'Thriller' costume does the trick

Seven-year-old Ophelia Sykes tries out her witch's costume in preparation for going trick-or-treating. Photo / Martin Sykes

The King of Pop and Vampires will be a common sight as trick-or-treaters head out around the country tomorrow.

The general manager of First Scene prop and costume hire, Jo Pilkington, said the most popular costume this year for both children and adults has been Thriller-era Michael Jackson.

Also on Halloween wish lists this year is Where The Wild Things Are with the Spike Jonze film being released here in December.

Beetlejuice, Morticia and Riff Raff from the Rocky Horror Show are still popular, as are the classic horror villains Freddy and Jason.

"People are going to more effort than ever," Ms Pilkington said.

As expected, vampires are big this year with the success of True Blood and excitment over the new Twilight movie.

But teens do not want to look like the traditional, Transylvanian vampires, said Ms Pilkington.

"They want to be sexy, happening and drop-dead gorgeous. They want to fall in love with Edward [the Twilight character played by Robert Pattinson]."

This is the busiest time of year for costume and prop hire and it does not let up until the end of December.

To help make Halloween safe and fun for everyone, Counties Manukau police have created welcome and not welcome trick-or-treat posters for households to display.

"Halloween should not be used as a chance to upset others," said Senior Sergeant Mike Fulcher

"We are urging young people to take care if they decide to go trick-or-treating.

"It is important that younger children are accompanied by an adult and that any trick-or-treating is carried out at a sensible time, preferably while it is still light."

HALLOWEEN FACTS
* Halloween, celebrated on October 31, has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian All Saints day on November 1.
* Samhain celebrated the end of summer and is sometimes called the Celtic New Year.
* All Saints commemorates the saints and family who have died.
* Trick-or-treating can be traced back to the Middle Ages when people offered prayer and song in return for food.
* Today, Halloween is most often associated with jack-o'-lanterns, costumes, parties, ghost tours, bonfires, haunted attractions, pranks, horror films and of course, candy.