Beloved actor Neil Patrick Harris is winning over the internet once again after sharing photos of his and his family’s newest Halloween costumes. This year, Neil, his husband David Burtka, and their twins Gideon and Harper pulled out all the stops. Scroll on down, enjoy NPH and Co.’s matching 2020 costumes and check out how they dressed up during previous years, as well.
NPH’s wholesome Halloween family tradition is one of the reasons why he’s our fave actor. So Bored Panda spoke about NPH and the importance for families to have traditions with Lenore Skenazy who is the president of Let Grow, a nonprofit organization promoting childhood independence and resilience, and founder of the Free-Range Kids movement.
According to Lenore, dressing up for Halloween can be something that only kids do or a whole family affair. “Either way, what a great tradition!” Read on for our full interview with Lenore about what Halloween traditions families can aim to have and what they can do to come up with thematic matching costumes, just like NPH and his family.
NPH, his husband David, and their twins Gideon and Harper have been surprising us with their Halloween costumes every year
“Personally, I went as the same thing every year: the Wicked Witch—make of that what you will. My parents stayed home dressed like parents because that’s how Halloween rolled back then. But I’ve been duly impressed by whole families that come up with a theme, including my neighbors. They made gigantic eyebrows and went as the family from Schitt’s Creek. Maybe they’ll do it again this year,” Lenore from Let Grow shared how different families have different traditions.
She pointed out that tradition is something that we do more than once. “After a couple of times, it becomes a ‘thing’—like leaving stuffed grape leaves for Santa instead of cookies: something that is the way your particular (even peculiar) family celebrates. Kids will remember this pretty much forever, and may even pass it along to the next generation.”
Peter Pan in 2011
Lenore suggested that parents and kids pick something that they all love (a movie, a vacation they had, a pet) and build their Halloween costumes around that particular theme. However, she also stressed that once kids start entering their teenage years, keeping traditions like this up might be a tad more challenging.f
“You’re connecting to that beloved time, place, or thing, but you’re also connecting to your family because you’re all in it together. Kids will love this… until at some point they don’t. (Not a lot of tweens want to dress up as fish, even though you all loved your lake vacation in 2012.) Doesn’t matter. Take pictures now and in the future, they’ll look back at and cringe, perhaps, but also maybe cry. As Carly Simon sang, ‘These are the good old days.’ Relish them.”
The Wizard Of Oz in 2012
Alice In Wonderland in 2013
Frankenstein’s Monster, Wolfman, The Bride of Frankenstein, and Dracula in 2013
Halloween From Gotham City in 2014
The family dressed up as characters from Star Wars in 2015
Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean in 2016
Harris Halloween Carnival of Curiosities in 2017
Hitchhiking Ghosts in 2018
Neil Patrick Harris and his family invited us to visit the Burtka-Harris Boo-seum’ last year, in 2019
Image credits: nph
In 2020, the wholesome gang decided to pay homage to the 1971 American musical movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
"Oompa, loompa, doompety doo! We’ve got a family photo for you!" Neil Patrick Harris greeted his followers on the spooky occasion. Just like Heidi Klum in her brand new Halloween special, the actor reminded everyone of the global pandemic and advised to keep safe. "This year, may you invent an October 31st that is spirited, safe, and scrumptious."
"Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple," NPH continued. "Happy Halloween from the Burtka-Harris Crew!"