Halloween time is the most soothing of the year—albeit the spookiest. For the duration of the cobweb-cloaked month of October, that which is terrifying is delightful. We invite the bizarre and phantasmal to join us at the candlestick-strewn dinner table, and quickly what was initially unnerving becomes normal. Halloween teaches us that oftentimes our fears, anxieties, and troubles are nothing more than disposable cadavers made of fabric and cardboard; that horror is often nothing but a pile of bones. When the flame of a jack-o-lantern has been snuffed, it’s just a carved pumpkin.
Here, a selection of eerie objects that will make your home and life a bit more Halloween-ready, whether you’re hosting a celebration of the season or trying to conjure a few friendly spirits. If you’re not one to throw an October party (that’s fair—bigger holidays are just around the corner), consider these items as autumn gifts for parties you attend.