Halloween is supposed to be an exciting time of year. Millions of kids are eager to continue the long-time tradition of dressing up, getting with their friends, and going door-to-door begging for candy. However, this tradition, and the happy memories with it, are expected to end once you are deemed “too old” to participate.
It is inevitable that everyone will eventually grow out of the appeal to go trick-or-treating on Halloween and become the designated candy giver. But when exactly that time comes, no one is sure. Yet, many tend to believe that once one becomes a teenager, it is childish of them to take joy in the holiday.
This belief has angered and disheartened teenagers and adults who are excited to see kids, no matter their age, participate in the festivities.
“It is really nice to get away from homework and get dressed up with my friends,” senior Sarah Koegel said. “I also just love seeing all the cute costumes the little kids have.”
Not only this, but holidays, especially Halloween, have seemed to be dying since the pandemic. Decorations are sparse and the streets that were once filled with excited children holding candy bags are now unsettlingly bare.
“Maybe it is ‘trunk-or-treating’ that is eating into it,” media aide Beverly Cannalte, organizer of this year’s library coloring contest said. “The essence of Halloween to me is being outside, being with family, being with friends, and getting as much candy as you possibly can.”
Despite this, adults continue to buy bulk bags of candy to hopefully hand out to trick-or-treaters. But more often than not, hardly anyone knocks on their door throughout the evening, leaving them to give large handfuls to the last few stragglers of candy-seeking children and stuff the leftovers in the pantry to rot.
So with all the leftover candy and a small number of trick-or-treaters, why should it matter whether the kid at your door is 5 or 15 years old? The answer: it should not. As long as you are successfully rid of the mountain of chocolate that will inevitably be forgotten after October, the age of the kids knocking at your door should not be a problem.
“It is a really fun thing to do to feel like a kid in the height of responsibilities and stress,” senior Grace Comeaux said.
Not only this, but it is disheartening and rude to see ignorant adults turn away excited, smiling kids. It is kind of like slamming your door in the face of a hopeful Girl Scout trying to sell you cookies; being unnecessarily mean.
“There is no age in my mind that you stop celebrating Halloween,” Cannalte said. “You got to celebrate, or else it goes away.”
All in all, Halloween is a holiday that should be enjoyed by everyone, whether you are the hopeful, happy kid standing on the porch or handing out candy for everyone to enjoy.
