When I was younger, Halloween was a legendary holiday.
The constant rain that would appear dampens the spirits of kids every year, or the range of costumes, ghost-shaped sugar cookies, and teachers playing "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," the ultimate classic.
But in recent years, there has been a noticeable lack of spirit. The homes that used to be lit up with giant witch inflatables and creepy clowns have now become dull houses in neighbourhoods that do not embrace their community.
The spirit of the holiday used to be about unity. Kids wearing brightly coloured jackets and parents chatting on the driveway, waiting for us to get our handfuls of candy, now they’re barely outside.
It’s as if Halloween has lost its spark.
To me, the holiday feels more transactional. The parental standpoint is now the influx of money, where costumes and decorations have gotten increasingly expensive, and the basic act of trick or treating is being replaced with what is referred to as “trunk or treat.”
National Public Radio reports says “trunk or treat” is an alternative to trick-or-treating, in which guardians gather their vehicles in one spot, usually a parking lot. They open their trunks and give out candy.
Driving around my neighbourhood is when I first noticed the spiritual decline in the holiday. Each house lacked Halloween decor, and Halloween inventory still filled the shelves and racks at the stores.
I feel as though kids who used to want to live in the present moment are more focused on what time their Halloween party is, as opposed to their costume contest held in their school cafeterias.
There's a lack of thrill that comes with this holiday. There's no late-night candy swaps or sneakily eating a Twix bar that your parents have yet to check. It’s not the same as when I was a kid.
It feels as though there is a disconnect in neighbourhood dynamics. The older I get, the more significant the change becomes that separates the older generations from the younger.
My almost five-year-old nephew has yet to carve a pumpkin. Although this may not seem important, to me, it is a staple for the holiday, an important part of growing up
It’s an experience that reminds me of the first “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” movie.
It was nice to watch how Rowley and Greg mapped out their town to try to get the largest candy bars.
These childhood experiences are something my mom appreciates.
“When they’re younger, you definitely want to entertain them and keep them active and keep them going on a level that allows them to experience different things in their life,” my mom says.
But hearing her say this makes me realize that this kind of hands-on effort feels more uncommon now.
With parents seeming more inclined to hand their kids tablets to scroll on TikTok instead of creating a space where they can enjoy neighbourhoods and get their rain boots muddy, it is ruining them.
For me, it is merely a constant reminder that media that caters to their age range is more about being perceived as older, as opposed to being able to participate in Disney Channel’s Monstober and Family Channel doing Halloween makeovers.
I feel as though children lack a “tween” awkward stage that is a major part of their developmental process, skipping over all the fun and quirky activities we were able to engage in during this time.
It’s not only about the costly decorations and the lack of watching classics, it's now the nostalgia that's tied to the holiday and watching it slowly disappear in front of my once excited eyes.
