I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. Beautiful changing leaves, warm hot chocolate, haunted houses, pumpkin patches, Halloween– what is there not to love?
Growing up in Denver, Colo., I have fond memories of Halloween. Every year, I would dress up as a different Disney princess only to trudge through piles of snow in freezing cold temperatures with my sequins and crown in all of my glory. Nonetheless, the gigantic pile of candy made it all worth it in the end.
As we grow older, traditions seem to change. Are college students too old for Halloween? If we were to go door-to-door trick-or-treating, I can almost guarantee there would be some strange looks and maybe even a door slammed or two. However, I do not think that growing older is a reason to let the spirit of Halloween die.
“I love Halloween,” freshman, Jordan Clouthier, said. “It’s a time when you can dress up as something else and not be judged for it. Even though we’re in college, we still have a little kid inside us. Everyone does. You’re never too old to dress up for Halloween.”
If we are not too old to dress up, then what is appro- priate for us to do? What about all the traditions that come with Halloween, like pumpkin picking and carving, hayrides and haunted houses?
Recently, I have noticed a trend around Cabrini College. Our students literally fall in love with this time of year. If you check your social media on the week- ends, you are bound to see several pictures of friends at popular hangouts such as Linvilla Orchards and the Eastern State Penitentiary.
“When I go to a haunted house, the sound of the music, the smell of the air and the leaves crunching makes me very nostalgic. I think people like to test their limits and get a thrill out of being spooked. That’s something you never outgrow,” sophomore, Quinn Ackerman, said.
If college students feel that they are not too old to participate in traditional fall activities, then what about Halloween parties? Are they only acceptable at this age if we are drunk?
“Halloween is one of the biggest party days of the year,” sophomore, Anne-Marie Jones, said. “I love dressing up with all my friends and going out, but I don’t necessarily think that you need to drink in order to have a good time.”
Like most things in life, it is okay to indulge in certain activities and to have fun as long as you keep it in moderation. As the fall season comes to a close, I encourage you to appreciate the colors of the trees, carve a pumpkin or two, dress up in a costume, enjoy a pumpkin chai-glazed muffin from Jazzman’s and most importantly to always keep the spirit of Halloween alive.
