Decorations

• Hang scarlet and gold, or red and yellow balloons and crepe paper from the mailbox, front porch and in the party area .

• Make a cardboard "shield" with a lion emblem on it and hang it on the front door (the lion is the symbol for Gryffindor).

• Prop a broomstick near the front door.

• Place a black cauldron near the front door with candy in it to give to arriving guests.

• Hang pictures of trolls, gnomes, owls, cats, toads, mice, ghosts, dragons, unicorns, castles, etc. You can tear such pictures out of coloring books or make your own from a computer printer.

• Hang paper or plastic bats (leftover from Halloween) from the entranceway to your porch or from the ceiling in the party area.

• Suspend a stuffed owl from the ceiling and attach a rolled up letter to its feet.

• Hang white Christmas lights from the ceiling in the party area and dim the lights.

• If you have a basement, put a sign on the door to the basement that reads, "Dungeon."

• If you have a wooded area in your yard, place a sign near it that reads, "Forbidden Forest."

• Put a sign in the kitchen or above a doorway that reads, "Great Hall."

• Cover a large book with a paper cover that reads, "Magic Spells." Place the book on a coffee table or on the party table.

• Place plastic toy animals, such as snakes, in jars of water to represent pickled animals.

• Use a red tablecloth and gold or yellow colored paper plates, cups and napkins. You can also use goblets or teacups for the drinks.

• For a bubbling cauldron table centerpiece, place a block of dried ice in a cauldron and pour water over it. The dried ice will create a spooky smoking effect. Dry ice can be purchased at welding shops, or look under "Ice" in the yellow pages of the phone book. CAUTION: Dry ice can be dangerous! Its very low temperature can burn the skin, so you must be very careful not to touch it. Ask an adult for help, and follow dealer's directions about safe handling procedures.

• Play songs like "The Unicorn Song," by the Irish Rovers, or "Puff the Magic Dragon," by Peter, Paul and Mary.