This year’s Halloween falls on Tuesday, October 31, a tradition where people wear various costumes believed to ward off negative energy or ghosts.
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The celebrations were first observed 2,000 years ago by The Celts as part of their new year calendar, which falls on November 1st.
This period was believed to be followed by a cold and dark winter, often associated with human death.
To wade off evil spirits or ghosts, the Celts celebrate Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) on October 31st. Today, this celebration is modernised into Halloween.
During Samhain, they built and lit bonfires surrounded by people who threw in their crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. The Celts also wore special costumes made from animal skins and heads.
Until recently, the celebration of Halloween was limited to New England but was common in Maryland.
October 31 celebrations became a get-together bonding activity for the American community in the late 1800s after the release of a movie. Although the movie featured a Halloween theme, the storyline was about community, sharing, and bonding.
By the 20th century, the religious celebration metamorphosed into playing games and sharing food with frightening costumes.
As you prepare to celebrate the day with your family, here are 10 costume ideas to celebrate Halloween with your family.
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10 Halloween Costume Ideas for Black Families
Yarn Girl
Learning to yarn or crochet is one of the important skills in the black community. Not only does it help you develop valuable insights, but it encourages you to pay attention to detail.
Yarn and crochet most likely influenced a part of black history. Black women often yarn as they babysit. Elderly women yarn or crochet in their favourite chair on the porch or balcony while appreciating nature. They would go on to pass the skill to their children and the next generations.
Getting the whole family to dress in yarn costumes this Halloween, each in their favorite color will open up conversations and curiosity in the younger folks.
Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman lives on, thanks to the epic Black Panther. The movie, which speaks about a unified black community using technology and science to develop its people, may be a fantasy but could be a reality.
To affirm this reality and to remember Chadwick, you can dress up in the Black Panther costume this Halloween. Share ideas and solutions about a unified front for all black communities across the world and ways to help, support, and celebrate one another.
The Three figures
NASA today is incomplete without the contributions of Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Dorothy Vaughan. Despite racism at its peak at the time, these black women mathematicians defied all odds to make history.
With determination, intelligence, and tolerance, they successfully pushed John Glenn, the first American, into orbit. The story goes beyond their skin tone to their race, pointing to the issues of minority groups like black people, women, and children.
In the movie The Three Figures, Katherine and two black women often wore well-ironed clothes that made them look more smart.
Why not portray The Three Figures this Halloween to pay homage to the brilliant black mathematicians?
Afro Samurai
This black character in a Japanese anime illustrated by Takashi Okazaki is one of my favorites. When I see Afro, I see my brothers. Like Afro, black people can be skilled swordsmen in their families, careers, vocations, communities, and the world.
If you love the story of Afro Samurai too, get costumes like his outfits and let the young men dress as such for October 31st night.
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Sister Krone
The Promised Neverland has a cast called Sister Krone, who you’re probably familiar with. It’s hard not to hate her character, but she’s also fun to watch.
Many people who watched her character agree she exaggerates her personality, portraying features that are stereotyping of black women.
Start a conversation around her character to discuss how well she could have been portrayed this Halloween by dressing up your family in her costume.
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Complete Breakfast
What is your favorite breakfast? Everyone loves toast bread with a delicious omelet and fresh juice. What about your favorite cereal? Whatever your favorite, can you make costumes to show how much you love a specific breakfast?
You’ve got this!
Pet costumes
It’s time to involve your pets, too. Pets fill our daily lives with love and care and teach us loyalty. Do you have a cat or dog at home? Appreciate them by designing costumes like their skin for this Halloween.
Remember to capture the moments on camera where your pets stare at the family in a cat or dog costume in disbelief.
The Woman King
Viola Davis is an inspiration to many women and the black community. I bet you’ve been inspired not only by her roles on your screen but also by her story-telling prowess.
You might have admired her as Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder. And as a black woman, you might have felt proud watching her repeat history in The Woman King as Nanisca.
Believe me, Viola is that woman! So it’s not out of the question to include her costume and that of her women army in your family’s plan this October.
Ketanji Brown Jackson
Black people are less represented in various industries. The situation is depressing, even among black women. That’s why, when President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, emotions stirred.
As the first black woman to hold that office, she’s an emblem of hope, fulfillment, and light to all.
Four things are clear when it comes to her unique appearance:
- Sisterlocs
- Dark colors
- Neck beads/ Pearls
- Transparent Round Glasses
Guess what? Plan and make her costumes this Halloween.
Jim Beckwourth
RJ Cyler acting as Jim Beckwourth in The Harder They Fall, is an annoying character who talks a lot but who unfairly dies. The costume director did an excellent job mixing historical costumes with modernity.
One of such outstanding costumes is that of RJ Cyler. He appeared cow-boyish yet classic. You might want to portray his character this October.
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Halloween is an outstanding celebration that brings together the whole community. The events encourage sharing, bonding, and an opportunity to mimic your favorite characters, artifacts, objects, and icons.
Remember, do you, and happy Halloween!
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