Halloween is now finally upon us. Costumes, parties and whether to look scary or sexy have been major topics of conversation over the past few weeks, and now we have hit October 31st the wait is finally over! But whilst here in the Exeter, we all enjoy a bit of a dress up and excuse for a party, Halloween isn’t exactly seen as a holiday, rather a bit of fun. Whilst that is the case over in the UK, the story seems to be rather a different one in the USA. Halloween has become almost a national holiday, with dressing up, trick or treating and partying being both a norm and necessity for all on 31st October. But what is all the fuss about? Why does America love Halloween so much? Is it really such an event? Her Campus Exeter decided to ask our sister Chapter Her Campus Chatham over in America, Halloween: What is all the fuss about?
HCX: So, what is the Halloween build up like and how early does it start?
Chatham: “I think the build-up starts as soon as October starts because of all the haunted houses opening late September early October. More and more people begin having Halloween parties as well before Halloween, especially because this year it falls on a Thursday.” – Kayla Mento
“For someone like me, Halloween doesn’t end. It’s a yearlong celebration and fascination with the boundaries between the world of the living and dead, and the rhythms of nature. But on average, Halloween decorations and candy start selling sometime in September to get folks excited for the celebration. It’s also around this time that people start buying their costumes and/or putting them together, but others will do their shopping in summer.” – Onastasia Youssef
“When I was younger we’d spend the entire month of October preparing for Halloween. We’d watch Halloween films, carve pumpkins, make pumpkin pie, go to Apple Hill (basically a fall foods and crafts fair near my house), work on our costumes, decorate our house, etc.” – Stephanie Welling
HCX: Can you describe a typical Halloween night (or day if it starts early!)
Chatham: “Drinking anything pumpkin, apple cider, putting make up on, getting your costume ready and partying all night looking like whatever you dressed up as!” – Kayla Mento
“Here at Chatham University, my Halloween will consist of dressing up as Iron Man and then attending the on-campus Halloween Dinner and Costume Contest.” – Onastasia Youssef
“For children in elementary school and high school, Halloween starts very early in the morning. They wake up, get ready for school, and put on their Halloween costumes to wear to classes. Some schools do not allow children to wear costumes, but mine always did – and we’d have a parade to show off everyone’s outfits. After school, kids get home, lounge around, get dressed in their costumes again, and then go out trick-or-treating as soon as it gets dark.” – Shannon Ward
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HCX: How much do people really dress up for Halloween? How far is it taken?
Chatham: “People go all out here in Pittsburgh for Halloween, whether it be funny, sexy, or just plain gross.” – Kayla Mento
“Really varies. Some people put something together the day before and some spend months on their costume.” – Stephanie Welling
“It really depends on the person. I am friends with seniors in college who start making their costumes in July and go door-to-door just the same as any elementary school child on Halloween. Then there are other people who might carve a pumpkin or wear orange to celebrate the holiday, but that’s about it.” – Shannon Ward
These girls have gone all out with their loofah costumes: definitely dedication to the cause!
HCX: So is Halloween always a big party?
Chatham: “Yes. Halloween is everyone’s favourite holiday it seems like. Especially mine.” – Kayla Mento
“Very big parties often surround Halloween, even large festivals and parades, but not always. A good number of people spend it inside watching horror films (Nightmare on Elm Street and American Werewolf in London are the best!) and snacking on things such as Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or caramel apples.” – Onastasia Youssef
“No, not always. Personally, I’ve never been to a real Halloween party. Most people in my neighbourhood just go door to door trick-or-treating and then call it a night at 9pm or 10pm so that they can spend the rest of the evening inhaling their candy.” – Shannon Ward
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HCX: Are the streets really filled with people trick-or-treating from house to house?
Chatham: “I don’t really know anymore since I’m older, but last year it was crazy on my street. Children everywhere!” – Kayla Mento
“It depends on the neighbourhood you live in. In some, every house is decorated and there are children everywhere. In others, there are only a few trick-or-treaters…” – Onastasia Youssef
HCX: Are there any American traditions that you can think of that we haven’t adopted here in the UK?
Chatham: “I don’t think that people in the UK are quite as passionate about dressing up their animals as Americans are. Big chains like Target or Wal-Mart probably sell as many costumes for children as they do for dogs and cats.” – Shannon Ward
We love our dogs here in the UK, but dressing them up as ghosts isn’t the first thought to cross our minds on Halloween!
HCX: Are there any darker sides to Halloween; does everyone enjoy it?
Chatham: “Well, [some] religious people obviously don’t like it and think that Halloween is a “devil holiday” because of Devil’s Night.” – Kayla Mento
HCX: Why do you think America loves Halloween so much?
Chatham: “The candy, the seasonal treats like pumpkin flavoured coffee, apple cider, and just plain celebrating it by dressing up like something you’re not!” – Kayla Mento
“Halloween is a multi-layered tradition. For some, it is a religious time and corresponds with two different traditional and in some ways more significant holidays: Dia de los Muertos and Samhain. For others, it is quite often nostalgia from childhood.” – Onastasia Youssef
“If a holiday has the potential to be both a party and an excuse to create an entire month’s worth of annual traditions, we’re there.” – Stephanie Welling
“Let’s be real: it’s probably all the candy.” – Shannon Ward
Her Campus Exeter would like to say thank you to our Sister Chapter Her Campus Chatham to speak to us about their Halloween traditions, we have loved finding out what the holiday is like in America! From pumkin food and drink, dressing up your pets and enjoying a party from early September (?!) it is great to hear the truth about Halloween in the USA. You can take a look at their page by going to hercampus.com/school/chatham. Take a look at their halloween articles especially and the posts on their annual Halloween Dinner, one of their University traditions!
Picture Credits: hercampus.com, facebook.com, parade.com, xsparkage.com