As people grow up, the way they celebrate Halloween changes. Usually starting with trick-or-treating with friends and parents, turning into parties and at home celebrations.
Things like ‘Halloweekend’ and parties tend to merge their way into the holiday as people start high school. Those who celebrate Halloween usually start trick-or-treating as kids as soon as they are able to understand the holiday. Halloween highlights youth and creativity, with kids making different costumes and spending time with friends and family. This seems to transition as people enter high school, with Halloween parties and more at home activities being introduced.
In the years since COVID-19, Halloween trick-or-treating participation has dwindled. Even though the pandemic has been resolved, participation has still been affected. Although new more quarantine friendly practices for the holiday were adopted, now that the day is back to being celebrated normally the amount of kids and teens being involved has gone down. According to usatoday.com, more than 17,000 homes in the US said that they had fewer trick-or-treaters in Halloween 2023.
A possible explanation for this is that the newer generations seem to be growing up faster, causing there to be less participation for things that are youth oriented like trick-or-treating. Communities have also become more aware and concerned with lacing and tainted candy, as well as the overall health aspect of halloween. The growing concern for these issues has also had an effect on the outcome of trick-or-treating participants.
Getting older a certain pressure has been applied. Starting the first year of highschool, the question “what do we do for Halloween?” starts getting asked.
“At a certain age, people just don’t trick-or-treat anymore, and it’s kind of awkward being the oldest there, and nobody, really your age, is trick-or-treating with you,” said freshman Lorea Melander.
Being a freshman is an awkward time during the holiday since during the ages of 14 and 15 the transition of how to celebrate starts to become confusing on what you want to do versus what you are expected to do. Pressure from others is often part of the stress, not wanting to feel left out can cause people to change their plans for others, which can end up ruining the holiday overall.
Many holiday celebrations change as we get older, but it is important to do the things that bring us joy, on Halloween go trick-or-treating, hangout at home, go to a party, anything that will help the holiday be a day to remember should be done.
