This Week’s Treasure Trove (Halloween Special Edition)

Halloween Meaning

Halloween is short for All Hallow Even.

According to Merriam-Webster in its article, The Origin of ‘Halloween.’ Or ‘Hallowe’en’?, “the spelling of Halloween derives from its earlier name All Hallows Even (or eve) which took place the night before All Hallows Day, now known as All Saints Day. All Hallows Even was shortened to Hallowe’en, and later to Halloween. In the western Christian liturgical calendar, November 1 is All Saints’ Day, a feast day to honor all the Christian saints.”

When is Halloween Celebrated?

Halloween is celebrated on 31 October yearly. A hallmark of its celebration is wearing costumes and trick-or-treating and displaying jack-o’-lanterns decorations. Halloween in the year 2021 falls on a Sunday.

What is the Origin of Halloween?

According to Encyclopedia Britannica’s article “Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?, “Halloween’s origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, which was held on November 1 in contemporary calendars. It was believed that on that day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits.

In the 7^th century CE, Pope Boniface IV created All Saints Day, originally celebrated on May 13. A century later, Pope Gregory III moved the holiday to November 1, likely as a Christian substitute for the pagan festival of Samhain. The day before the saintly celebration became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween.

The custom of trick-or-treating, in which children dress up in costume and solicit treats from neighbors, became popular in the United States in the early 20^th century as Irish and Scottish communities revived the Old World custom of “guising,” in which a person would dress in costume and tell a joke, recite a poem, or perform some other trick in exchange for a piece of fruit or other treat. By 1950, trick-or-treating for candy had become one of Halloween’s most popular activities.”

Which Halloween Movies are worth watching?

I have classified the best Halloween movies you have to watch under the following film genres:

• Horror
• Horror Comedy
• Action
• Fantasy
• Adventure
• Animation

Without further ado, here are the best Halloween movies to watch.

Horror Movies

• IT – It is an adaption of Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name. In the summer of 1989, a group of seven bullied children team up to destroy a shape-shifting monster, known as Pennywise which disguises, itself as a clown and preys on the children of their town every 27 years.
• IT Chapter Two – Pennywise returns 27 years later to terrorize the town of Derry. The members of the Losers’ Club must conquer their worst fears to destroy Pennywise once and for all.
• A Quiet Place – The Abbott family, in a post-apocalyptic world, must navigate their lives in silence to survive aliens that hunt by sound.
• A Quiet Place Part II – Following the fatal turn of events at home, the Abbott family are forced to face the terrors of the outside world while continuing their fight for survival in silence from the monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing.

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Please see below the Amazon links to watch any of the movies at an affordable price (paid link):

Horror Comedy Movies

• Goosebumps – A fictionalized character of R. L. Stine, the famous author of the best-selling “Goosebumps” series teams up with his daughter, Hannah and his teenage neighbour, Zach Cooper to save their hometown after Zach accidentally sets free all the monsters from the Goosebumps books.

• Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween – A standalone sequel. Halloween comes to life when Slappy, an evil puppet is accidentally released from an unpublished “Goosebumps” book by R.L. Stine. Three friends must lock Slappy and his ghoulish friends back into R.L. Stine’s book before they let loose complete pandemonium.

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Please see below the Amazon links to watch any of the movies at an affordable price (paid link):

Action Movies

• Venom – Eddie Brock, a failed journalist becomes host to a shape-shifting alien named Venom. The bond gives him extraordinary strength and power. Venom is one of many symbiotes who have invaded Planet Earth but takes a liking to Earth and chooses to defend it.

• Venom: Let There Be Carnage – Cletus Kasady, an unhinged serial killer becomes the host of the symbiote, Carnage, and unleashes mayhem. It is up to Eddie and Venom to set aside their disagreements and end Cletus/Carnage’s reign of terror.

• Resident Evil (film series) – Resident Evil is based on Capcom’s video game series of the same name. The first six films are about an ex-security specialist and covert operative, Alice, who fights the Umbrella Corporation, whose biological weapons have caused a zombie apocalypse.
  1. Resident Evil
  2. Resident Evil: Apocalypse
  3. Resident Evil: Extinction
  4. Resident Evil: Afterlife
  5. Resident Evil: Retribution
  6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
  7. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City – The seventh film is the origin story which delves into the secrets of the Spencer Mansion and Raccoon city. It is set to be released on 24 November 2021.

• Underworld (film series) – Underworld follows characters who are caught up in a war between lycans and vampires.
  1. Underworld – Introduces Selene, a superior vampire-warrior who disobeys her orders, and Michael Corvin, a human who gets caught up in the war.
  2. Underworld: Evolution – Follows the pursuit of Selene and Michael by their enemies.
  3. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans – Is the origin story of the series which shows the cause of the vampire-lycan war.
  4. Underworld: Awakening – Humans discover the existence of vampires and lycans and try to exterminate them.
  5. Underworld: Blood Wars – Selene fights to end the longstanding war between vampires and lycans.

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Please see below the Amazon links to watch any of the movies at an affordable price (paid link):

Fantasy Movies

• Ghostbusters (1984) – Three scientists forced out of their university funding set up shop as “ghostbusters”- a distinctive ghost removal service in New York City. After stumbling upon a gateway that will unleash evil upon the city, the Ghostbusters have to save the city from annihilation.

• The Twilight Saga – The movies are based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling Twilight series vampire romance novels.
  1. Twilight – Revolves around Bella Swan, a misfit, and her budding romance with Edward Cullen, a vampire who does not drink human blood. Edward and his family attempt to protect Bella from a vicious group of vampires.
  2. The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Edward leaves Bella to protect her after a nearly fatal attack. Bella is heartbroken and falls into a depression until she finds comfort in her friendship with a werewolf, Jacob Black.
  3. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – With a vengeful vampire on her trail, Bella must choose between her love for vampire Edward and her growing feelings for her werewolf friend, Jacob.
  4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – After a dream wedding and fantastic honeymoon, the discovery that Bella is pregnant forces a life-or-death decision upon Bella and Edward.
  5. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – Bella comes alive as a vampire after the birth of her daughter, Renesmee/Nessie. A false allegation about their daughter brings them under a death sentence issued by the Volturi. The Cullens seek aid from their allies to protect Nessie.

• Fantastic Beasts series
  1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – The first instalment of the “Fantastic Beasts” series features the adventures of writer and magizooloogist, Newt Scamander, in New York’s secret community of magical beings. It is set in 1926 which is 70 years before Harry Potter reads Newt’s book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Magizoology is the study of magical creatures.
  2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – Set in 1927, the second instalment of the “Fantastic Beasts” series follows Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore as they attempt to thwart Gellert Grindelwald’s plans of raising pure-blood wizards to dominate the No-Majs (non-magical beings).
  3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – In the third instalment of the “Fantastic Beasts” series, Albus Dumbledore entrusts Newt Scamander and his intrepid allies with a dangerous mission that leads them into the centre of Grindelwald’s army. The movie is scheduled to be released on 15 April 2022.

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Please see below the Amazon links to watch any of the movies at an affordable price (paid link):

Adventure Movies

• Jumanji franchise
  1. Jumanji – Revolves around a supernatural board game which makes wild animals and other jungle hazards materialize after each player’s move. It is up to four players to finish the game to undo the destruction the game has caused.
  2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – Four high school students get sucked into the world of Jumanji, through a video game, where they must work as a team to complete the game.
  3. Jumanji: The Next Level – The gang returns to Jumanji to save one of their own but quickly realise that the game has been altered.

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Please see below the Amazon links to watch any of the movies at an affordable price (paid link):

Animations

• Coco – Miguel, an aspiring 12-year-old musician, struggles against his family’s generations-old ban on music. Eager to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the colourful and magical Land of the Dead. He meets Héctor who helps Miguel uncover the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
• Igor – a 2008 animated dark comedy in which the main character, Igor, a hunchbacked lab assistant dreams of becoming a mad scientist and winning the annual Evil Science Fair by making his own monster. In their world, Igor is the name given to all persons born with a hunchback.
• Hotel Transylvania franchise (Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4)
  1. Hotel Transylvania – In the first instalment released in 2012, Count Dracula (aka Drac) has a monster-only resort where monsters can live in peace without human interference that is until a human named Johnny stumbles upon the resort and falls in love with Mavis, Dracula’s daughter. Drac does all he can to prevent Mavis from falling in love with Johnny.
  2. Hotel Transylvania 2 – In the second instalment released in 2015, Drac enlists the help of his friends to bring out the vampire in his half human, half vampire grandson, Dennis, while Mavis and Johnny are away on vacation.
  3. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation – In the third instalment, Drac, his family and friends go on a monster cruise where Drac falls in love with the ship’s captain, Ericka, unaware that she is a member of the monster-hating Van Helsing family.
  4. Hotel Transylvania: Transformania – The fourth and final instalment is set to be released on Amazon Prime Video on 14 January 2022. In this final chapter, Drac and his friends become human, while Johnny becomes a monster. The gang must team up to find a way to switch themselves back before it’s too late.

• The Addams Family (Part 1 & 2)
  1. The Addams Family – The beloved eccentric Addams family move to their new home, an abandoned hilltop asylum where Wednesday’s friendship with the daughter of a local TV personality, Margaux Needler, causes a conflict between the families.
  2. The Addams Family 2 – In the sequel, the Addams go on a family vacation where they meet interesting characters and have wild adventures.

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Please see below the Amazon links to watch any of the movies at an affordable price (paid link):

Did I miss any movie you think should be on the list? Please share it in the comments section. Also, have you watched any of the abovementioned movies, what did you think about it/them? What movie do you consider to be the best Halloween movie?

Best Halloween Books

• IT by Stephen King

IT, a 1986 novel, is regarded as one of the most terrifying stories ever written. The story is about seven friends who face an evil monster that can take the form of their worst fears. One of IT’s favourite disguises is a clown called Pennywise, also called ‘Bob Gray’. The novel vacillates between their early years in 1958 and 27 years later in 1985.

Click the link below to get the book in audiobook, paperback or hardcover formats on Amazon (paid link):

• Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley

Written in 1818, Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, who succeeds in giving life to his creation. But Victor considers the being to be imperfect and a hideous monster and shuns it. Did you know that “Frankenstein” refers to the monster’s creator and not the monster?

Click the link below to get the book in audiobook, paperback or hardcover formats on Amazon (paid link):

• Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula is an 1897 gothic novel derived from vampire legends. The text of Dracula consists of letters, telegrams, diary entries, newspaper clippings, and journals. The book recounts the story of Dracula, a vampire, who relocates from Transylvania to England with the aim of finding new blood sources and spreading the curse of the undead. It’s also about Abraham Van Helsing and his group’s plan to end Dracula.

Click the link below to get the book in audiobook, paperback or hardcover formats on Amazon (paid link):

• The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

An 1886 novella on the duality of good and evil in man’s nature. It’s a tale of a mild-mannered and intelligent scientist, Dr Jekyll and the drug that transforms him into his malevolent and unrepentant, inner persona, Mr Hyde.

Click the link below to get the book in audiobook, paperback or hardcover formats on Amazon (paid link):

• Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy. The play narrates Macbeth’s blind ambition to seize power after three witches tell him that he will be King of Scotland and his ensuing fall.

Click the link below to get the book in audiobook, paperback or hardcover formats on Amazon (paid link):

Sidenote – The children’s book, Tales from Shakespeare, written by Charles and Mary Lamb gives a great summary of the play and several other works by Shakespeare, in easily comprehensible English.

Click the link below to get the Kindle edition of the book on Amazon (paid link):

• Goosebumps by R. L. Stine

Goosebumps is a succession of children’s horror stories which are the second best-selling book series in history, after the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling. The stories follow child characters, who find themselves in frightening circumstances, typically involving monsters and other bizarre groups.

Click the links below to get the Goosebumps series in paperback format on Amazon (paid link):

• The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien

A timeless classic first published in 1937 which served as a prelude to The Lord of the Rings. It’s an introduction to the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Sméagol/Gollum, and the imaginary world of Middle Earth. It is a narration of an unwilling hero’s adventures, a formidable magic ring, and the ruthless dragon, Smaug the Magnificent. The ring makes a prominent appearance in The Lord of the Rings.

Click the link below to get the book in audiobook, paperback or hardcover formats on Amazon (paid link):

• The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

— Sauron

The Lord of the Rings was initially published in three parts as The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The story takes place about 60 years after The Hobbit. It tells of the remarkable mission undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring, that is, Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Sam, Pippin, and Merry; Legolas the Elf; Gimli the Dwarf; Boromir of Gondor; and an enigmatic stranger named Strider.

I first came across the books at the British Council library in Kano State, Nigeria in 2004. I read all the books voraciously and I was thrilled when I heard that the books had been adapted into a film series. The movies are phenomenal but the plot in the books is richer.

Click any of the links below to get the book in audiobook, paperback or hardcover formats on Amazon (paid link):

• Harry Potter (7 book series) by J. K. Rowling
  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter is the best-selling book series in history. The fantasy work of fiction revolves around the lives of Harry Potter (“The Boy who Lived”), and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at magic-teaching Hogwarts School. The story arc relates to Harry Potter’s fight against “He Who Must Not Be Named” (aka Lord Voldemort), a dark wizard who plans to live forever, topple the Ministry of Magic (the wizard governing body), and subdue all wizards and muggles (non-magical people).

I read the first three books at the British Council in Kano State and read the remaining books online. The books are a page-turner! The movies don’t do justice to the books.

Click the links below to get the books in Kindle edition or paperback on Amazon (paid link):

• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two by J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany 

The official playscript of the original West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the 8^th story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage.

The story starts 19 years in the wake of the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It follows Harry Potter, (now a husband, father of 3 kids, and the overworked Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic), and his younger son, Albus Severus Potter, who is about to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Click the links below to get the books in Kindle edition or paperback on Amazon (paid link):

• Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander (Pseudonym), J.K. Rowling (Hogwarts Library)

The book’s first appearance is as the title of one of Harry Potter’s school books within the series. It is an indispensable introduction to the magical creatures of the wizarding world. The basilisk, the Hippogriff, the Hungarian Horntail are a few of the beasts that readers of the Harry Potter books will recognize.

Click the links below to get the book in Kindle edition on Amazon (paid link):

• Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer – The Twilight Saga is a series of four vampire-themed fantasy romance novels, two companion novels, and one novella:
  1. Twilight
  2. New Moon
  3. Eclipse
  4. Breaking Dawn
  5. Midnight Sun
  6. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella
  7. Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined

The first four books tell the story of Bella Swan, a teenager who falls in love with Edward Cullen, a telepathic vampire. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella, is a companion book to Eclipse and follows the story of Bree Tanner, a newly turned vampire. Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined tells the classic love story but, in a world, where the characters’ genders are reversed. Bella and Edward are now Beau and Edythe. The companion novel, Midnight Sun is the iconic love story of Bella and Edward told from Edward’s perspective

Click the links below to get the book in paperback or Kindle edition on Amazon (paid link):

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I have included the Amazon link if you would love to read any of the books in my Halloween collection. Please note that if you go with the Audible version, you’ll be able to listen to one book for free and keep it permanently in your library if it’s your first time using Audible. You’ll also have access to The Audible Plus Catalogue where you can listen to thousands of select Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Top Halloween Songs

The song playlist is categorized by popular songs and soundtracks from movies and cartoons/animations. Simply click the song title to listen to the song on Apple Music. Enjoy!

Popular Songs

1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
2. Zombie by Fela Kuti
3. Nightmares by The J. Geils Band
4. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
5. The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel

Movie Soundtracks

1. Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr (Ghostbusters)
2. The Story Continues by Patrick Doyle (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
3. Twilight and Shadow by Howard shore (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King)
4. Rosyln by St. Vincent & Bon Iver (The Twilight Saga – New Moon)

Cartoons/Animation Soundtracks

1. Scared of the Dark by Lil Wayne & Ty Dolla $ign (feat. XXXTENTACION) (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)
2. What’s Up Danger by Blackway & Black Caviar (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)
3. Not Evil by Tiffany Haddish (The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part)
4. Once Upon A Dream by Lana Del Rey (Maleficent)
5. Friends on the Other Side by Keith David (The Princess and The Frog)
6. Haunted Heart by Christina Aguilera (The Addams Family)
7. The Addams Family (Theme) by Christina Aguilera (The Addams Family 2)
8. Remember Me (Dúo) by Miguel [feat. Natalia Lafourcade](Coco)

Did I miss any song? If yes, let me know in the comments. What song gives you the creeps when you listen to it? Or better yet, what’s your go-to Halloween song(s)?

Quick aside

If you’re wondering why there is a lot of reference to cartoons and animations. Wonder no more, simply read the article, I dearly love cartoons and animations to date.

Halloween Quotes

Halloween was confusing. All my life my parents said, ‘Never take candy from strangers.’ And then they dressed me up and said, ‘Go beg for it.’

— Rita Rudner

Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it’s about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves.

— Elvis Duran

Being normal is vastly overrated.

— Aggie Cromwell (Halloweentown)

Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.

— Mason Cooley

The world turned upside down — in a good way — for one black velvet night.

— Karen Fortunati

There is nothing that gives more assurance than a mask.

— Colette

Halloween Vocabulary

1. Jack-o’-lantern: a lantern made of a pumpkin usually cut to resemble a human face.
2. Trick or treat: a Halloween practice in which children wearing costumes go from door to door in a neighborhood saying “trick or treat” when a door is opened to ask for treats with the implied threat of playing tricks on those who refuse.
3. Costume: an outfit worn to create the appearance characteristic of a particular period, person, place, or thing.

Scary Artwork

Life Lesson of the Week

Stop cowering in fear and boldly step out and live your best life!

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Please let me know in the comments section if you celebrate Halloween or not. If you don’t, let’s know why.

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