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One night a week, we have an FHE or Family Home Evening. It's a night set aside that we have a special lesson on something we feel we can work on such as honesty, faith, obedience, prayer, etc. We try to make it as fun as possible since our children are just little.
When I was going through some of my mom's holiday files, I came across a handout for Witchalena's 7 Days of Halloween. This is a festive Family Home Evening lesson idea that can be used sometime during October. We like to incorporate holidays into our lessons as much as we can and this is a great way to do it.
On the first day, you introduce the Happily Haunted House (directions below) with the following poem:
Witchalena has whipped up a special brew
Of seven Halloween treats especially for you…
Yes? For seven spooky days before Hallow’s Eve
Witchalena has a special “trick or treat” up her sleeve!
She’s put a number on each window and door…
Peek in one each day for fun galore!!
Each day for 7 Days (either leading up to Halloween or sometime throughout the month), there is a clue behind one of the 7 windows or door.
So for example, the First Day of Halloween goes like this:
First Day of Halloween
Clue 1: (attached to Haunted House)
“A wise old owl has a message true…
You’ll find him in the refrigerator waiting for you.”
Clue 2: ( in shape of owl, hidden in fridge)
“A Wise Man Obeys God.” Go to the Book of Mormon and read: Alma 37:35-37 and then you will find the next clue you will need…
--Family goes to the Book of Mormon, reads scriptures and finds the 3rd clue in an envelope which has been placed in the Book of Mormon.
Clue 3:
“Now, look in the bookcase, and you will find, a special treat of the sweetest kind.”
Suggested treat for this day: Owl Cookies or treat
When the family goes to the bookcase and finds the plate of owl cookies, they also find this message written on a paper owl:
Remember this wise old owl’s message to you…See that you heed it your whole life through—a wise man obeys God!”
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This lesson will take a little advance preparation, but it's something that you could pull out each year. I love the idea of combining scriptures with holidays. So it's a win-win!
There is no right way to make the haunted house, but here's what I did:
I bought one piece of black felt and sketched a haunted house with chalk. Then I cut it out. Make sure when you cut out your house, you leave one side of the windows or door uncut, so that they open up. I mounted it to a stiffer piece of black felt with hot glue and added some fencing, moon, and pumpkin. Really, the possibilities are endless!
I also cut out a few extra Halloween pieces like a ghost and pumpkin so that my little boy can play with the haunted house when we aren't using it for the 7 Days of Halloween FHE.
If you make a Haunted House, I'd love to see it! Tag @sofestiveblog with #sofestivehalloween.
Download the Witchalena's 7 Days of Halloween printable here.
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Britney says
Thank you! My family used to do this when I was younger and I was hoping to find it somewhere! Every other time I looked for it I came up empty! Thanks!!!
Cindy Marcusen says
Hi! We did this when I was young also. I did it with my children and now I send a package each year to my grandchildren for them to do "Witchalena". So that you can guve credit....this was originated by my aunt. It was continued by my mother. They presented it in Relief Society as a FHE idea for the women to use with their families. This was in the late 1960s early 1970s. They used cardboard boxes and toilet paper tubes etc to create a spooky house with windows and doors. My aunt lived in Okinawa at this time. She and my mother obviously spread it throughout the world through Relief Society. Thanks for sharing!
sofestivemel says
I'm so happy you let me know! I always wondered who wrote this because it's so fun! Do you have any photos by chance? I'd love to add any