Creepin' It Real

“Spooky season” is officially upon us. Neighborhoods are full of creepy, crawly decor and bags of bulk candy are some of the first items in sight when entering a grocery store. Questions regarding costumes can be used as conversation starters and ominous Jack-o’-lanterns illuminate the night. Halloween is the first holiday kicking off the “holiday season,” but is often thought of as strictly for kids. After the age of 11 or 12 we become “too cool” for costumes and the potential thrill of Halloween goes unnoticed. I do not think there is such a thing as being “too cool” to construct an elaborate, fantastical getup. There is no age limit when it comes to dressing up for Halloween.

The ways we celebrate Halloween change as we get older. When we are young, there is nothing better than running around town accumulating candy and eating as much of it as possible in one sitting. As we get older, Halloween involves baking pumpkin desserts, throwing “spooky” parties and wearing costumes that may not always be G-rated. Dressing up changes as we age, but it never becomes “unacceptable.”

Creating a costume that is drastically different from your day-to-day apparel can be a fun and creative outlet. In a way, dressing up “forces” you to be goofy and prevents unnecessary seriousness. It is difficult to avoid getting caught up in the omnipresent societal and personal pressures constantly surrounding us. Taking on a new, ridiculously awesome identity for a night provides the space to let off some of this steam and let go of the rules; the rules tied to the term “adult” and the rules such as staying away from candy and junk food. Candy just tastes that much better when you are wearing a wig and covered in sparkles, feathers, etc.

The traditions of Halloween allow the imagination to run wild and encourage adults to tap into their childish sides. We reach a point in life when society tells us we are officially “adults.” Being an adult tends to come with more freedom, opportunities and space to formulate our own values and opinions. “Adulting” also can include becoming overly conscious of what others think and succumbing to this idea of “normalcy.” Children associate little to no amount of significance with the opinions of others and continue to behave exactly as they please. Having fun and bounding into the unknown is prioritized over being normal for children. We get older, we start to go through the motions to meet various expectations and live to impress instead of to express. How about the idea of living to express, not to impress?

Halloween is one of the days when it is easiest to express ourselves however we please and truly not worry about what others think. Dressing up and eating too much sugar allows us to burst out of the box society has trapped so many of us in. Continuously recognizing the childish side within ourselves can transform surviving into thriving. It is “ok” for everyone to enter the fantastical world of Halloween.

There is no age limit to expressing ourselves, period. You may just not be interested in wearing a costume, but you are not too old. Halloween is one day and we often jump right back into our regular routines the next morning. However, I urge you to continue living the “fantasy” as long as you can. What can we learn from this one holiday, other than how to paint scars on our faces? What would it mean for you if the imagination achieved on Halloween was not forgotten the next day, week or year?