Halloween at our home

Halloween arrived in Portugal through the doors of schools and street parties, and today it is one of the nights children look forward to most. It doesn't need to be scary to be good: most kids just want to wear a cape, paint their faces, and go out trick-or-treating with their friends.

In this category, we have put together costumes, the accessories that complete them, and a few things to do at home before heading out. Almost everything is made of real fabric, the kind that survives the following Carnival and the years of pretend play that come after.

Witches

The most requested costume and the easiest to put together: a velvet cape, hat, and broom. The black cape is the classic, while the pink one is for those who want the witch without the scare. The gold dress can be worn on its own, with nothing else needed underneath.

Skeletons and skulls

Full-body suits with bones printed on the front and back, including one that glows in the dark after being exposed to light. They work well for those out in the street at night because they can be seen from a distance.

Bats, spiders, and ghosts

Bat wings and spiderweb capes are the alternative to a full costume: they are worn over the clothes the child is already wearing and can be taken off in an instant when it starts getting warm indoors. For babies, there are bodysuits with the same figures that are used as regular clothing.

Pumpkins

The pumpkin is the Halloween figure that works for any age and scares no one. The pumpkin-shaped bag solves the practical part of the night, which is having somewhere to put the sweets without losing them along the way.

How to choose

Three things almost always decide the purchase:

• Age.Up to two years old, short capes and bodysuits that don't drag on the floor or get in the way of walking. From three to eight, full costumes and accessories.
• The venue.For a party indoors, a full costume is comfortable. For walking in the street in October, a cape over a jacket is worth more.
• The after.A witch cape or bat wings will come out of the box all year round. A very specific costume usually only comes out once.

If the child already has a formed opinion, let them choose the figure. The difference between a costume worn with pleasure and a costume that is taken off after ten minutes is usually that.

Frequently asked questions

From what age are there Halloween costumes?

From the first months. Pumpkin, bat, ghost, and skeleton bodysuits start at the 6 to 12-month size and are worn like a normal piece of clothing, without masks or anything covering the face. Full costumes and capes go up to eight years old.

Are the costumes suitable for Carnival?

They are, and that is half the way to justifying the purchase. Witches, skeletons, bats, and pumpkins are just as common Carnival figures as they are for Halloween, and capes and hats fit into any improvised costume throughout the year.

How to wash them?

The general rule is hand washing or a delicate cycle at thirty degrees, turned inside out, and dried in the shade. Velvet and fabrics with glitter should not go in the tumble dryer. The label on each piece overrides this rule.

How long does it take to arrive?

It depends on the item. What is in stock at the Barcelos store leaves the following day. Costumes marked as pre-order are requested from the supplier when a sale occurs, so the product page will warn you that it takes longer. If you have October 31st right at the door, check that warning before finishing your order.

What does a child need to go trick-or-treating?

The costume, a bag that fits the sweets, and something that makes them visible in the dark: a light-coloured garment, a reflector on their clothes, or a suit that glows in the dark. The rest is accompanying them and agreeing in advance on which streets to walk.