Geschichte

10 terrifying costume ideas for Halloween

Spooky cultural heritage to inspire you

von
Imogen Greenhalgh (öffnet sich in einem neuen Fenster) (Europeana Foundation)

If you're planning to mark All Hallows Eve, or Halloween as it's now known, by dressing up, why not leave the witch's hat and bed sheets in the costume cupboard and use some of Europeana's spookier collection items to inspire you instead?

black and white engraving, three children with one holding a sheet over his head.

There's all sorts of monstrous creatures in Europeana. Below, we've chosen some of our favourites. Do share your cultural heritage inspired creations with us on our Facebook! The scarier the better...

Engraving of a harpy, a creature with two tails, horns, fangs, winged ears, and long wavy hair.

This particular outfit will suit those with long hair and big ears. Differentiate yourself from the average mermaid with your second, scaly tail.

animal-like figure in a barrel suit with a plant head, pouring a drink and blowing smoke, in a surreal scene.

This one's relatively straightforward to create if you happen to own a wine cellar. Note the intricate headpiece made from vines and playing cards.

two images of two monster creatures side-by-side, on the left is a figure with multiple heads and arms and goat-like legs, on the right a human-like creature with a very long neck.

You can credit the vivid imagination of Italian engraver Giovanni Battista de'Cavalieri (1526–1597) for these bizarre characters. Seven heads and seven eyes, or a long snaking neck - neither of these will be easy, but you're sure to stand out from the crowd.

A multi-headed beast with human faces, with people standing underneath it in a classical courtyard scene.

This particular monster will appeal to actors and playwrights especially. The three heads represent tragedy, comedy and pantomime so you might need a couple of friends.

A medieval illustration, a woman kneeling in prayer with a dark demon behind her and a divine figure in the sky watching her.

Creep up on your unsuspecting friends dressed like this green demon and you'll be sure to give them a fright! Demons were considered particularly frightening in the medieval era, hidden from sight but ready to spring out and lead you into temptation.

a person in distress surrounded by flames, while being strangled and bitten by a snake.

This scary creature has sharp fangs and pointy wings. Best accessorised with a head to feast on.

A skeletal dragon with human riders threatens a kneeling nun and a man in white garments on the ground.

This rather ambitious option will please fans of French history. The monster's heads represent the three estates of French society: the clergy, nobility and common people.

A group of figures with animal or monstrous faces surrounds another figure which is reading.

Lots of choice here. The mysterious figure on the right is probably the most sinister, and only really requires a long pointed nose and a dinner jacket.

An angel in armour defeats a dragon, while a burning city and frightened animals appear in the background.

This beast is sort of sweet, and has a coat in different shades of red, yellow and green. A long black tongue and deranged expression makes him suitable for spooking.

Surreal scene with bizarre humanoid figures, odd creatures, and distorted faces, all in a grayscale illustration.

Another one with a variety of options to pick from... some might make you a little unpopular!

Happy Halloween!