Halloween is a time for decorating while eating teats, and scaring people or perhaps getting scared yourself. Freshman Lily Cleveland, Sophomore Sophia Scherrer, Freshman Mia Lorenzen, Highlands High School Physics Teacher Scott Turner, and Highlands High School Principal John Darnell tell us about their decorating experiences. 

     For many people, a big part of Halloween is decorating. 

     According to NEWS10ABC, an estimated 82% of Americans will decorate in some way for Halloween. 

According to the History Channel, with the meaning of the holiday changing over the years, so do traditions. The Celts were the largest group in Europe.

     The Celts would decorate their houses for Halloween to fend off the evil spirits of the recently deceased, who could return to menace the living. 

     Scherrer has put up three pumpkins and spiders as decorations outside her house. 

      According to Scherrer, “the weather has been nice” which is why she decorated for Halloween. Her favorite decoration is cobwebs and plans to put some up on October 16 or 17. 

      Lorenzen puts out decorations like sound effects in order to scare people who walk by her house. 

     For the fall season, Turner has pumpkins on his porch and decorations around the house. It takes Turner 15 minutes to decorate the porch and house for the spooky season. 

     Darnell decorates for the season with skeletons because his house is an old church. He commented “too long” for how long it takes to decorate his house. Darnell’s favorite decoration is a skeleton that his family named Mr. Bones. 

     Halloween decorations can also include haunted houses. 

     Haunted houses started as a way to keep children off the streets and out of trouble. 

     Parents would arrange a “trail of terror” for the kids to walk through. 

According to the History Channel, in 1915, the first purpose-built haunted house was created by a British amusement ride manufacturer. 

     The first purpose-built haunted source was called the Orton and Spooner Ghost House. It most closely resembles a carnival funhouse, which was powered by steam. This ghost house still exists in the Hollycombe Steam Collection in Liphook, England. 

     There are over 1,200 haunted attractions that charge admission fees now, according to American Haunts.

     People still set up their very own haunted houses, open to the public with no admission fee required. 

     A Fort Thomas family, the  Clevelands have been doing a homemade haunted house every Halloween since 2012. Their haunted house runs throughout the backyard, front yard, and driveway and it takes about a month and a half to set up. There are over 20 actors, lights, and thrills throughout the house. 

     Cleveland commented, “This year we are doing the haunted house two different nights. Kind of like a preview night.” 

     Go check out the Cleveland’s haunted house on October 30 or 31.