Halloween Traditions, DIY Costumes, and Sustainable Fun for Families

History of Halloween

Halloween celebrations have roots deeply tied to the earth, the seasons, and the natural cycles of life and death. According to the History Channel, Halloween's origins trace back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "sow-in"), celebrated over 2,000 years ago across areas of modern-day Ireland, the UK, and northern France. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the "dark half" of the year, a time when the world was believed to shift closer to the supernatural.

During this season, nature rested, yet families gathered to honor the harvest’s abundance and prepare for darkness and winter. The Celts believed that on Samhain night, the boundary between the living and spirit worlds became thin, allowing spirits to roam the earth. To protect themselves and their harvest, people dressed in animal skins and wore masks to disguise themselves, hoping to confuse any spirits that might harm them or steal their crops.

Over time, this custom of dressing in costumes evolved, merging with Christian practices and gaining popularity in America in the early 20th century. Children began dressing up and going door-to-door for treats, mimicking earlier practices in which the poor would go "souling", offering prayers for deceased loved ones in exchange for food.

DIY Costumes with Iksplor Layers:

Remember when Halloween costumes were all homemade and hand-me-downs? We do! Rather than buying a new, cheaply made, and itchy costume every year, tap into your creative side with your little one to put together a custom costume (with cozy baselayers, of course!). Keep in mind that cotton clothing isn’t effective for layering because it absorbs moisture and stays wet for a long time, making it a poor insulator. In contrast, merino wool is breathable, helps regulate temperature, and is also a more natural, sustainable choice.

Nothing can ruin a magical night of trick-or-treating faster than a cold, uncomfortable kid!

• Huck-It-Berry: Our rich purple color makes the perfect base layer for a beautiful fairy—just add wings! You can create your own wings with cardboard, fabric, or even pillowcases. Add a magical wand by tying colorful ribbons to the end of a stick, and voilà! Purple also works wonderfully as a base layer for a witch (just add a black dress and hat) or crown for a queen.
• Ocean: Is your child as obsessed with Bluey as ours? Look no further for your Bluey costume base layer! Other options include Cinderella, Belle, Elsa, Sadness (from Inside Out), the Cookie Monster, a Fairy Godmother, Jasmine, a peacock, or a member of the Blue Man Group- don’t forget our Balaclava to nail this look! 
• Evergreen: Add wings, scales, or a tail to our dark green base layer to make a daring dragon. Try incorporating our sunseeker hoodie by adding felt eyes to the top of the hood, felt scales down the back, and fabric wings attached to the arms. Or, you could draw or add fabric scales to a cape and transform a beanie into the dragon’s face. A mermaid, Peter Pan, or even a fruit or vegetable with a green stem are a few more options.
• Teton Eclipse: A cardboard box is the best tool to ignite your imagination! Add a large cardboard box to our black base layer, and the possibilities are endless: a robot, astronaut in a spaceship, x-ray machine, or refrigerator. Plus, your little iksplorer can help you with this project, making it even more meaningful and memorable. Or, add black, jagged wings for an adorable bat costume. We just love a simple, warm costume idea! 
• Wild Flame: Little Red Riding Hood (just add a cape!) or Clifford the Big Red Dog are two great choices for our Wild Flame color. Our red baselayer would also work well as Flash the superhero, Elmo, or a cute little strawberry. 
• Yellowstone: Yellowstone is such a cheerful layer, offering limitless Halloween costume ideas: a lion, scarecrow, the sun, a star, a giraffe, or a minion. To make a yellow Lego block costume, start with a large cardboard box and paint it yellow. Cut out holes for your child’s head and arms so they can wear the box like a shirt. Then, glue six small, evenly spaced cardboard circles (also painted yellow) onto the front. Once everything is dry, your little Lego enthusiast is ready to go
• Navy: For your little stargazer, try the night sky or our solar system as a costume idea. Tape or pin the moon and stars all over the merino wool. Or, if you go with the solar system, cut Styrofoam balls in half, paint each to look like a planet, and hot-glue them to an inexpensive black t-shirt layered over the merino base layer.
• Peak Pink: Princesses and pink are a lovely match! Start with our pink base layer, add a dress or skirt, a crown, and a cape. You can make a paper crown, flower crown, or leaf crown using materials from your home or backyard. A small blanket or pillow case can work for a cape, too. Huck-It-Berry is also a beautiful choice for your little princess.

Sustainability

We know parents put a lot of time and money into making Halloween special—trust us, we get it! That's why we’re so passionate about our merino wool base layers. They’re built to last, unlike costumes ordered online that may only survive one night of trick-or-treating. Our base layers will keep your iksplorer cozy all season long and are perfect for hand-me-downs later. Let’s return to quality over quantity, making our own memorable Halloween costumes, and choosing the more sustainable path.

Pumpkins for Wildlife

Speaking of sustainability, don’t throw away your old jack-o-lantern after Halloween! Instead, consider gifting it to a local farmer or a friend with chickens—both will appreciate the treat. You can also compost it at home by adding it to your compost pile or burying it in your garden to enrich the soil. Want to try something fun? Smash your pumpkin in a sunny spot in your yard, and with a little luck, you might find a surprise pumpkin patch growing next summer!

Avoid leaving pumpkins in forests or natural areas. While it may seem like a kind gesture, it can disrupt local wildlife and ecosystems. Let's all do our part to keep Halloween green and sustainable!