Halloween: a holiday for kids and adults alike

by Kyleigh Hawes

Ghosts and ghouls prowl the night. Creatures of all shapes, sizes and species creep out of hiding. The veil between earth and the underworld is at its thinnest. Children and adults dress as witches, firemen and pumpkins. Purples spiders and cottony spider webs decorate front porches. Halloween dances just around the corner.

Halloween is a widely loved and celebrated holiday throughout the world. Irish immigrants brought the holiday to the United States in the 1900s, where it bloomed into the holiday treasured today.

Though it once was a holiday to celebrate the dead of autumn, it is now one to rejoice with horror movies and haunted tours.

“I always attend the Haunted Tours of Parkersburg and from about the time of Labor Day, I start watching either horror or Halloween-type movies almost religiously,” said Candice Hoalcraft, a Halloween fanatic.

Despite its Pagan background, some Christian communities have taken to enjoying Halloween for what it means today. Children are allowed to dress up, go trick-or-treating and eat as much candy as the can within the following week.

Costumes include mermaids, bumblebees, astronauts and any other dream a child can have, some even corresponding with favorite movies.

“As a result of watching Disney’s “Under Wraps”, I even went as a mummy for Halloween when I was four years old,” said Candice.

Children are not the only ones to embrace the fun of costumes this time of year. Adults also snatch up their favorite characters, occupations and celebrities for to have a night of merriment dressed as someone else.

“One person I’ve always wanted to be was Emily from “Corpse Bride”. She’s so stunningly beautiful and I just love her character,” said Candice.

As the leaves change and decorations adorn rooftops, those who favor Halloween get excited for the changes autumn brings.

Exhilaration blossoms for the cold fall nights, the sweaters and the pumpkin-spiced everything. “The decorations are just fantastic: Jack-O-Lanterns and skeletons and witches and black spider webs. Another aspect is that Halloween kind of brings out the ‘kid’ side in everyone. Just a combination of everything makes it the perfect holiday,” said Candice.