Samhainophobia. The fear of Halloween. Yes, it’s a real thing! What isn’t real is the fear of candy. However, the holiday is not just limited to candy, trick or treating, or decorations. Halloween offers plenty of activities for everyone participating. It can be hard to know what the “best” Halloween traditions are. Here are some options if you’re looking to engage in a spooky Halloween this October.
Ambiance is one of the main things that make Halloween special. With the crunch of red-orange leaves and the smell of cinnamon, Halloween offers a relaxing vibe to many people. “I really like how cozy it is. Everything is pumpkin spice flavored and everything has jack-o-lantern faces and everything. I think especially during this time, everybody’s allowed to put up lights, decorations, dress up, and be themselves. I really like that,” said Addison Hodgins, a celebrator of Halloween.
Halloween tends to have a very friendly and fall-like atmosphere. Combined with the many activities, the holiday’s climate allows for participants to really enjoy their surroundings and immerse themselves in the spooky spirit.
A big part of ambiance is the way that people decorate. During Halloween, it’s quite common to see more than a few houses with ghostly ornaments hung up. Decorations often range anywhere from cute ghosts to huge, carved pumpkins. “I absolutely love Halloween; it’s such a fun holiday and I love getting so much candy and seeing kids having fun … decorating with my family makes Halloween special for me. It creates so many fun memories with the people I love and it allows me to spend more time with my friends and family!” said Sarbani Sumathi. Not only is seeing the decorations fun in itself, but putting them up with one’s loved ones is also a fun event to take part in. Adding to the festive air and bonding with people one cares about, decorations are a great way to add to the Halloween experience.
Houses aren’t the only things decorated for the holiday. People usually take the time to dress up and walk around as their favorite characters from different pieces of media. Someone participating could go solo, but there’s also a chance for people to spend time with their friends. Costumes are a great opportunity to have fun and potentially even spend time with loved ones. “Usually, I go shopping beforehand with my friends to choose a costume so we could all match. Then we would go to somebody’s house to get ready, and then from there travel around the neighborhood to get lots of candy,” said Zoe Winnowicz. With the sky to the limit, costumes allow for people to express themselves while enjoying a nice time with friends.
Trick or treating is one of the more popular festivities in Halloween. If someone is looking for a nice way to spend time with their friends and to collect various amounts of candy, trick or treating is definitely one of the top options. “I like trick or treating. We normally go trick or treating with a close group of our family friends.” said Abigail Yahi. As the main highlight of Halloween, trick or treating offers tons of fun for anyone engaged. Either spending it with friends or going just for the candy, trick or treating is always fun for partakers.
With many different options, Halloween is enjoyed by many different people. Whether someone likes to stay independent or is looking for a friendly function, the spooky holiday has something for everyone. It’s hard to think anyone would be samhainophobic in the first place with all these options.
