There is no ‘too old’ for Halloween. Time and time again, I hear something along the lines of “Halloween is just for kids” or “I’m an adult now”. It is common for college students to believe that Halloween is better off in childhood. And I’m sick of it! Instead of dismissing the celebration, we as adults should join in on it. Bring those traditions back to your life and relish in it. Halloween teaches us important lessons about our fears that can still be taught in adulthood. Halloween allows us to relax during stressful times. It’s a holiday that showcases our creativity, brings us laughter, can keep us on our toes and give us an adrenaline rush. Halloween brings us together in ways you may not know,but there is still time to discover.
We all have fears. Maybe it’s those eight legged creatures that crawl around at night or standing at the edge of a cliff a bit too close. Whatever fills your nightmares, Halloween is the time to face it. We forget that Halloween started as a means to scare away our demons. People put jack o lanterns in front of their houses to protect them. Putting on scary costumes drove those ghosts and ghouls away. When Halloween is rolling around, why not use it as a way to face your phobias. Make fun of the things that scare you the most. If it isn’t spiders that keep you up at night, it might be a midterm exam. No one gets through college without at least once stressing about a test or finishing a paper worth 25 percent of your grade. It’s one of the biggest reasons why college students don’t celebrate Halloween.
“I wish I had the time, but I’m too worried about getting all my work done,” said 19 year old Savannah Wilson, a sophomore in Montclair University. Becoming an adult means receiving piles of responsibilities as soon as you turn 18. Things you never thought you had to worry about are suddenly your biggest concerns. I understand how it’s tough to focus on a celebration when a due date is closing in. However, I also understand that this is the perfect time to take a breather. Unlike Valentine’s Day, where you’re stressing over whether or not you have a date, Halloween is a stress free holiday. What do you have to worry about on Halloween? Go out and make some spooky decorations or pick pumpkins in a patch. Halloween is day full of activities to just relax and have fun. If fun for you is getting your adrenaline rushing, Halloween is great for that too. Watch a horror movie by yourself or walk through a haunted house with a few friends. There are plenty of thrilling experiences that can get your blood pumped up on Halloween.
There are those who say that Halloween is full of people pretending to be what they are not. I say, Halloween is full of people letting their imagination fly through the roof. What other time of the year can you get people dressed up as a banana and not be considered taboo? My favorite part of Halloween is walking down the street and seeing all the creative thoughts gone behind a costume. You can dress as someone who inspires you or something that just makes you laugh. Halloween brings the silliness out of all of us, and I love it. As ‘grown ups’, we’re taught to be serious, no joy in our life whatsoever. But sometimes we need to remind ourselves to enjoy the life we’re given, to let that little kid inside of us roam free. We used to trust random strangers and go up to their doors just to get some candies. Now we barely talk to our roommates. Halloween can create bonds with people you never looked at before.
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This year, take the time to go out on Halloween. Dress up as your favorite character and indulge your sweet tooth. Chat up someone who’s wearing a banana costume and ask them why. Laugh a little more and spread some joy. Don’t let Halloween be something you leave in the past. Experience it right here and right now.