It’s stereotypical of English majors to be introverted, but I am no different. I love my alone time, and cherish every precious second I can get wrapped up in my own little world. However, I also love Halloween. Despite the heavily social aspect of Oct. 31, it’s my favorite holiday: the weather’s just right, the atmosphere is spooky, and you get to play pretend. But, as an introvert, how am I supposed to celebrate the holiday? Here are a few ways you can get your spooky on without exhausting your socialization battery.
1. Read a scary book
Alright, now I’m getting really stereotypical with this one, but hear me out. What better way to give yourself goosebumps than by reading Goosebumps by R.L Stine? Or for people who need something a bit more grown-up, you can give Stephen King a chance. Goodreads recommends a plethora of both creepy and crawly books that will have you leaving the nightlight on. Personally, I’d suggest bite-sized horror like Goosebumps or All Hallow’s Eve, stories short enough to get through in one sitting but scary enough to have you leaving the nightlight on.
2. Have a closet costume fashion show
Let’s be real—we’ve got some weird clothes at the back of our closet. We might as well put them to use, and that’s where closet costumes come in. Maybe you’ve got a blazer just like Cher in Clueless, or a horrific orange ascot your grandmother gifted to you last Christmas that looks like it was torn straight from Fred Jones’ neck. Whatever the case, put on some spooky tunes and dress yourself up like your favorite characters. To make it extra challenging, try using as many articles of clothing as possible to become as many characters as you can. Get some friends or your roommate to join in on the fun—just make sure you know whose stuff is whose, because you do not want to lose your favorite sweater.
3. Watch something scary on Netflix
Yeah, yeah, this one’s a given. Season two of Stranger Things just came out, and it’s set in October around Halloween, so why not give it a watch? Or, if you haven’t seen the show yet, binge from the beginning? Besides Stranger Things, Netflix has a bunch of other creepy shows and movies. If you’re partial to laughable thrillers, give a movie like JeruZalem a try. Or, if you just can’t handle your horror, there are plenty of Halloween specials on YouTube for cartoons like Ed, Edd n Eddy, SpongeBob and even the Scary Godmother series. They’ll put a spook in your step without giving your nightmares.
4. Cook or create something creepy
If you’re inclined in the crafty or culinary arts (and if you are, pointy hats off to you), why don’t you make something morbid on Halloween? Anyone can put a pumpkin pie into an oven, but maybe you could bake some bloody cupcakes or ladies’ fingers—using edible, non-cannibalistic ingredients, of course. When it comes to crafting, turn your door into Frankenstein’s monster or a mummy, or maybe even a coffin. Have fun decorating your whole dorm or apartment, even if it’s just for one night. Just make sure you get rid of all the pipe cleaner spiders—come November, you won’t remember making them, and then… well, you know how it goes.
Sure, lots of people will go trick-or-treating or out to parties on Halloween night, but don’t feel pressured! There’s no problem with being a creature of the night all on your own.