Halloween is the best holiday

There’s nothing quite like sitting around a bonfire, eating s’mores and exchanging ghost stories on a cool autumn evening in October. It’s timeless, innocent fun. This is what I love so much about Halloween. It’s not just about pumpkin spice lattes, or the newest scary movie (although “It” was fantastic, I must admit). Halloween is a time for everyone, young and old, to come together and embrace their inner child.

Even though Halloween is sometimes just seen as a night of frights and fears, there’s only one night a year where it’s acceptable to run around, knock on strangers’ doors and ask them for candy. It’s about innocence, fun and community. I have so many great memories of dressing up with my childhood friends and intently watching the sky, waiting for the sun to set so that we could burst out the door to trick-or-treat. I loved nothing more than running around my neighborhood with an empty pillow sack and stocking up on candy so that I could snack on sweets until the next Halloween.

Dressing up is probably the most important part of Halloween, and quite frankly, the best part. Halloween provides an opportunity to embody your favorite hero, villain, prince, princess or anything you’ve ever wanted to be. Don a solo costume, one with your significant other or get a group of people together. You can be as creative as you want, or do the bare minimum, and that in itself is a beautiful thing.

I went as a fairy for my first Halloween as a walking and talking toddler. Although my parents were not the most creative with my costume, I was absolutely adorable. My costumes since then have been more creative, and I take it very seriously. Needless to say, if you do not dress up, you are the Scrooge of Halloween.

Another important part of Halloween can be said in two words: candy corn. That triangle-shaped yellow, orange and white candy is the sweetest, most delectable candy one could devour on Halloween. No other candy inspired by a vegetable has ever tasted so good. Even its near relative, those candy pumpkins, are not quite as sweet. Pop two in your upper gum, and boom, you’re a vampire. Put it on top of any food, and it’s instantly festive. The possibilities are endless.

Additionally, like any other holiday, decorations are a necessity. There is something so pleasant and comforting about hollowed-out, illuminated pumpkins smiling at me from every door step. Spider webs covering everything in sight, ghosts lurking in trees and gravestones sitting in the middle of suburbia: it only happens on Halloween.

Even if you’re not into the scary, creepy or gory aspect of Halloween, there is something for everyone: corn mazes, pumpkin carving, bobbing for apples and endless amounts of autumnal crafts. It is a way for the community to come together and celebrate each other.

So, whether you’re Superman, Cinderella, a gory zombie or a girl in leggings and cat ears, Halloween can be fun for everyone. Like any holiday, you get out what you put into it, so enjoy it, embrace it and get some candy!