Some questions for you!

We are here yo finish what we started. We have decided to include a small section to make you think about some of the aspects we have discussed by means of this blog. In order to do this, we are going to pose some questions so that you answer them.

This is an individual exercise, but feel free to send us your answers and ideas to comment them. All of the answers can be found throughout the blog. Their objective is t help you to have a better idea of how Halloween is depicted in The Simpsons and also to raise your awareness that, in spite of being a cartoon, there is plenty of material in this programme that can make people understand more about one of the most important American celebrations.

 

1. Which is your favourite character in the blog?
2. What was your favourite episode?
3. what costumes are advisable to wear on Halloween?
4. Did you know about donating candies to the troops overseas? Have you considered the possibility of donating your Halloween candies?
5. What are some typical Halloween candies?
6. What do you think of Halloween pranks? Have you ever played one on somebody?
7. What measures can be taken to be safe on Halloween?
8. What are some of the most popular Halloween decorations? Which is your favourite? Why?
9. Have you ever been to a Halloween Candy inspection? What are the benefits? What measures can be taken if you decide not to attend this event?
10. What elements are essential at a Halloween party
11. How did the Trials of Salem start? Do you think they were fair? What is their repercussion nowadays?
12. What are some of the books or films about vampires in history?
13. Why are pumpkins so popular on Halloween? Where can you get some designs to carev your own pumpkin?
14. Who was Jack the Stingy and how does he relate to Halloween today?
15. If you were turned into a costume, which one would you choose?
16. What is the most famous Halloween prank ever?

Treehouse of horror XXII

We are about to finish the episode analysis! Here is the twenty-second Simpsons Halloween episode we will be talking about. you can watch it by clicking here.

This episode starts with Bart, Lisa and Maggie getting home after trick-or-treating. They are happy with the number of candies they were given.

 Unfortunately for them, Marge turns up and switches out the candies with dental higiene products.

  

 Children may disagree but ths is not an uncommon practice in the United States. After Halloween, children can go to the dentist. There their candies are bought back with cash, toothbrushes, etc., these candies are then sent to the troops overseas to boost their morale.

In the episode, Homer is asked to take the candies to the Army Headquarters but he decides to steal them.



In the end, Homer discovers that his children had replaced the candies with vegetables, so they had the last laugh.

If you want to read abou how to donate Halloween candy to troops overseas, check the following links:

http://operationshoebox.com/

http://www.examiner.com/article/operation-gratitude-donate-halloween-candy-to-troops-overseas

http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/

Perhaps your country doesn't have troops abroad but still you can donate some of the candies you are given on Halloween. That's a good way to share the spirit of celebration with others.

Treehouse of horror XX

Here we are we the twentieth episode related to Halloween. If you want to watch it online, go to this site.

The most important aspects in this episode have to do with costumes. As we had mentioned in a previous post, when dressing yourself up, it is a good idea to stick to classical characters such as the following ones:

You may think that these guys are disguised but they are not. They are the real monsters we remember from classical films and books! Actually, they are just roaming the streets because Halloween is the only day of the year on which they can go outwithout being identified.

Nobody realises they are the real monsters, which is an advantage but also implies a problem because children make fun of them given that their 'costumes' are old-fashioned.

That may give you an idea that classical costumes are a reliable option but not really trendy, so you can also go for more modern characters just as the monsters in the episode did:

Once you have dressed up, you are ready to go to a disguise party, which are somewhat traditional on Halloween, as you know.

Before going to a costume party, it would be perfect if you could check what are the most popular characters of the year in order to dress up like them. You may even win a prize if your costume is one of the best!

Treehouse of horror XVIII

Ready for another treehouse episode? Here is the eighteenth one and we are sure you will find interesting. If you want to watch the video versión, just click here.

The first reference to the celebration of Halloween in the United States can be seen right at the beginning of the episode. It consists of some typical Halloween muffins and the unforgettable decorations.

As for the stories in the episode, there is one that is directly related to Halloween because it deals with vandalism which, as we had mentioned some time ago, can ruin the whole celebration. We have already talked about some necessary precautions that will ensure your safety this day but we didn't mention much about what Halloween vandalism implies.

The third segment of the episode shows that Bart, Lisa and their friends are trick-or-treating but an old woman refuses to give them any treat. In fact, she spits into Milhouse's candy bag!

The children think about it and decide that they can trick the old woman because did not give them any treat, so they throw some ballons filled with water at her.

  

Then the children otice that they have more fun out of tricking people than from  being given candies and start just playing pranks on others. Indeed, some individuals like Halloween because of tricks and take pleasure in destroying other's property. 

 Mischievious behaviour is OK on Halloween but only to a certain extent. It doesn't require much thought to figure out that messing with authorities, stealing and attacking others will be frowned upon, however funny it may seem to some.

There are a number of hilarious pranks you can play on other people on Halloween that are not necessarily violent. Here we give you some of them:

•  Glue a coin to the floor and laugh at those who will bend town to pick it up. You can also have a rippable rag at hand so that people bending down believe they have just ripped their jeans.
• Ring the doorbel and run!
• Hide and jump out at people to scare them.
• Get a thread and tied a candy to it, leave it on your doorstep and when a trick.or-treater bends down to pick it up, move it away.

 Visit the followingsite to read more about these and other tricks: http://www.halloween-website.com/pranks.htm.

As you can see, you don't need a great amount of money to enjoy yourself on Halloween and it is unnecessary to destroy others' belongings or to act violently, so why not having a healthy celebration with your family and friends?

We hope you come up with a lot of Halloween tricks. Would you like to share them with us?

Treehouse of horror XVI

Hello! We greet you with the sixteenth Halloween episode! Watch it here. 

Have you ever organised a costume party? What was your disguise like? In this episode, people are having part in a costume contest and there are a number  of characters you will certainly identify.

 

Everybody is waiting for the momeno the Mayor announces the winner. When he does, they discover that she is a real witch. Wait a minute, isn't that cheating?

As nobody wants to give the award to the witch, she gets angy and casts a spell on the contestants and turns them into what their costumes represent! If you were to suffer this curse, what costume would you like to be wearing at that moment?

Next time you go to a costume party remember that imagination is needed but that you don't have to invent any character to make a good impression, stick to the classics and everything will be fine.

Besides, as you can see, the American celebration would be incomplete without dressing up, even if you are shy, set aside your fears and wear a costume! You could start creating your disguise right now.

Once more we are sorry to tell you that the episode didn't have much material to talk about the celebration of Halloween. Even so, we expect this part has encouraged you to dress up and enjoy next Halloween in the same way Americans do.

Treehouse of horror XII

The twelfth Simpsons Halloween episode is here! You can watch it here.

The episode opening shows Smithers putting up some Halloween decorations for Mr Burns.

Decorations are an important aspect of Halloween because they create the perfect  atmosphere to celebrate. Some of the typical decorations include (http://www.livescience.com/16677-halloween-superstitions-traditions.html): 

• Black cats: They are considered symbols of bad luck. Besides, when witch-hunting was popular, they were killed along with their pets because they were regarded as their "familiars".
• Jack-O-Lanterns: You must remember the story of Jack, who was not accepted nor in Heaven, nor in Hell andwho has been condemned to wander around the Earth.
• Bats: These animals were "familiars" too, and seeing them flying over a house was regarded as an ominous sign because it meant that somebody was going to die in there. However, if the bat entered the house, it was said that the ghost had let it in and that the house would be haunted. Mr Burns seems to prefer this decoration!
• Spider: If you happen to see a spider on Halloween, you can be sure that a deceased loved one is watching over you, at least that's what superstition says.
• Cauldrons: According to Celtic folklore, cauldrons represented the Earth mother's womb and witches stirred them to allow the souls in them to reincarnate and to let new souls enter the cauldron!
• Witch's broomsticks: We have already seen Marge and her sisters use this means of transport.

In any case, Mr Burs doesn't only have decorative intentions, he actually wants to frighten visitors away. To the Simpsons' misfortune, he succeeds.

 

 We share we you a couple of ideas to make some marvellous Halloween crafts. Choose your favourite and put it up! http://spoonful.com/halloween/best-halloween-decorations-gallery-

As for the rest of the episode, the stories are not related to Halloween and are nothing but horror stories.  The episode is good but we expected to have more material to analyse, maybe next time.

Treehouse of horror XI

Episode 1 of season 12 is our special number eleven, you can watch it on http://watchtvlinks.sx/episode/the_simpsons_s12_e1.

The introduction to this episode shows us that Halloween is not something Americans remember only on October 31^st , but a celebration that is remembered throughout the year and that has even inspired the creation of series based on this topic. No wonder that the opening of this special is a parody to The Munsters, the famous television series.

 We have talked about monsters, costumes, food, vampires, evil spirits and so on but, have we talked about heaven and hell? Well, in this episode our dear and beloved Homer doesn’t believe that according to his horoscope he’ll be dying that day! He avoids crashes and all sorts of dangerous situations that could end his life and ends up dying when eating a tiny vegetable. He chokes and dies. Any guess on what that cursed vegetable was? Hint: It’s green and looks like a tree.

What happens to Mr Simpson after he dies? His sol stays on Earth because according to St. Peter he hasn’t done any good actions in his life so he could have a place in heaven. Homer realizes that he needs to work on that if he wants to go to heaven instead of hell. After trying and trying he finally manages to make one good action but since St. Peter misses it and sends him to hell.

So why do you think that heaven and hell are linked to Halloween?

Do you believe in heaven and hell? Why do you think people are afraid of hell and think they’ll be much better in hell?

Another story from this special is an adaptation of “Hansel and Gretel” and other Grimm tales.

Homer and Marge are very poor and have difficulties feeding their children and themselves so Homer decides to put them on the forest by themselves waiting for them to die or get lost. Since Lisa is always carrying and reading her “Grimm Fairy Tales” book she’s always one step ahead from the dangers of the forest. She mentions the story about the goblin and the bridge, Goldilocks, Rapunzel, etc.

What other Grimm tales do you know? Are you in the mood for some fun reading? Click on this link and you can find some fun ways to learn while reading: http://www.grimmfairytales.com/en/stories.

Hey! Those could be excellent Halloween stories!