All Things Halloween

Ghouls and ghosts, falling leaves and jack-o-lanterns, costumes and candy—What more can you ask for in a holiday?

Every holiday has its creation story, and Halloween is no different. Halloween originated as the Celtic religion in Britain, and other parts of Europe celebrated the thinning of the veil between the spirit and physical world, or "Samhain." When Christianity began influencing the Celtic religion, it eventually became All-Hallows-eve and, in turn, Halloween.

When this was brought over to the Americas, aspects of the European and American Indians collided, and created more of the Halloween season we know today, such as telling ghost stories and celebrating the harvest.

Now, where did the costumes and candy come into play? People believed that when the veil was thinned, the spirits could find them when they left their homes, and to hide their identities, they dressed in costumes. In attempt to prevent a spirit from entering their home, they would place food outside.

A tremendous amount of years has passed from then to now, and maybe the reasonings behind the day have changed, but some traditions still hold strong.

I have vivid memories of the overwhelming excitement of going to the orange and black section of the store, and picking the best costume possible for October 31. The commotion of getting all decked out, and heading out with your best friends to stock up on candy after a long day at school.

Eventually we grow out of that phase, and the costumes of princesses and superheroes are exchange for sex-ified cats and firefighters, while trick or treating door to door is replaced with all-night parties.

Once this phase of life has passed, we move on to passing out candy and complimenting the children as the cycle continues.

The spirit of Halloween is what makes this holiday my favorite, and possibly the best holiday there is. There’s a certain Autumn smell in the crisper air, when it hits late September. The extra cozy, under-blanket mornings that make it 10 times harder to get out of bed for work, and the smells of pumpkins and apple cider, are just little wonders of the season. There’s a feeling of Halloween that brings a euphoric feeling to your heart.

Now, we definitely can’t forget to mention the spooky factor that’s amplified, too. I’m definitely someone who lives in a year-round spooky state of mind, and you can usually find a few things to occupy that desire for scare, but when Halloween hits, all the best movies and of course the haunted attractions come out to play. They’re a chance to put your fears to the test, and get your adrenaline pumping.

If you’re not so crazy about the scary side of Halloween, there are mystical cult classic movies that’ll be right up your alley. Halloweentown, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Hocus Pocus, just to name a few, create worlds of magic and wonder no matter what age you are, and let’s face, it most of us 90s babies now in our 20s still tune in to these original movies, making you feel like a kid all over again, watching Disney channel while waiting to stuff your face with mouthfuls of candy, or prepping for Halloween when they’d air all the movies in August.

There’s something about these classics that give a fuzzy, feel-good feeling when you watch them, and maybe an inkling of hope that you’ll wake up one day with powers and abilities to fly on a broom (I’m still waiting for that to happen).

The best thing about this holiday? There isn’t an expectation of fake smiles to estrange relatives, or anxiety over buying expensive gifts that have to be just right. This is a season filled with no pressure, and an opportunity to be anything you want to be. It’s a holiday where everyone gets to indulge in too much chocolate and feel like a little kid, no matter their real age. It’s a holiday that has a little bit to offer everyone with history, magic, horror, candy and costumes.

With so much history and traditions, and a season filled with magic, fun, and only the expectation of candy, how can Halloween be anything but the best holiday?