Much like Polar Express, this upcoming holiday movie boasts an A-list cast of voices. The versatile Jim Carrey as Ebeneezer Scrooge, as well as the three Christmas ghosts. Gary Oldman provides the voice of family man and Scrooge’s long-suffering clerk, Bob Cratchet. Other noteworthy names featured in the cast include Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins, and Colin Firth. Disney’s A Christmas Carol is scheduled for a November 6th, 2009 release date.

An official trailer has not been released yet, but Disney does have a 20-second teaser trailer featuring Ebeneezer and the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley. You can check it out here.

So far, no official costumes have been released, however, if you’re planning a Christmas in July, or preparing for a local staging of A Christmas Carol, there are plenty of Dickens-inspired costumes such as Scrooge in his jammies, a ghostly gentleman Jacob Marley costume, and Victorian costumes and accessories to outfit the entire Cratchet family!

The 4th of July or Independence Day is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States. Almost every country in the world has an independence day. Ours happens to be on July 4th, where we can be a little wild, a little crazy, and have great fun. In 1776 our nation declared independence from Great Britain. It signaled an end to the Revolutionary War in which we were able to say that we were a country without British rule. Furthermore our founding fathers stated that we would have a democracy, one in which the people would control the nation rather than a monarch.

The revolution was won by the US, and talks resolved on July 2, 1776 through the Continental Congress that we would have total independence. It took two more days for the final approval to come through. There was a need to revise the Declaration of Independence to give it everything our leaders and people wanted. According to history the Declaration of Independence was actually signed on July 2, 1776. However, since the announcement didn’t come for two days, as well as final approval many believed that the 4th was the actual day Adams, Jefferson and others had signed the declaration.

The 4th of July is almost upon us again. We have two weeks to get our Independence Day costumes ready, fireworks procured, and barbeques to set up. If you are like many in the United States you have your own traditions when it comes to Uncle Sam costumes or 4th of July costumes. Even Lady Liberty costumes make great 4th of July outfits for some of us. It is time one again to celebrate with stars, stripes and fireworks. You might consider going as our National Flag or designing a fireworks costume. John Adams costumes along with Abigail his wife are perfect for a couples’ costume.

Traditions differ around the United States. For example in Juneau Alaska celebrations actually begin on July 3rd. Residents set up parties, baseball games, and head downtown in the early evening to get a place to watch the fireworks. The streets are lined with cars, the docks filled with people, and at the stroke of midnight the first firework is released over the water. The celebration does not end with the fireworks, but instead begins with it. Everyone returns to downtown Juneau later that morning for a 9am parade, which starts in Juneau and works its way to Douglas, where more food, music, and entertainment is provided.

Other cities may offer a parade on the morning of July 4th, and then fireworks at 9 or 10pm that day. So whatever, your traditions are you have plenty of costumes to make the day special and fun!

Although the intent behind Memorial Day is a somewhat somber one, it does offer a three-day weekend to most people. Even families who do visit interred loved ones come back to their homes and cook out on the grill, celebrating an extended weekend with their living loved ones. Other more fun aspects of Memorial Day include local parades in which members — past and present — of the military march in their dress uniforms alongside patriotic floats and fireworks displays.

Take part in these festivities with some patriotic costumes for the holiday. Go for military-themed costumes based on uniforms worn by servicemen in the Army and Navy , or even costumes based on historic military attire as worn by Civil War soldiers on both the Union and Confederate sides. Ladies may wish to opt for USO-styled costumes with pin-up versions of military costumes.

After the parades and costumes, head on back home and cook out with your family during the Memorial Day weekend holiday. Try out some of Costumzee’s recipes from the forum for Texas Tommy Hot Dogs and a patriotic-themed salad with Red, White, and Bleu Cheese Apples.

Happy Memorial Day!

Designated as Star Wars Day thanks to a play on the words of the popular Jedi greeting, “May the Force be with you,” May the Fourth honors all things Star Wars and Force-related.

For the uninitiated, The Force is the mystical force that binds all life forms together. It’s invisible and some are stronger in the way of “The Force” than others. Particularly, those who are strongest fall into two categories: the Jedi, those who use the Force for good and the Sith who have their own beliefs and are not above using the Force for selfish, sometimes dark reasons.

Although May the Fourth is considered Star Wars Day among the fandom’s loyal legions of Sith and Jedi followers alike, the Los Angeles City Council declared May 25th to be Star Wars day in honor of the original release date of the very first Star Wars film, 1977’s Episode IV: A New Hope.

Over 390,000 responders to the 2001 Census in England and Wales put down “Jedi” as their religious affiliation. As a result, British brothers Barney and Daniel Jones (both in their early 20s) attempted to create a Jedi Church, complete with meditation classes and training in the way of The Force. So far, the Jedi brothers Jones haven’t had any luck creating a Star Wars-themed religious institution, but you never know!

With no new Star Wars movies or cartoons in the works just yet, die hard fans must content themselves with the franchise’s comic series and conventions… Or, better yet, just throw your own Jedi party! Run marathons in your own Jedi Temple (read: apartment) and serve your guests some delicious foods to enjoy, such as Bantha Burgers, Wookie Cookies, and one of our own recipes you can find on the Costumzee forums: Darth Vader Taters!

Make sure you and your guests bring your lightsabers or dress as your favorite Star Wars character. Princess Leia is popular choice for ladies with a number of options from her classic, all-white ensemble with her famous, sidebun hairstyle that you can replicate with either a headband or a wig. Truly daring ladies can wear the Slave Leia costume… Just make sure you do some serious crunches!

Guys have a number of costumes to choose from with classic favorites like the uber-cool Han Solo and his fuzzfaced sidekick, everyone’s favorite Wookie, Chewbacca. Or, choose a side as Jedi or Sith with a number of costumes representing each part of the Force from Jedi Knights Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi or Sith Lords Darth Vader and Darth Maul.

No matter what, May the 4th (and The Force!) be with you!

In Mexico and other areas of he world (particularly the United States), people of Mexican heritage celebrate the day with dance and song, with ballet folklorico dancers performing to Mariachi music. It’s a day for them to showcase their ethnic pride and celebrate their homeland’s history and triumphs.

In the United States, inside and outside of the Mexican community, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with lots of drinking and merriment. Many local pubs and Mexican eateries have specials in honor of the day. In Vancouver in Canada, a skydiving club holds an annual event. Even as far away as the island of Malta, Maltese people in the Mediterranean honor Cinco de Mayo by drinking Mexican beer. Apparently, Americans aren’t the only ones who bust out the Coronas!

This 5th of May, kick up your heels with Mexican-themed costumes such as Zorro or a masked Mexican wrestler.

Throw your own Cinco de Mayo party at your own place. Head over to Costumzee’s forums for some great recipe ideas for your shindig like Easy Chicken Cheese Quesadillas and Cinco de Mango Margaritas. Get your guests to come in costume or dress as their favorite Mexican historical figure like or as a merry mariachi musician.

Whether you choose to go out on the town or stay at home and celebrate, make sure you have a high old time on Cinco de Mayo!

Here at CostumZee, our goal is to help anyone finding the right costume they are looking for. So for Easter, check out this essential Easter costume guide that will help you either make your own or buy an Easter bunny costume:

• Popular Easter costume ideas
• DIY – How to make an Easter bunny costume.
• Bunny costumes
• Easter Bunny costumes
• Rabbit costumes
• Easter costumes
• Lamb costumes
• Egg costumes
• Chick costumes

Also remember to read last year’s post Easter’s just around the corner for additional Easter costume ideas!

The story of Purim dates back to the 6th century, B.C. during the 70-year period that the Jews were held in captivity by the Babylonians. The Babylonian king Ahasuerus publicly divorces his wife when she refuses to parade herself to the guests at his party. In a very ancient form of choosing a wife pretty similar to The Bachelor or even Flavor of Love, the king demands that all the young women of his land be presented to him to choose a new wife. One of these girls is a young woman named Haddassah who changes her name to Esther so as to not make her Jewish heritage obvious. Attracted to her beauty and spirit, King Ahasuerus marries her. Sweetening the deal is that Esther’s cousin who raised her, Mordechai, foiled an assassination plot on the king however Haman, the King’s vizier passes the deed off as his own.

Mordechai, however, is not too popular with King Ahasuerus’s vizier, Haman, refusing to bow to him. Haman plans to kill him AND all of those of Jewish ancestry in the empire as a rebuttal. Oddly enough, Ahasuerus agrees and wants “lots” (the Hebrew word “Purim” translates to “lots”) to draw which day of the month they will carry out this evil plot. Meanwhile, Ahasuerus is oblivious to the fact that his wife Esther is Jewish.

When Esther hears of this plot, she spreads the word for all Jewish people in the empire to pray and fast for three days in the hope of a miracle. Part of this miracle, Ahasuerus gets a fit of insomnia and reads over records of the court and realizes that he has not yet repaid Mordechai as the man who saved his life by exposing the plot to have him killed. After fasting, Esther brings Haman to this banquet, where he believes the King will reward him. Instead, King Ahasuerus rewards Mordechai for his service. Esther also reveals that she is Jewish.

The King then orders Haman to be executed in the same way he wanted Mordechai to die. The catch is, however, that the decree issued for the Jews to be exterminated cannot be taken back. However, the King allows Esther and her people to ammend this decree however they see fit. Esther decrees that the Jews be allowed to defend themselves against Haman’s army. Miraculously, they win and the army is defeated. Esther continues to reign as Queen alongside Ahasuerus and Mordechai is given a prominent place in the King’s court. Additionally, Esther is recognized throughout history as one of the only females to have a book devoted to her in the Torah/Bible’s Old Testament. (Additionally, “Esther” is the Jewish name that Madonna took when she converted to the Kabbalistic faith.)

Celebrate Purim with traditional Hamantashen cookies (cookies shaped like Haman’s hat) and by observing the four main tenants of Purim: 1. Hearing the book of Esther read in the synagogue at both evening on the first night and morning on the next. 2. Giving gifts of food to friends 3. Charitable acts 4. Having a celebratory meal.

During the reading of the book of Esther in the synagogue, things get a bit rowdy with noisemakers rattled everytime the name “Haman” is mentioned in the text to show contempt. An old school way of doing this was for synagogue visitors to write “Haman” on the soles of their shoes and stomp with them.

Get wild this Purim and celebrate with a noisemaker and some Purim costumes. If you’re doing a re-enactment, you will certainly need a Queen Esther costume as the main character in your play. Other costumes like King’s crowns can also be used, as well as distinctive hats for Haman.

St. Patrick’s Day may be on March 17th, but chances are, the neighborhood pub crawls, Shamrock Shuttles, and Erin Expresses are running through your area at least a week ahead of the actual date of St. Patty’s Day. That means TWO full weekends of drinking and celebrating your Irish heritage. (Even if you’re not Irish, everyone is just for the day!)

Parades in major metropolitan cities begin this week. A long-standing tradition, particuarly in cities with large amounts of Irish-Americans making up their population, the city with oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade is Boton, MA. Boston’s very first St. Patrick’s Day parade dates back to 1737 even before the United States declared their independence. New York City comes in with the second-oldest parade, ready to have their 248th consecutive parade this year. Other cities with well-known and attended St Patrick’s Day parades include Chicago, Philadelphia, Scranton, and San Francisco.

When you’re done standing and cheer on the floats at the parade, go head to a St. Paddy’s Pub crawl and drink til you can’t stand. Stock up on your Guinness, Bailey’s, and other Irish beverages of choice. While you’re at it, stock up on some fun items to wear to the parade and get into the spirit of the day with a Irish themed costumes and accessories. Pick up a set of Irish beads or wear some green and gold strands left over from Mardi Gras, or even a for a festive touch! Or, don any sort of Kiss Me, I’m Irish apparel with shirts, tiaras and buttons so you can get your mac (or Mc) on!

With a new President in office and Inauguration Day recently past, it’s a perfect opportunity to turn President’s Day 2009 into more of an event than usual! Prepare some bi-partisan palatte pleasers like “Red White and Bleu Cheese” Red Delicious apples sliced and smeared with bleu cheese or “Congressional Corn Chilli” for guests to snack on. Dress up as your favorite presidents — past or present! Dress up as George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, two of history’s most notable and noble figures. Top notch vinyl masks are also available of recent presidents like the outgoing George Bush and new President, Barack Obama.

First Ladies can also have a good time with trying to copy famous inaugural ball gowns or picking up masks and costumes offered featuring the likenesses of Martha Washington and Jackie Kennedy.

Most importantly… Enjoy your President’s Day off!!

A highly symbolic affair, Mardi Gras is the ultimate festival of indulgence with good food and elaborate costumes and floats before the solemn season of Lent rears its head. The parade floats and costumes are done up in traditional Mardi Gras colors of green, gold, and purple which represent the virtues of faith, power, and justice, respectively. Beads are thrown at revelers, sometimes with just innocent intents and others, to encourage their recipients to flash the goods!

The elaborate parade floats are presented by Krewes, or walking groups that plan themed floats and pageantry for an entire year leading up to the celebration. Each krewe has their own social structure similar to that of royalty with Kings, Queens, Dukes, Duchesses, etc. All attend the parade in full regalia, specifically wearing a mask, typically a heavily decorated domino style.

Although the most famous of Mardi Gras celebrations take place in New Orleans and Rio de Janiero in Brazil, you can bring the celebration to your own city with some traditional Fat Tuesday staples like Mardi Gras beads and ornate sequinned and feathered Mardi Gras masks!

Check out the Costumzee forums for a tasty and (Big) easy recipe for King Cake. While you’re at it in the forums, share some of your own favorite Mardi Gras or cajun recipes with fellow Costumzee forum-ites!