By Sam Howard
Photo by: Sam Howard
“Trick or treat! Smell my feet! Give me something good to eat!”
An infamous chant for trick or treaters. Halloween is approaching and students and adults are brainstorming ideas for what to do. Some already have regular traditions they do every Halloween, while others consider it just a normal day. But what about those who plan on going trick or treating? Senior Rachael Garcia states “Definitely trick or treating! Unless stealing from the little ones isn’t considered treating…kidding!” “Yeah who doesn’t. It’s the best thing to do on Halloween night.” Junior Bruce Schneider agrees. Whereas others simply state “No.” as Senior Anthony Berg does.
A lot of controversy is brought up as to whether or not older people should still be able to dress up and get candy. Others are totally up for the idea of letting their inner child show. As people grow, age can affect many things we do. Trick or treating is an activity that high schoolers rarely participate in anymore, because of the age reputation. Though less people actually participate, the thing most do agree on is the age bracket. “From birth to, I don’t know, death.” Senior Jake Hulse replies about the “right” trick or treating age. Schneider comments, “There shouldn’t be an age bracket. People of all ages should trick or treat.” Though many students say, it’s OK to participate in trick or treating, many don’t like the idea of actually going, but prefer to just leave it for the younger generation. Contemplating on the right age, the time frame for trick or treating will also matter. “From 5:30-10:53pm,” Garcia jokingly states. Berg concurs by saying to “Make it later.” Depending upon the majority of ages who do go trick or treating will affect the time frame alloted.
Costumes are one of the biggest points of Halloween. One has the opportunity to change them up every year, and be anything they want to be. Creativity is all around, especially for those who have very…peculiar costumes that they can’t forget once they’ve seen them. “ A really big monkey, and because it’s a really big monkey.” Berg recalls about his most memorable costume he has seen. “My cousin being a box. What’s not to remember.” Schneider remembers. One of the funniest, most memorable costumes Rachael Garcia has ever seen was “An adult wearing one of those cow costumes with the huge realistic utters.” she laughs.
Although students always have memories of some of the best costumes they have ever seen, they also hold a special place in their heart for their favorite costume that they went as for Halloween. “A pink power ranger!” Garcia exclaims. Jake Hulse remembers when he went as Peter Pan. “I was Peter Pan once. Tights and everything!”
Along with wearing costumes, students also have Halloween traditions. Many carve pumpkins with faces of their choice or do routine activities. “Something creative and not just a mouth with two eyes.” Garcia points out. Schneider stays on the same track and comments he carves a pumpkin with the design of “whatever pops into my mind.” Other activities that go on during Halloween is passing out candy to children who come by, as Anthony Berg does as a tradition. “Staying up all night watching all the horror movie marathons on the television” is how Garcia likes to spend her Halloween, and many are to join her.
With laughs, cackles, and tricks pulled, many students are uneducated as to where the Halloween theme began. Schneider claims that it started because “when people believed that if you offer free candy it calms the devil.” Berg says “…pagans celebrating the turn of the calender year in their society by dressing as demons to scare away spirits.” Rachel Garcia has a totally different approach as to how the “holiday” started. “Two boys, one named Hallo the other named Ween, came together one day and decided that they shall create a day where parents will give lots of candy to every child they meet wearing a costume.”
Whether anyone really knows how Halloween started, it’s something that every student is aware of. From trick or treating, to watching scary movies, to just hanging with friends. Halloween typically doesn’t go unnoticed, so students, and adults will be scattering around for candy to pass out or costumes to purchase or make.