from Mr. Efram Passarini Cerea of Verona, Italy. He's a multicultural carving, and proud of it.

So don't be afraid to carve a different kind of pumpkin this Halloween, embrace squash diversity!

(YouTube Link)

I'm not sure how I missed this awesome Ninja Turtle balloon costume when I posted the Buzz Lightyear version a while back (Link), so here it is in all its teenage mutant glory.

The creators of both costumes are part of Balloon Distractions, a group who enjoys bending balloons into eye pleasing shapes and teaching novice balloon artists how it's done.

Check out their YouTube channel if you want to learn how to make some balloon art of your own, although there's no guarantee that the nerve-wracking sqeaking won't drive you crazy!

--via Geekologie

Strapping a saddle on your dog is wrong when you're a kid, but when you're all grown up and have a pet of your own you can make your pet wear whatever you want.

That's why you need the Dog Riders Pet Costumes- they satisfy your dog's need to serve as a mount for a monkey, a headless horsemen or a little racehorse jockey, among the other fun versions available.

And best of all they don't bother your dog (much), so even PETA can't get peeved about this one!

Check them out right in our very own Neatoshop, or shop elsewhere if you dare...

Link  --via Laughing Squid

Creating Really Awesome Free Things has a great list of 29 kid's costumes you can make at home yourself. While they're all pretty cool, this King Kong on a building is simply brilliant.

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Are you looking for some light Halloween reading that involves little fluffy kittens and good old fashioned bloodsuckers?

Discover the first six hilarious pages of Dracula & Kittens by Brandon Mendelson and Bram Stoker, a tale which will satisfy your hunger for travel journals and cheesy dialog!

(some dialog NSFW)

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These adorable young men in their TV character costumes from the series Breaking Bad are being passed around the internet, but we don't know who they are or who took the picture. The earliest posting I can find is from a year ago, and it may have originated at Twitter. -via Warming Glow

(YouTube Link)

The small northern town of Anoka, Minnesota has proclaimed itself to be the Halloween Capital of the World.

Every year they host an Orange Tie Ball, Halloween parades, pumpkin carving competitions, house decorating contests, Grey Ghost 5k and the coronation of a Royal Ambassador to spread the spook-tacular vibes.

So why is Anoka the Halloween Capital?

Anoka, Minnesota is believed to be the first city in the United States to put on a Halloween celebration to divert its youngsters from Halloween pranks.

In 1920, George Green and other Anoka civic leaders suggested the idea of a giant celebration.

Celebrations have been held every year since 1920 with the exception of 1942 and 1943 when the festivities were cancelled because of World War II.

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