While the month of October commemorates, leaves are beginning to change color, pumpkin patches are flourishing and the inevitable first Moscow snow of the season awaits. But what else is happening this month? Well, go to any elementary school and they’ll tell you what else. With wide eyes and big smiles, Halloween will most likely be the first word at the top of any child’s mind. And with good reason. Halloween is one of my top priorities, and arguably, as I would like to say: probably my favorite holiday.
What makes Halloween so great? Well for one, the holiday has a killer color scheme. (Pun intended.) Orange may be an unpopular color, but it makes a huge comeback for Halloween. Orange, black, yellow, green, and purple together? Chef’s kiss. They may be extremely unlikely to place together, but somehow it works. It’s reminiscent of the bright colors of childhood, and the excitement and enthusiasm they bring for the season.
The food is another great quality that puts Halloween so high up on my list. Although this may be controversial, and I will choose not to get too into it within this piece, Candy Corn is good. I might even dare to say, it’s one of my favorite Halloween treats. But it’s not the only contender. Apple cider, caramel apples, candy shaped like pumpkins and spooky punch are also iconic snacks of the season.
Another thing that’s great about Halloween is the mandatory costumes. As a huge lover of costume/dress-up parties, Halloween allows people to get creative, artsy, or just plain goofy. Every year I see a costume I never would’ve thought of, incredible make-up, and impersonations that make you laugh so hard that tears well up in your eyes. Costumes are a great way for even grown adults to let loose and really embrace the Halloween spirit. On Halloween, there is no such thing as showing up overdressed. Instead, it’s a way to channel your alter ego for the night and a way to self-express and let your freak flag fly.
As children, we always look forward to holidays, to dressing up and filling our bags with goodies and treats. No matter how old we get, there’s a certain joy that doesn’t go away regarding the season. For Christmas, we dream of reindeer and presents under the tree, for Valentine’s Day, we wait in anticipation for trading candy with our classmates, for Easter, we paint dozens of eggs. Halloween is no different from these, but it has always evoked a great deal of excitement from all ages. Our childhood desires to be a knight, a princess, a genie, never fully disappear. No matter how old we get, Halloween is a way for people of all ages to celebrate the changing seasons, cuddle up with scary movies and hot cider, and get crazy with face-paint to evoke characters that a few of us can only be once a year. It’s a special holiday, and one that deserves just a little bit more credit.
Dani Moore can be reached at [email protected]
Amy Ash nee' smith
Halloween has always been my fav holiday, even over Xmas! I buy 2 pumpkins and have a carving contest with my husband. He usually wins..