Horror has taught many valuable life lessons; never play with Ouija boards, don’t vacation at cabins in the woods, babysitting is hazardous to your health, never drop your weapon during an attack, and so much more. When it comes to survival skills, horror is often the best teacher. This also extends to Halloween, a holiday that horror has taught us can be quite difficult to survive if you don’t honor the rules and traditions meant to keep you safe. Which is why we’ve put together a guide for surviving the best holiday of the year:

Always check your treats

While most of the Halloween terror in Night of the Demons is centered at the Halloween party from hell in Hull House, the story is bookended by a grumpy old man that sets out to ruin trick or treaters’ fun by giving them razor blade stuffed apples. The tables are turned, though, when his wife bakes them into a pie, resulting in his bloody demise. Even if he deserved his fate, the lesson is still valuable- always check your Halloween treats before consuming.

Keep your Jack o’ Lanterns lit

Trick r’ Treat is comprised of Halloween traditions and rules, but perhaps the most important one is the necessity of a jack o’ lantern. On a holiday where dead roam the earth, the jack o’ lantern wards off evil spirits. If you keep it lit, that is. Its protective abilities are null and void the moment you blow out that candle. So don’t do it.

Choose your costume carefully

Each new year brings new trends in Halloween costumes. This year will likely see a surge of Strange Things costumes, and you can always count on tried-and-true staples like Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger. Putting more effort into your costume pays off, though. Having a unique costume can win costume contests, the appreciation of friends, and sometimes it can be the difference between life or death. Take poor Ben Tramer, for example. He threw on a jumpsuit and mask, not unlike a certain Haddonfield boogeyman, for some trick or treating fun in Halloween II only to find himself run down by a police vehicle thanks to a case of mistaken identity. Don’t be like Ben Tramer.

Not all Halloween parties are worth it

It’s easy to want to squeeze in every possible Halloween event that you can during October. It’s the best time of year, after all. Not all events are worth your time, though. At least, not every party. Beware random invitations from hosts that you don’t know. Lonely Christopher learned this the hard way. Finding an invitation on the street in Jeremy Saulnier’s Murder Party, he created a costume and traveled to a strange, empty part of town, much to the delight of the hosts, a group of art students looking to commit a brutal murder. As the bodies begin to pile up, poor Christopher wishes he stayed home instead.

Heed your local lore

Some urban legends and scary stories told during Halloween are widespread and well known. Bloody Mary or the tale of the hook-handed man, October is the peak season of spooking friends with stories. Sure, most of them sound too ridiculous to be true, but it’s best to take them as truth on Halloween night. In the segment “Grim Grinning Ghosts” in Tales of Halloween, Lynn leaves the party in shivers from all the scary stories told. One story, in particular, warns of a ghost that follows people home on Halloween night, and as long as you don’t turn around to look, you’ll be safe. Let’s just say not listening to this warning comes with dire consequences. On a night when spirits roam, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.