Having the Halloween boos

Anna Cornell '20, Staff Writer

Dark streets, cold rainy air and sore muscles. These are the first things that come to my mind when I think of Halloween. Now that I’ve turned 16, Halloween has an even less of an appeal to me than it was a couple years ago.

Over the past three years, October 31 has gotten progressively colder with the temperature having dropped 13 degrees from  last year according to timeanddate.com.

Of course I have had my fair share of getting a costume, meeting up with friends or family depending on the year and walking for a couple hours down poorly lit streets to plea for free candy.  However, the last Halloween that I remember, it was pouring rain and felt as if winter had come early with gusty winds coming from Antarctica. My y friends and I had to walk around a city we were not familiar with. Every couple of blocks we had to stop and attempt to guess where their aunt’s house was located in reference to us in case we needed to bolt while sloshing our feet in the puddles to take refuge in her house.  

During the elementary school years and even some of middle school, it was still socially acceptable to go trick-or-treating. Now if a high schooler would mention anything along the lines of wanting to dress up and go out for Halloween the same way a five year old would,they receive endless mockery and disparaging comments from parents or the people who pass out the candy. They would be told that they are taking away from the little kids experience and that they are too old to be doing this.

All of which I believe are valid points, but the main reason I cannot stand the Halloween season is that I find absolutely no joy from having the living bejesus scared out of me. Some may argue that being scared gives them a rush of adrenaline, making them feel more alive and open to a whole new perception, but to that I’d say you can get the same feeling by doing some simple cardio and wouldn’t ever have to feel on edge or insecure.

In 2014 when I was a small child in seventh grade, I had the privilege of driving to Cedar Point with one of my bestfriends, my swim coach and her family for Halloweekend. However, at the time I was unaware that Halloweekend was known for being a manic horror fest and not a family friendly event where the staffers dressed up as their favorite disney princess. Needless to say, every time a staffer would approach me I would cower in fear behind my coach and the rest of our group would laugh at my lack of bravery.

Although many Americans are overjoyed with all the Halloween festivities, I am more than happy to leave them be. I desire an obscene amount of candy, I am more than capable to make my way up to any local store and buy the candy a day later for half the price and receive just as much sugar without any of the hassle that comes with October 31.

https://steller.co/annacornell