Is Halloween A Holiday For All? By: Alissa Alvarado

Is Halloween, with its costumes and candy, truly a holiday for everyone, or does it leave some feeling left out? As communities grow more diverse, it’s worth exploring whether this spooky celebration resonates equally across all cultures and beliefs. According to Fast Company “By 2005, just over half of adults celebrated Halloween. Today, that number has grown to over 70 percent Those between 18 and 34 years old participate at the highest rate, and they’re also the holiday’s biggest spenders, shelling out over twice as much on their costumes as older adults and children.” Grace Walker, a student from Hillgrove High School reflects on the different celebrations with other varieties of people “Well, I think adults really appreciate the more, like, scary side of it, which kids, like, can't. So like kids just do the trick or treating and like the fun like dress up like your favorite character while adults can like go to haunted houses and watch like really scary movies and like, it just, it's like exciting and it like, is like adrenaline boosting.” Despite its growing popularity, Halloween’s meaning and appeal can vary widely depending on age, culture, and personal beliefs. Understanding these different perspectives helps us see why this holiday may feel fun and exciting to some, but unfamiliar or even uncomfortable to others. 

Seeing entire neighborhoods or towns come together to celebrate Halloween can be a really special sight. It often shows how communities can connect through shared traditions and festive fun. As stated by HISTORY “In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes. Ian Spencer; a student from Hillgrove High School says  "I think that's actually really cool though, because you can tell the community's coming together, and they're doing one thing with everybody, so I think it's cool” This sense of togetherness continues to be a big part of why Halloween remains popular today. Celebrating as a community helps create lasting memories and strengthens bonds between neighbors. Ultimately, whether Halloween is for everyone depends on how inclusive and respectful communities make the celebration. 

As kids get older, their way of celebrating Halloween often changes from trick-or-treating to attending parties. This shift reflects how Halloween can grow with us, offering different kinds of fun at every age. According to Alpha Mom “We are living in a time where people are constantly lamenting the fact that children are growing up too quickly, acting like adults long before their years. Look at the costumes that are available in the big stores. Every year the choices become more and more gruesome for boys, while the girls' costumes become more and more like street walkers.” Ian spencer, a student from Hillgrove High school goes on how teens shift change. "I think we are getting too old for all tricks or treating stuff, but if you want to trick or treat, that's cool "This change in how Halloween is celebrated shows how personal and varied the holiday can be as kids grow up. Whether it’s dressing up, trick-or-treating, or going to parties, the most important thing is that everyone enjoys the celebration in their own way. Ultimately, whether Halloween it is for everyone depends on how inclusive and respectful communities make the 

celebration.