Costume ideas in emoji form
Stuck on a costume? Scroll the fantasy and role emojis for inspiration: vampire ๐ง, zombie ๐ง, mage ๐ง, ninja ๐ฅท, superhero ๐ฆธ and even a clown ๐คก are classic picks. Post your choice as an emoji teaser before the party so friends can guess, then reveal the full look in photos. Group costumes work too, for example a whole squad of ๐ฝ aliens or ๐ง zombies.
Spooky but not too scary
If you are sending Halloween messages to kids or coworkers, lean toward the friendly side: smiling pumpkins, cartoon ghosts ๐ป, candy and bats. Save darker symbols like ๐ช, ๐ฉธ and โฐ๏ธ for horror fans who will enjoy them. A good rule is to match the scare level to the audience, just as you would with the decorations on your front door.
Where Halloween comes from
Halloween takes place on 31 October, the evening before All Saintsโ Day on 1 November, and its roots reach back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season. Carved lanterns were originally made from turnips in Ireland and Scotland. In North America pumpkins took over because they were bigger and easier to carve, which is how ๐ became the face of the holiday.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Halloween emoji?
The jack-oโ-lantern ๐, a carved pumpkin with a glowing face, is the unofficial symbol of Halloween in emoji form. The ghost ๐ป is a close second and is used all year round for anything spooky, playful or mysterious.
What does ๐ป mean outside of Halloween?
The ghost stands for playful spookiness, being silly or โghostingโ someone, which means suddenly cutting off all contact. Many people also link it to Snapchat, whose logo is a small white ghost.
When is Halloween?
Halloween is celebrated every year on 31 October, the evening before All Saintsโ Day. Trick-or-treating and costume parties usually happen that night or on the nearest weekend, especially in the United States, Canada, the UK and Ireland.