Halloween – It Really Is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

From curmudgeons to Karens, there’s always someone trying to spoil the fun on that one day of the year that it’s okay to let our freak flags fly. Lets take a moment to sing the praises and give a big Halloween THANK YOU to the folks who keep the spirit of this fantastic holiday alive and kicking.

Thanksgiving and Christmas get a lot of credit despite being the most stressful time of year for most people. There’s one holiday that happens right around the same time of year, though, that’s basically all about cutting loose and having a good time. It centers around everything positive (a sense of community, honoring the dead, and candy). Yet, we don’t include it when we say, “Happy Holidays.” Why is that?

Lately, it would seem that the holiday is losing more and more of its luster as we over-complicate matters and entertain those who seek to end it entirely. We’ve allowed politics, the 24-hour news cycle of panic, and social media to infiltrate the most wonderful time of year – especially for children.

Schools have had to ban all Halloween celebrations now that they’ve become liabilities. Kids have to read a 90-page document of guidelines before choosing a costume so as not to offend anyone despite imitation being a sincere form of flattery. We buy copious amounts of over-priced candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters. All three of them.

Picking a costume has become more stressful than picking a dress for the Prom. Is it authentic? Does it look like Rick Baker did my makeup? Is it clever enough? Does this slutty Freddy sweater dress make me look fat?! What if someone else wears the same thing? How is the lighting going to be at this party? I need professional headshots for Instagram tomorrow or I’ll never get invited to another party again. Now I have to start all over!

As I drive around town and see less and less people decorating for the occasion and demanding that this sacred Pagan celebration be moved to the last weekend in October for more convenience and better commerce, I begin to wonder… Have we lost our Halloween spirit?

Then I see it. That one guy who has clearly gone for broke to create the ultimate Halloween experience for all to enjoy for free in his own front yard. Home haunters are the working-class heroes of Halloween. They do it for no reason other than to make you scream with delight, and they have the best candy. Often, they’re even making generous donations to charity if you pay a small fee or offer a tip for the effort. The truly great thing about these guys is that they often stay outside and monitor things. Another set of eyes on the kids as they roam the neighborhoods is always good.

Even though there aren’t many anymore, I’m always delighted to see trick-or-treaters at my door. I’m sure to wear a costume to answer, and take time to look at every costume. They love it when you actually notice these things. I guess the upside to having less of them means more candy for each kid, too, because when you come to my house, it’s nothing less than a heaping handful of many treats from me. Once in a great while, my street will have several groups of them running from house to house laughing and having an amazing time. I always run out to get a photo of these moments.

What we tend to forget with the 24-hour news cycle of panic, and toxic rumor mill that is social media, is that Halloween is all about community. Bad guys can’t do much damage when a community is strong. So yes, go trick-or-treating. Meet the neighbors. Turn on your porch light and give out at least one little piece of candy. Be vigilant. Be kind. Participate. It’s good for the kids, and it’s good for you.

Honestly, you should only be dreading holiday parties for Thanksgiving and Christmas where you don’t get to choose the guest list. Halloween parties are awesome in every way. With the right costume, you can be anyone or anything you want, everyone’s there to have a good time, and you don’t have to agonize or spend your rent money on a gift.

Don’t obsess over or spend an entire paycheck on a costume, either. Throw something together that feels like fun to you and go to the party to have a good time. Or hey, if you’d give anything to look and feel like Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) for just one night, then go all out. The point is to have fun and feel great. Anything less is a tragedy.

One more thing on the subject of Halloween parties: If you don’t hear “The Monster Mash” by Bobby Picket, politely say your goodbyes and go to the real party where it will play along with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in between entire sets of Oingo Boingo classics.

A head above the home haunters and party hosts, we have the professional haunted attractions. If you’ve ever worked in one of these, you may have an inkling as to the work that goes into designing, building, dressing, insuring, staffing, training, securing, and general operations of these immersive performances. It is truly an awesome undertaking, and the folks that own these things are generally in it for the love of Halloween and all things spooky.

Before you complain about ticket prices and lines, consider the effort being put forth here for something that usually only runs just over a month per year. Understand that there may be nights where they’re short staffed and all they have to impress you with are the elaborate scenes they’ve built and appreciate that those actors jumping out at you are working their butts off and just want to see you have an amazing experience.

This year, as you carve your pumpkins and pick a costume, remember that Halloween is a celebration. Relax, enjoy yourself, enjoy the kids as they let their imaginations soar, let your own imagination go wild.

Be safe. Be kind. And have a Happy Halloween!