Haunting Breaks' tips for a top Halloween

Halloween offers the perfect excuse to get together with friends and celebrate everything spooky. Paranormal specialists Haunting Breaks’ suggestions and facts should ensure that this Halloween is your best yet.

FANCY DRESS
Why dress up at Halloween? Because it’s fun and sets the mood for a good time before the party even starts. Also when the ghosts and ghoulies appear you will blend right in!

HORROR FILMS
As the light fades gets into the Halloween spirit by watching a really scary movie like The Shining, Poltergist, A Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween!

GHOST STORIES
Spook your friends by telling ghost stories by candle light.

STAY OVER NIGHT IN A HAUNTED HOTEL
For the ultimate Halloween thrill, spend the night in a haunted hotel. Haunting Breaks is offering an unforgettable night in The Feathers on 31 October, in Ludlow for just £170 per person. The break features: ghost hunting, dowsing, séances, table tipping, glass divination, dinner with wine, overnight accommodation and breakfast.

Ghosts that haunt this property include: a lady ghost who dislikes female guests in room 211, a teenage girl walking through cars in the car park and a gentleman in Victorian dress accompanied by a dog walking through room 232 into room 233! For a full list of events consult hauntingbreaks.co.uk.

HOW TO SPOT A GHOSTLY PRESENCE ON HALLOWEEN
- Sudden changes in temperature indicate a spirit is in the room – you may feel very hot or very cold
- Headaches and feeling sick – both these things can indicate spiritual activity
Unexplained noises or movements of objects
- You may feel someone touching you but be unable to see anyone
- A bat is a sign that ghosts or spirits are very nearer. It’s also believed that if your candle goes out on Halloween you are in the presence of a ghost

HALLOWEEN MYTHS, TRADITIONS AND GAMES
Myths and traditions:
• It is said that if you hear someone's footsteps behind you on the Halloween night, do not turn back because it may be the dead following you. If you do look back you might join the dead very soon.
• Apples: if you place an apple under your pillow you will dream of your future husband
• Take a candle and look in the mirror while combing your hair and the image of your future husband will appear over your shoulder
• There is the old saying that "black cats are bad luck". It was once believed that black cats were the devil, or consumed by evil spirits.
• If you put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night. At midnight you will see a witch in the sky.
• If you ring a bell on Halloween it will frighten evil spirits away.
• If a bat flies around your house three times on Halloween, death is very soon to come
• People used to believe if you walked around your house three times backwards before sunset on Halloween, it would take care of all evil.
If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you

Games
Apple bobbing - you can't have a Halloween party without bobbing for apples. It's easy – just float apples in a large bowel filled with water. The object of the game is to grab an apple in your mouth without using your hands.

Pumpkin Carving - a Halloween party isn't complete without pumpkins You'll need to buy enough for each of your friends. Then simply take out the guts of the pumpkins and carve them into spooky masterpieces!

Pin the Wart on the Witch - draw a witch on a large piece of paper and make enough witch's warts for all your friends. Then blindfold the players, spin them around three times or give them a drink or two and get them to pin the wart on the witch! The player who sticks the wart closest to the nose wins.