All Hallow’s Eve, Halloween, ‘Spooky season’. Whatever you call it, more and more people, especially children, seem to love this time of year!
Like Christmas (oh no, I’ve said it maybe too soon!?) having its roots in Christianity, most people don’t necessarily celebrate it for those reasons. Nonetheless, it’s a fun way to bring in Autumn, the shorter days and, again for children, to get free sweets!
The whole process can be super fun- carving pumpkins, decorating the house in spooky decor, dressing up and having a party.
But why is such a morbid fascination with the dead, weird and unholy so popular?
Well, I think it’s ultimately down to escapism from the norm. Making yourself look terrifying and scary gets a reaction from people and that makes us feel good, right? Also, all the classic games that come with it: Apple Bobbing, Hide and Seek and (as we we do with our Halloween Discos), Zombie Limbo, for example, bring a huge sense of unique fun that only happens once a year.
Call it a tradition, a sense of occasion, but ultimately, fun.
Having run many Halloween Discos in the past it really does show how children in particular have a vivid, unique imagination when it comes to costumes and dressing up. A few years back, I ran a Hallowen School Disco and two girls had their uniforms on but their white shirts were splattered with blood, hair all knotted and had tyre tracks across their backs. I asked one of them, ‘What’s the story with you two?’ And she proudly replied, ‘We’re dead zombie sisters who got run over by a truck’.
Eeek!
I also appreciate that some people really don’t like Halloween. I get it, it’s all a bit unnerving! But if you want to stay out of the Halloween lime light, as it were, there is the unspoken symbol of not leaving a Jack O’Lantern outside your door to ensure you don’t get any unwanted ghouls trick or treating.
For me though, I think it’s great fun and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone dressed up and having a totally crazy scary time, lol.
