What is Summerween?

Let's get things straight. Summerween is a lifestyle. But what is it? No it's not a specific date or traditional holiday but for those who love all things spooky having only one Halloween is simply not enough.

As you've probably guessed, Summerween is in fact celebrated all summer, until the traditional Halloween celebrations start (1st of September in my house) and we swap carved watermelons for pumpkins.

So where did it come from?

Although there are hundreds of Summer themed horror movies, usually consisting of teens at camp or couples having a vacation by the lake, the word 'Summerween' reached virality after it was used in a popular cartoon show called Gravity Falls.

'Summerween' is the 12th episode in the first season of the show, and our first Halloween special of the series. In the episode one of the main characters, Grunkle Stan, explains to his Niece and Nephew that the residents of the town wished to celebrate Halloween twice a year, and thus, created Summerween.

You can watch a snippet from the episode here.

Traditions and How to Celebrate

Really, all you have to do is imagine your Halloween plans and ever so slightly change them to be a little more summery.

For example, you'd usually head to a pumpkin patch, pick out your favourite, and head home to carve it while drinking hot chocolate and watching horror films right? But who said it had to be a pumpkin? What about a Jack-O-Melon? Watermelon is the perfect summer snack and equally perfect for carving!

As for those horror movies, there are PLENTY that are set in summer, but more on that later...

Now that we've carved our Jack-O-Melon, it's time to cook! Think of all your Halloween baking ideas you've got saved to Pinterest, now actually make them and load them into a picnic basket.

You can also take a summer vacation to a lake house, but I wouldn't' recommend it...

Slasher Summer

What's your favourite scary movie? Here are some of the very best for your Summerween festivities:

1. I know what you did last summer (the original - 1997)

2. Friday the 13th (1980)

3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

4. The Lost Boys (1987)

5. Scooby-Doo: The Movie (2002)

6. Jaws (1975)

7. Jeepers Creepers (2001)

8. Us (2019)

9. The Burning (1981)

10. Eden Lake (2008)

Obviously, there are countless others. IMDB have an incredible Summerween playlist here.

Hot Girl Summer? Nah, Haunted Girl Summer

Lets talk fashion. There is no correct way to dress for Summerween and of course the weather won't always permit 80's style chequered shorts and vintage horror movie t-shirts but we can try!

You want to find some fabric shorts, the super cheap comfy ones you can find in Primark or Walmart, you'll need a few different colours to match your shirts like black, grey and red. Chequerboard ones are great too!

Next you'll need a t-shirt (see so simple!), ideally horror movie themed and its even better if vintage/thrifted. For brand new ones that are made to look older try Fright-Rags, Mad About Horror or Truffle Shuffle.

Accessories are important too, trainers paired with adorable frilly socks, statement sunglasses and a huge scrunchie for that real 80's vibe.

Don't forget a oversized vintage sweatshirt for when the sun goes down!

Reading is Cool

As much as I love horror movies, books were my first love. Any excuse to read a gory, slasher style horror book is enough for me.

Here are a few of my favourites:

1. Clown in a Cornfield - Adam Cesare

2. The Lake House - Sarah Beth Durst

3. Summer Camp for Slasher Victims - Matthew Mercer

4. The Body - Stephen King

5. Camp Slaughter - Sergio Gomez

Of course there's more, there's a million more, but most of the greats can be found on this list by Goodreads.

You're ready

You are now ready to celebrate Summerween, have fun, and don't go to that lake house...