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“Well, well, well, what have we here? Sandy Claws, huh? Ooh, I’m really scared,” rings the “Oogie Boogie Song” from “Nightmare Before Christmas” as I step into Target, where skeletons and snowmen share the shelves in October — forcing me to confront the uncomfortable reality of Christmas’ early arrival. Just when we’re gearing up for Halloween with its haunted houses, spooky decor and pumpkin spice everything, Christmas is sneaking in prematurely with its sprinkling tinsel decorations in stores. However, Halloween deserves more than appreciation for its festivities as it gives a unique opportunity for creativity, escapism and community — offering a day of stress relief and joy in a way no other holiday does. 

Halloween deserves way more love and attention. While it’s already too late to save Thanksgiving, which seems to have been officially hijacked by Christmas, we can still save Halloween. It’s the one night of the year we can all embrace our spooky sides without judgment. Halloween is the perfect excuse to turn your home into a haunted mansion and binge-watch horror movies while devouring candy like it’s an Olympic sport.

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Halloween is also the only day when it’s socially acceptable to wear a costume. When adults and children are allowed to dress as someone else, it allows our imaginations to run wild, which has been shown to enhance creativity, build confidence and social skills. As adults, we often don’t make time for things like playing pretend — which is often labeled as childish — but Halloween allows us to let go of this societal notion and embrace our creativity. Dressing up and stepping into a different persona brings joy and laughter, reminding us that it’s okay to be silly and have fun — something we need more of in this day and age.

The joy of dressing up as a superhero at work or grabbing coffee in a dinosaur onesie is something you don’t get from other holidays. Halloween is a form of escapism from everyday life and should be somewhat considered a mental health day. Embracing the playful spirit of Halloween and reminiscing about our childhood memories of the holiday allow us to unwind and break loose from our everyday lives.

For example, imagine you are sitting in a lecture and you look around the classroom to see

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Spiderman or Wonder Woman casually taking notes. There’s something about seeing others in costume that brings a smile to your face not because of its absurdity, but because of the shared permission to step out of the everyday routine and into something more whimsical. 

Some might say that comic conventions are enough for this, but it’s not the same. Halloween is a massive scale convention that invites everyone to suspend reality and have fun by transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary for one day. It’s terribly underrated and overlooked for the unique opportunity it creates for community building and creativity. Due to this, we should embrace Halloween’s ability to bring people together and allow our inner child to live freely. Moreover, the gothic aesthetic with carved pumpkins hauntingly glowing from doorsteps and the flicker of lanterns heightens the excitement of the season and creates a sense of community and creativity that cannot be replicated for any other holiday — not even Christmas.

Being scared is also oddly comforting, as well. Whether we’re entering a haunted house or watching a thrilling horror movie, we’re hardwired to enjoy that little jolt of fear. That adrenaline rush actually helps us destress by allowing us to confront our anxieties in a safe environment, providing a sense of relief and release, which has surprisingly been proven therapeutic. It’s fear without real danger and by extending Halloween’s spooky season, we would allow more stress relief from everyday life.

Halloween is scarily underrated and deserves way more love and attention. It’s a holiday that brings joy, creativity and a unique enchantment that can’t be found in any other holiday. Instead of letting Halloween be overshadowed by the early arrival of Christmas, we should embrace the spookiness, the costumes and the delightful treats.

So, next time you see a bat-shaped cookie cutter in July, don’t hesitate — grab it and start the Halloween countdown early! After all, if Christmas can creep in by October, Halloween should have its moment in the spotlight, too. 

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