Pumpkins, apple cider and the changing of the leaves are hints that fall is in the air and Halloween is on its way. Halloween is the opener for the upcoming holiday season. Once Halloween has passed, Thanksgiving and Christmas zoom on by within the following months. As kids, Halloween is exciting because there is the annual trick-or-treating throughout neighborhoods. The children and their parents go door-to-door and collect candy in their various costumes. Usually, Keene would celebrate fall by holding the annual Pumpkin Fest. Unfortunately, this year was the first time in 25 years that it wasn’t held in Keene. I first experienced Pumpkin Fest two years ago. It was a great way to be involved with the community and enjoy the season. The festival made me feel more grown up because as a kid I had never attended anything like Pumpkin Fest. As children grow older and start to mature, the excitement of Halloween and other holidays fades.
Growing older brings more to our plates in terms of jobs, school and social activities. Once I entered high school, going trick-or-treating started to become questionable. Would I look childish? Would people still want to hand out candy to me? I love decorating for all seasons and holidays. In the fall I enjoy decorating and participating in the usual festivities, such as pumpkin carving. Besides the decorations, one of the main aspects of a few holidays are the fictional characters such as the Easter bunny and Santa Claus. I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but so many children find out at various ages that Santa Claus doesn’t exist. I think that finding this out can cause children to lose interest in the holidays because it isn’t as exciting knowing that there isn’t someone that climbs down the chimney to deliver presents while the household is sleeping. In reality, Santa Claus is really the parents and it becomes obvious when Santa Claus uses the same wrapping paper as them. Looking at holidays from the perspective of a college student, the excitement is about spending time with family. It’s not so much about going Trick-or-Treating or making snow angels in the winter for example. I’m sure the houses that hand out candy would think it inappropriate for a college-aged person to trick-or-treat. Because children don’t usually make any money, they don’t have to worry about spending money to buy gifts for our families. When I was younger my mom would buy a gift for me to give to my sister or my dad. Now we all buy presents for each other which I like doing because I like taking the time to buy something especially when I know they will enjoy it.
With the concept of money in mind, dressing up for Halloween at college is trickier than it was in middle school. People always want to be original, but sometimes it isn’t the easiest way to go. Personally, I don’t want to spend too much money on putting a costume together. Most costumes don’t appear to be as elaborate as they were when I was younger. My sister and I would sometimes buy a full costume, so we wouldn’t have to go around and buy all different parts of the costume separately, like I have done since coming to college.
When multiple groups of girls all wear the same costume, it’s like a secret competition to see who rocks it the best. Everybody celebrates holidays in different ways, but I think that it is exciting when holidays are around the corner because it is something to look forward too. Participating in holiday activities is a stress reliever for me whether it’s carving a pumpkin or decorating a Christmas tree because it gives me a break from school to spend time with family. Holidays can still be appreciated and enjoyed no matter what the age is. I think it is important for everyone to be a child at heart.
Heather O’Brien can be contacted at hobrien@kscequinox.com
