Miss Pansy hopes that you had a great Halloween!

For most of us hard-core Halloween fanatics, Halloween lasts the whole year long. Miss Pansy is no exception. She found her little costume kept her warm during the chilly night of dishing out candy to the neighborhood urchins on Halloween, and what with the price of heating fuel, she will be wearing it again soon.

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My favorite from their catalog of reproduction historic gravestones is “Memory”, adapted from a small stone located in East Parish Burial Ground, Newton, Massachusetts.

Visit the Gravestone Girls today.

A fresh batch of Halloween pinback buttons, featuring the retro art of Andy Nortnik.

Buy the buttons here or visit Andy’s site to buy his Halloween clip art.

Primitive Halloween Bat Ornies that you make yourself, with an e-pattern from Rock River Stitches.
No waiting or shipping! The pattern, materials list, color photo and full instructions are delivered to you via email.

Draw upon the material the form of a coiled-up serpent; cut out the serpent with the point of a sharp pen-knife, and fasten a thread through the tip of the tail. When this is done, fasten to the mantelpiece, or to some board to be placed thereon, the other end of the thread, taking care that the stove register is open.

The weight of the serpent’s body and head will cause the coils and head to fall below the suspended tail, and then, as a current of air is always passing up an open chimney, the serpent will revolve with more or less rapidity, according to the strength of the draught of air. It is well that the serpent when made should be striped green, black, and yellow, and should have glass beads to represent eyes. Any situation in which there is a draught of air will be suitable, as well as the chimney-piece, in showing off the toy when made.

Source: Games, Puzzles, Charades, Recitations, 1903

Girl’s and Boy’s Fancy Costumes is a section from Fancy Dresses Described, or, What to Wear at Fancy Balls by Arden Holt. Fifth Edition, London; 1887.

I’ve broken down the costume ideas into alphabetized groups for easier browsing. Find inspiration for an authentic Victorian style Halloween party with the following:

Juvenile Fancy Balls are much the fashion, and the current is setting towards all that is quaint and picturesque. Some of the best dresses worn by young people are suggested by the illustrated books, fairy tales, and other works of fiction, specially written for them.

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FIGARO (Barber of Seville). Dark green velvet Spanish jacket embroidered in silver; white satin waistcoat; green velvet breeches with pink ribbons; pink sash with silver fringe, and necktie; Spanish hat; pink bows on shoes, white silk stockings; mandoline in hand.

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HEARTS, KING OF. Red and white striped stockings; blue justaucorps, cut in points, and covered with hearts; a large satin collar, in shape of two hearts; red cap, with hearts; tight and hanging sleeves; sceptre with hearts.

HEARTS, QUEEN OF. Red velvet princess dress with hearts, square cut at neck; sceptre in one hand, bouquet in other; pointed cap.

HENRY VI, wears a felt hood or bonnet, with short tippet and single feather; a doublet of braided silk, cut round even with the shoulders, a separate scarf covering the latter; loose sleeves, trimmed with fur; tight hose; high boots of brown leather, long-toed and spurred.

HERALD. White felt hat with feather; the tabard coat yellow, green, or blue, with the arms embroidered in gold or silver, and a shoulder jacket of contrasting colour; tight silk hose; trousers striped or parti-coloured; and a trumpet.

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MALTESE WATER-CARRIER (Boy). Sabots, blue stockings, white trousers; red silk sash; blue jersey, striped jacket, red cap barrel; and cup. (See Coloured Plate XVI.)

MARLBOROUGH, DUKE OF. Full wig; large lace neckcloth; hanging cuffs and ruffles; square-cut coat and long-flapped waistcoat; a sash over the right shoulder; blue or scarlet silk stockings, with gold or silver clocks, drawn high up over the knee; square-toed shoes, with high heels and small buckles.

MARQUIS, LOUIS XVI. Blue velvet coat and breeches embroidered in gold; lace sleeves and cravat; white satin vest embroidered in gold; three-cornered hat edged with gold lace, having white plume; shoes with diamond buckles; sword.

MARQUIS OF CARABAS. Tights; velvet shoes; velvet dress bordered with gold; belt round waist; hanging sleeves ; large hat and feather.

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PROSPERO. Long black velvet robe trimmed with sable and gold, made with long hanging sleeves, scarlet under sleeves, barred with gold; large collar facings of scarlet and black with hieroglyphic signs; skull cap similarly bordered; flowing grey wig, beard and moustache; red stockings, pointed shoes.

PUNCHINELLE. (For Boy). Bodice and tunic in yellow satin, striped with black bands, bound with gold ; skirt of red velveteen; red pompons and belt; black lace ruffles, cuffs and basque glittering with gold; red and black hat with gold spangles and tufted plume; wooden shoes.

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SCHOOLBOY. For a tall boy; green jacket, with triple row of buttons down the front; large frilled collar; grey trousers, short, and buttoned over the jacket; shoes with straps; a satchel with books slung over shoulder.

SCHOOLMASTER. Coat of cloth made long, with gold buttons; striped blue waistcoat; nankeen breeches, fas­tened at the knee with the same buttons; white and blue woolen stockings; high collar, and blue silk necktie; spelling book under the arm; Madras handkerchief escaping from the pocket; periwig, brown jersey; quill pen in the ear; birch in the hand; muslin frillings round the wrist.

SHEPHERD. Blue stockings, black shoes- figured blue cotton bodice showing only at neck; and breeches, bunches of ribbon at knee; Holland smock, long sleeves bordered with pink and blue ribbon, embroidered in silk with flowers; white wig.

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Down in the silent, emerald water
The Sea King dwelt, and his lovely daughter.
Grand was the palace under the wave,
And gay with the troops of mermen brave-
Rich with a wealth of sea-gems rare,
And decked with all that was bright and fair;
But richest and brightest and fairest of all
Were the royal maiden’s bower and hall,
Whose myriad arches, firm and light,
Upsprang from clustering pillars bright
Of rainbow opal, and sapphire blue,
And ruby and crystal of every hue.
The gardens were full of strange sea-flowers,
The brilliant growths of the coral bowers-
Gay floating blossoms and stars on stems,
And stony palm trees with diadems
Of soft, outstreaming, delicate blooms,
Whose living and ever-waving plumes
Would disappear if a sound too rude
Invaded their peaceful solitude.
And gaily along each winding walk
Pealed lightsome laughter and merry talk,
Or mermaids’ singing, so sweet and clear
That the dolphin, passing, paused to hear.
‘Twas a joyous life they led, and free,
These beautiful maidens of the sea;
For mild and sweet was the Sea Queen’s sway:
‘Twas pleasure to see her, and joy to obey.
Not one of the nymphs, nor wild-wood elves,
Nor even the fairy band themselves,
Surpassed in sweet and delicate grace
The witching charm of her form and face.

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When your little brother or sister has a birthday party and you want a novelty for the tea table, try the “enchanted pumpkin,” and see what fun it will make for the guests.

It ought to be a prize pumpkin, and a big one. Scoop out all the inside. That will do well enough to make pies out of for grown-up people on days that are not birthdays. Then stuff it full of toys, tied up in mysterious looking bundles.

To each package tie a bright ribbon, letting the loose ends fall out over the sides of the pumpkin. Then carefully replace the cap or stem part, which you cut off, so that it will look as if it were still whole, and place it on your tea table. Surrounded by ferns and colored autumn leaves, and decorated with the drooping ends of the ribbons, it will make a very pretty centerpiece.

When the feast is over set the children to guessing how many seeds are in the pumpkin. When all have guessed, tell each to take hold of one of the ribbons, and when you say “Three!” they must pull on the ribbons, and in that way they will see how many seeds are in the pumpkin.

Of course, each little guest secures a pretty gift.

Source: The People’s Home Journal, October 1896
Image Source: Altered from a photograph by Pascal Montsma