I HATE HALLOWEEN - The Rider Newspaper

People always say you should never use the word “hate.” “Hate’s a strong word,” they warn. Yet, I struggle to find any other word that truly captures how I feel about Halloween. Though it’s often seen as the highlight of fall, for me, Halloween is simply the bane of my existence.

Commercialism is a part of our everyday lives, no matter the season, so you’d think I’d have gotten used to it by now. But nothing will be able to hide my face of disgust when I walk through Walmart and find pumpkins, skeletons and bats shoved in my face before October even begins. I don’t understand how all of these symbols and dark, muted colors manage to put anybody into a fun celebratory mood because, personally, it doesn’t even strike a joyful fear through me. It just weirds me out.

Other holidays have their charms, with cute hearts plastered everywhere for Valentine’s Day or simple snowflakes sprinkled around for Christmas. But Halloween? You can’t be subtle with it. Somehow skulls with party city wigs on your lawn become justifiable during this time. It’s tacky.

One would assume, with the flashiness of the holiday, its loyal celebrators would go the extra mile when it comes to the next best part: costumes. As someone with an appreciation for creativity, I can enjoy a good costume separate from the holiday. But I can’t help having noticed that, over the years, people can’t even be bothered to celebrate that part right. I’ll see a picture, subtitled ‘Mario and Luigi costumes!’, and shown will be two girls wearing green and red shirts. Where are the mustaches?! The hats?! The props?! THE LIFE?!

You have the opportunity, one chance out of the year to go crazy and look like a freak without people judging you, one single moment to feel a real sense of community over an outfit. And you dress yourself up like a JCPenney’s mannequin? Every year, it’s proven the corporations forcing this holiday down our throats have more life than the people celebrating it.

So, you’ve probably figured it out by now. The big reveal: I grew up Christian and was not allowed to celebrate “The devil’s birthday.” Do I still believe in and care for this rhetoric at all? No. Does most of my hate stem from the jealousy of never being able to celebrate with everyone? Most likely. Does my point still stand? Absolutely.

I hope you all have a lovely autumn … and nothing else. I’ll be bitterly waiting until Nov. 1 when all the candy goes on sale.