Halloween Trends: What’s In and What’s Out

Dumping out our pillowcase onto the kitchen table and comparing candies with friends, Halloween is a nightmare for dentists and paradise for us kids. But does our bliss have to be over? As high schoolers, our Halloween spirit has changed in many ways. To end the dilemma, here’s a full guide on which spooky activities you should indulge in this season.

Starting with every kid’s favorite part of the night, we have trick-or-treating. A whole sack of free candy? Sign me up. Now, usually people expect a little seven-year-old to knock on their door, and in their sing-song voices, scream “trick-or-treat!” Once you hit middle school, though, you realize walking around in the late October in an impractical costume is simply miserable and cold. The pre-teen solution? Costumes become a little bit more like everyday clothes with a mask on and your mom drives you around the neighborhood. Still, you’re getting your candy. 

High school is where things get tricky. Mom’s not going to drop you off at every door anymore, and honestly, what’s the point when you can simply drive to Meijer and buy your own bag of candy: getting what you actually like with far less effort.

“I’m still going trick-or-treating with my friends this year,” Kolby Mantei, 9, said. 

Now this is still common within some teens. A survey of 107 St. Joe High School students showed that about 30 percent plan to trick-or-treat this year, with the remaining 70 percent staying in, going to a party, or all of the above. 

“I’m probably going up to Michigan State University. Pterodactyl is the planned costume,” Declan Finnigan, 12, said. 

Almost a quarter of surveyed SJHS teens have similar ideas to Declan and will be going to a party this year.

Going hand in hand with trick-or-treating, there are costumes. Coming in at 77 percent, most surveyed SJHS students will be dressing in costume this year.

“I’m going to be Darth Vader. That’s my plan,” Elle Christensen, 12, reported. 

Although Elle has her plans decided, many high schoolers don’t. If you fall into the latter category, here’s some advice. There is one main rule: no angels and devils, and no cops and robbers. Scary, unique costumes are the way to go- like Darth Vader or a pterodactyl. You could even go as a lamp. Second, practicality is out. It doesn’t matter if it’s forty degrees outside or you don’t have much mobility: if your costume is cool, it doesn’t matter. 

Finally, if you aren’t planning to celebrate this year, change your plans; It’s Halloween! Once you grow up and possibly decide to raise children, you are going to be the one driving the car around the neighborhood. So wear a costume, go trick-or-treating, carve pumpkins, throw a party, and celebrate the Halloween spirit to the best of your ability.