From Ancient Spirits to Autumn Blooms: A Florist’s Take on Halloween in 2025

🕸️ A Seasonal Welcome

Cosy into Autumn!

There’s something about October that stirs our nesting instincts. As the days grow shorter and the chill sets in, we start to snuggle down indoors, creating cosy corners to escape the cold. Our creative side begins to sparkle as we bring the colours and textures of autumn inside, building little hideaways of warmth, comfort, and (let’s be honest) far too many pumpkins.

There’s a certain magic to this season that invites us to slow down, light a candle, and surround ourselves with nature’s final burst of beauty. For me, it’s the perfect time to gather some flowers, get a bit creative, and celebrate the spirit of autumn in full colour.

But have you ever thought about where Halloween really comes from, and how flowers fit into all this spooky fun?

🌙 The Origins of Halloween

Before Halloween became all about costumes and far too many sweets, it began life as Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season. It was a time to give thanks, celebrate the harvest and prepare for the darker half of the year ahead.

The Celts associated winter with death and believed that during Samhain, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead grew thin, and that’s when the ghosts, the ghouls and all the things that go bump in the night made their grand entrance.

To honour the cycle of life, death and renewal, people lit bonfires, shared stories, and decorated their homes with natural berries, branches, flowers, and pumpkins gathered from the fields.

So in a way, Halloween has always been about flowers and foliage — long before the supermarkets started selling skeletons and plastic spiders.

🍁 Flowers, Folklore and a Touch of Magic

Autumn is nature’s grand finale, a glorious display of rich golds, fiery reds, and deep berry tones. It’s also a season steeped in folklore, with flowers and plants carrying stories as old as the hills and I love to use these as a florist in my work.

Marigolds

Marigolds were once believed to guide spirits between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Rosemary

Rosemary, the herb of remembrance, was also seen as a symbol of strength and protection  (and it just so happens to smell wonderful woven into an autumn wreath).

Heather

Heather was thought to bring luck and ward off misfortune (and let’s be honest, it also looks rather lovely tucked beside a pumpkin).

Ivy

And ivy, in old folklore, was said to protect against dark magic and mischievous spirits, a reminder that even the most simple greenery can have a touch of mystery about it.

🎃  How We Celebrate Today

These days, of course, Halloween is a little less about fending off spirits and a lot more about celebrating creativity with family and friends which suits me perfectly. But at its heart, it’s still about connection: with nature, with each other, and with the pleasure of marking the changing seasons.

That’s one of the reasons I love this time of year. Autumn invites us to slow down, gather together, and make something beautiful with what the season gives us. Whether it’s wreaths of russet leaves, flowers bursting from pumpkins, or bouquets full of texture and warmth, it’s all about celebrating life’s colourful transitions.

Workshops with a Seasonal Twist

At The Northern Flower Garden, I’m celebrating this Halloween (2025) with a trio of autumn workshops at some of my favourite National Trust spots across the North East, Gibside in Newcastle, Crook Hall Gardens in Durham, and Souter Lighthouse in South Tyneside.

Here’s what’s blooming this year:

🌙 Halloween Wreath Making Workshop

Create an enchanting crescent grapevine wreath, styled for that striking ‘moon’ effect, using a blend of moss, foliage, grasses and flowers in deep reds, purples, blacks, and oranges to capture the magic of Halloween.

Saturday 25th October, 11am start, at Gibside Stables (National Trust)

🎃 Pumpkin Flowers Workshop

 Our Pumpkin Flowers Workshop is a true seasonal favourite! Fresh autumnal flowers and foliage arranged inside carved out pumpkins, autumn’s perfect answer to a vase!

Sunday 26th October, 11am start at Souter Lighthouse (National Trust)

🍁 Autumn Bouquet Workshop

Create a forward-facing bouquet of flowers and foliage, full of seasonal texture and colour to bring that autumn glow indoors. Working with the spiral technique, you’ll build a stunning design, in a stylish bag that's ready to take home and enjoy. 

Sunday 2nd November, 11am start at Crook Hall Gardens (National Trust)

Each session is relaxed, friendly, and good fun, a lovely way to unwind and get creative. You don’t need any experience, just a love of flowers and a bit of enthusiasm (and maybe a fondness for tea and cake).

If you’d like to join in, you can find all the details and booking links below, I’d love to see you there!

As we tiptoe toward winter, I like to think of Halloween as nature’s encore — a time to celebrate change, creativity, and connection before the quiet months ahead.

So why not join me for a workshop and soak up a little seasonal magic for yourself?

Debbie x
The Northern Flower Garden