Maybe I never saw this comment back in 2021.
Or maybe I did, forgot to respond, and decided it wasn’t worth responding to because it was an anonymous post. Either way, I came across it again recently, and I had to laugh a little because apparently 2021 me was already having the exact kind of Halloween debate that 2026 me would still have opinions about.
Back in 2021, I was getting ready for the Halloween season and trying to get into the swing of writing my daily Spooktober posts. I was looking for content, ideas, things to talk about, and generally trying to get myself into the Halloween spirit. You can read the whole post here!
And if you know me, you know that I am—and honestly, still am—very into the whole themed aesthetic of Halloween. I like going over the top. I like decorating. I like costumes. I like themed food. I like making an entire experience out of something that could technically just be one day on the calendar.
And honestly, take Halloween out of the equation entirely and I’m still like this.
When I had my book club, I loved making charcuterie boards based on whatever book we were reading. Sometimes I’d make an entire meal inspired by the book. Give me a theme and a little bit of time and money, and apparently my immediate response is, How far can I take this?
So what did this anonymous commenter say back in 2021?
“The problem I have with how Halloween has developed over the years is that it is such a BIG holiday now! When I was a kid, we had a parade at school, then dressed up and went trick-or-treating in the evening for candy, and that was it. Now, everyone is hosting themed parties, and there are tons of extra activities that seem to (for me) add stress to what should be just a fun, no-stress holiday. I long to simplify this holiday. It should just be about fun dress-ups and candy.”
And honestly?
They’re kind of right.
Not necessarily about Halloween being too much, but about how different Halloween is now compared to when a lot of us were kids.
For a lot of us, Halloween wasn’t really a season. It was a day.
You went to school in your costume, maybe had a Halloween parade, came home, went trick-or-treating, ate way too much candy, and then Halloween was over.
Now Halloween can start in September.
There are pumpkin patches, haunted houses, Halloween markets, movie nights, costume parties, themed bars, decorations, baking, crafts, festivals, Halloween concerts, Halloween photo shoots, spooky brunches… the list goes on.
And honestly?
I think that’s great.
Maybe that’s because I’m one of the people contributing to the problem.
But I also don’t really understand the argument that Halloween being bigger somehow makes it less fun. If anything, I think it gives people more opportunities to enjoy it in whatever way they want.
And yes, I know someone could say, “Well, Thanksgiving is still just one day.”
Technically, sure.
But Thanksgiving also requires planning. You have to buy food, plan a menu, coordinate with family, cook, clean, travel, decorate if you’re that person… It’s one day, but there is still a whole lot that goes into making that one day happen.
Same with Christmas. Same with Easter. Same with Valentine’s Day.
So why does Halloween have to be different?
Why can’t we let ourselves make a big deal out of it if that’s what makes us happy?
I think somewhere along the way, we’ve decided that adults aren’t allowed to be excited about things that are traditionally associated with children.
Halloween is a children’s holiday, yes.
But it doesn’t have to be only a children’s holiday.
Adults are allowed to dress up. We’re allowed to decorate our houses. We’re allowed to throw ridiculous themed parties and spend an unreasonable amount of time deciding what kind of spooky snacks we’re going to make.
We’re allowed to be whimsical.
And honestly, I think we need a little more whimsy.
Which brings me to this year.
This is my first Halloween as a mom, and I’m realizing that my Halloween is going to look a little different now.
We’re probably going to go to a pumpkin patch. Probably. I say that with the confidence of someone who has absolutely no idea what our October schedule is going to look like yet.
We might go trick-or-treating with my niece.
We might stay home.
I’m a little sad that I’m missing some of my friends’ Halloween parties this year. Kind of.
But also… not really.
Because I’m still dressing up.
Hell yeah, we’re dressing up.
We’re doing our first-ever family costume, and I am very excited about it.
The baby is going to be a chicken.
Hector is going to be the farmer.
And I’m going to be the scarecrow.
Is it necessary?
Absolutely not.
Is it going to be ridiculously cute?
Absolutely.
And maybe that’s the thing I would say to that anonymous commenter from 2021 now.
You don’t have to participate in all of it.
If Halloween being a whole season stresses you out, let Halloween be one day. Dress up, get some candy, watch a movie, and call it a night.
But if someone else wants to spend six weeks turning their house into a haunted Victorian manor, host a Beetlejuice-themed dinner party, make pumpkin-shaped cookies, visit three pumpkin patches, and dress their baby up as a chicken?
Let them.
Maybe the best part of Halloween becoming “a big holiday” is that we get to decide what our version of it looks like.
And personally, I’m perfectly happy making mine a little extra.
