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Halloween has been a staple holiday for teenagers for years. It has been presented in countless movies as a teen favorite. In Mean Girls and Perks of Being a Wallflower, it’s depicted as a loved tradition. However, the current generation might be changing that view.
Many believe teenagers no longer view the holiday as exciting and “fun,” but as childish. This supposed new view of Halloween implies a decline in the number of teenagers celebrating Halloween. But, are all teenagers adopting this view of the holiday?
“Halloween is for everyone,” argued sophomore Abner Linares, “There's not a certain age to have fun.”
Halloween, in and of itself, is already incredibly versatile and presents a variety of activities for people of all ages.
Melanie Beltran, another sophomore at BGHS, commented, “Everyone represents Halloween in their own way.”
Teenagers get to enjoy a mix of the childish and more mature aspects. As stated by Melanie, “Halloween ages with you.”
In fact, teenagers have changed the holiday to fit their developed interests.
Throughout the month of October, it's common to see people carving pumpkins, which is a traditional way of celebrating the fall season. Melanie, like many others, celebrates by carving pumpkins.
“Just anything fall-related,” she says.
Recent years have seen a growing trend of pumpkin photoshoots that create the illusion of human jack-o’-lanterns. Thus, creating a unique use for carved pumpkins and an enjoyable activity for teenagers.
Another way Melanie likes to celebrate is by baking. Social media trends have contributed to an increase in the amount of teens with an interest in baking and cooking. Halloween feeds this interest by involving teenagers in a fun opportunity for creative expression that yields an abundance of fall and horror themed desserts and snacks. Straying from fall's classic flavors of pumpkin and cinnamon, the spooky season invites new experimental flavors and designs.
But, Halloween is not only a fall themed holiday. Halloween runs on fear. Companies cleverly market off of the holiday by planning release dates for horror movies near Halloween and advertising horror themed attractions at their businesses. Universal Studios is notorious for its Halloween Horror Nights and Six Flags similarly for Fright Fest. Bowling Green markets its own popular Horror attractions like Skeletons Lair and Waverly Hills Sanatorium.
Adults believe Halloween is too childish for teenagers. But interestingly, teenagers find comfort in the opportunity to be young.
Around Halloween, teenagers take the time to relive their childhood memories. One way this is achieved is by rewatching childhood favorites like Coraline, The Corpse Bride, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, and Halloween Town. These are considered children’s movies, but they are still enjoyable to teenagers even after countless years and rewatches. For many, the holiday even feels incomplete without them.
Lastly, dressing up continues to prevail as a strong Halloween tradition with group costumes remaining popular among teens. Costumes vary from cartoon characters and memes to gory horror characters.
“It's nice to see people get creative,” stated Melanie.
From homemade, last minute costumes to realistic, expensive outfits, people of various backgrounds participate, and teenagers are not the exception.
Melanie observed, “You even see 60 year olds dressing up and they look so cool!”
Continuing to prevail as a loved holiday, Halloween promotes and instills creativity, community, and youthfulness.
“You get to hang out with a bunch of people like family and friends,” noted Abner.
Melanie adds, “Every year it's something different.”
So, while it’s easy to assume teenagers are growing out of the holiday, it’s plainly obvious that the holiday runs on the enjoyment and participation of adults, kids, and teenagers alike.
- Tibni Valle
Opinion Writer
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