In spirit of Halloween I looked up a few articles concerning the spooky holiday. In the article “Scariest Sight on Halloween? Grown-Ups” R. L. Stine notices that grown-ups are becoming more and more involved with Halloween. He has always viewed Halloween as a holiday when children can dress up in crazy costumes and go out in public to gather pounds of candy without the constant nagging of their parents. This is why when he goes to a haunted house to do research for a magazine article he was asked to write he is astonished to find that many of them do not admit children under eighteen. Later he went to a book store and sees Halloween books only for adults. Or, when he walks past a costume store and all the costumes are provocative adult costumes. In some ways I agree with Stine. I think that the level that adults take Halloween to is a bit ridiculous. But, I also have to think about it through the young adult in me.
“Of course, much has been written about how this generation of American adults doesn’t want to give up its inner child. I don’t have to spell out the evidence — it’s everywhere — that grownups want to be kids for as long as they can possibly get away with it. And who can blame us?
But ... no kids admitted to a Halloween haunted house? Talk about a hatchet blow to the head.”
I can say that I only partly agree with this situation. The haunted house might be scary for very little kids but I’m fifteen years old. I think I am old enough to go into a haunted house that is scary. The scary aspects are a major part of the Halloween tradition. I wouldn’t want to miss out on it. I can also see this from the adult perspective. They don’t want to have to make there haunted houses any less scary for younger kids and loose some of their adult customers.
“Farther down Broadway, I saw a Halloween costume store. Yes, you guessed it — there were no princess costumes with sparkling tiaras, no duck costumes with fuzzy tails. I saw a lot of flimsy negligees as well as studded black leather outfits with handcuffs and whips. A popular item seemed to be fake, black, curly chest hair for men.
I returned to my apartment disheartened. Perhaps in a few years, I would write a 10-year-old character who described his Halloween like this:
‘Best Halloween ever! First, Mom and Dad let my sister and me help decorate the house for their party. Then, they said we could help them get into their costumes! Totally awesome!’”
I can say that I absolutely agree with his sediment here. I know that adults don’t want to dress up in children’s costumes, but, there is a line that is crossed when adults think of Halloween as an excuse to dress in provocative outfits in public. Adults, you can dress up but there are children around. Please cover it up.
“I walked away thinking, yes, more adults are celebrating Halloween. And, yes, the best-selling costume this year may end up being the BP oilman uniform. But, no matter. Kids live in their own special and private world. And Halloween is still the holiday that proves it.” After hear kids talk about their Halloween plans Stine realizes that while more adults participate in the Halloween festivities, kids still view it the same way they have for years. Kids still love dressing up and hitting people up for as much candy as they will allow.
I still stick to my thoughts about the costumes and haunted houses but, Stine does have a point. No matter what the adults do, kids still have a great time on Halloween.
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