Help, the Social Pressure!!
As I'm sure you guys know, Halloween is coming up and I'm looking back on it and realising there are changes afoot. Many of these public holidays are often aimed at the innocence of the youth, at least the material side of it. Christmas being a prime example of this. However; we must look and realise that a holiday will mean different things to different people.
Now, I'm not talking the different meaning or importance of cultural/ religious holidays such as Thanksgiving, Ramadan or Kwanzaa. But what it means to different age groups and social circles. I bring this up because of a change in the past few years of what Halloween means to me.
As a young kid, you look forward to an evening of wondering around with the family knocking on peoples doors leading the infamous phrase "Trick or Treat" being shouted from every door we saw a pumpkin/ decorations outside of. As I got older, the joy came in putting up our own decorations and being a kid who was obsessed with order, I wasn't really happy when my sister wanted the influence.
Unfortunately, we haven't had a lot of time in recent years. Also my parents haven't been that into it, so we've not been participating recently. This has left me in the last few years in a limbo mode. As much as I enjoyed it as a kid, it seemed beneath me. To add, it didn't help, I got mocked a few years back.
- Oh, boo hoo. You had a childhood trauma, get over it.
- It put me off Halloween for 2 years.
- So?! You're still happy aren't you.
- I suppose. Even so Halloween isn't what it use to be.
And I think that's the point here. I do feel I've been left in a nostalgic state of looking back at the past. However; now I'm in Sixth Form (its like college if you're American) I'm starting to see the pull of late night parties. After all its a bit of a stereotype that teens will find any excuse to have a party. Now I talk about "Trick or Treating" as if its generational. Its not and is still popular, I even have a few friends that still do it. However; as I grow I look at other ways this holiday makes me happy.
One final note, as this is a socially awkward blog, its only right, I should point out, I'm really concerned I'll be a social pariah. But none the less, I'm determined to make this work. While there are many changes as I go into this new stage, the one that seems the weirdest is that not everything has to be scary. Which, I believe to be the most unusual American-ism about Halloween.
Be Yourself
-|CJ|-
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