A lifelong fascination with the supernatural, fantasy and magic makes Marianne Galea a big fan of Halloween. And unlike mere mortals, she tells Stephanie Fsadni, she can celebrate all year round...
“We have turned our basement into a gothic, Harry Potter-style area, complete with gargoyles, swords, stained glass and tapestries... just like a castle, so that it’s perfect for a Halloween party any time of the year,” Marianne Galea quips.
Since childhood, the blonde beauty loved watching Disney, fantasy, horror and sci-fi movies.
She was particularly intrigued by Halloween, which featured in several films, and wished it was celebrated in Malta as well. So as soon as she turned into a teenager, she started organising her own Halloween parties at home.
“I would set up our garage with Halloween decorations. All my friends would dress up and we used to have so much fun,” says Marianne, now 38 and a mother of two.
Her enthusiasm has seemingly not abated over the years.
I never do ugly or scary Halloween shots, but sweet, magical and sexy shoots, even if I am dressed up as a vampire
“It’s the one day of the year when ghosts and magical beings come to life.
“I love seeing all those pumpkins, cauldrons and spooky but fun decorations. It’s like being in a Harry Potter movie!”
However, Marianne points out that she does not like the “super-horror, ugly stuff” that would scare her daughters, aged nine and four, but only the sweet, Disney-type decorations like the ones she uses for her house.
Being a dance teacher and having a dance troupe called Vampyrazz Showgirls, Marianne also puts up shows wearing Halloween costumes and plastic fangs. She is currently preparing for two events, which she is really looking forward to.
Marianne is also a photo model and loves dressing up for Halloween-themed shoots, but once again, she goes for the softer side of things.
“I never do ugly or scary Halloween shots, but sweet, magical and sexy shoots, even if I am dressed up as a vampire,” she claims.
The most extravagant costume she ever had was a vampire PVC ball gown, which she wore for the first Halloween party she hosted at her new house some five years ago. Her husband rose to the occasion and went out of his way to dress up like the living dead.
“He left his costume in the soil for three days, so that he would look and smell like a real zombie that had just emerged from the ground.”
Marianne encourages her children to attend Halloween parties but does not take them trick or treating since “not all Maltese like Halloween and some are even against it”, even though the culture is slowly seeping in.
She is, in fact, concerned that Halloween is too often associated with evil and dark forces, when for her, it’s just another chance to party.
“One must be open-minded and realise that Halloween is about fun. Even pre-school channels on TV have episodes about Halloween, and children’s programmes like Dora the Explorer and Bubble Guppies mention this feast.
“Thousands of families go to Disneyland Paris to celebrate Halloween. And several parties are being held across Malta, even for children... this shouldn’t be considered bad.
“If we teach children that Halloween is about scary yet fun costumes and candy, like they do in the US, there is nothing wrong with it. Just dress up and have fun!”