Halloween and Her Many Masks

Another Halloween season is upon us! As plans shift from pool-party hangouts to pumpkin-carving dates, I think of two of my closest friends, who are the biggest Halloween fans I know. 

While they might be united by their love for their holiday, for the most part, their similarities end there. The pair’s ideal Halloween seasons couldn’t be more different from one another. The surprisingly polarizing contrast between the two self-proclaimed “All Hallows Eve experts” reminds me of the many ways this holiday’s celebrations take shape. So, out of curiosity, I decided to interrogate my friends regarding their ideal path to the perfect Halloween. 

I asked my two friends, whom I will refer to as A and B, ten questions about all things Halloween. I invite you to decide if you identify more heavily with one of my friends’ versions of the fall season, or if you fall somewhere in between their extremes. Many of their answers reflect the stark differences between the two. The question remains, which one are you? 

1. Halloween timelines can vary from person to person. When does Halloween start for you?

1. Halloween never starts or ends, it’s a year-round affair. For me, Halloween is a lifestyle rather than a period of time in the year. There is something about the Halloween mindset that transcends the season. That being said, there is a prime time for feeling all the Halloween nostalgia that starts September first and lasts well into the end of November. 
2. September 1st… duh. There is no question that September 1st is the official Halloween start date. Once the -ber months begin, it is officially Halloween and fall time. The end date might be controversial, but for me, November 1st is when the fanfare ends. 

2. How do you prepare for the Halloween season? What does this prepping entail? 

1. Halloween doesn’t require any prep. It’s a lifestyle, you live it. My Halloween decorations aren’t season-based, they are my preferred home décor, and they stay up all year. The only real change that happens in preparation for Halloween is scent and media changes. Once the fall months approach, all fruity summer scents are replaced by the warm spiced scents of fall. Smooth jazz and slow, sad music replace the lively, upbeat tunes of summer, and entertainment content consists mainly of shows like Gilmore Girls and movies like Halloweentown. 
2. My prep starts around July. That’s when I begin to think about what exactly I want my Halloween theme to be. This is achieved through intense internet research where I assess the fall season trends, decide what vibe I like, and ultimately base my decision on how I can optimize the feeling of fall without breaking the bank. The biggest questions I ask myself are, do I want to have a nostalgic Halloween? Do I want to lean into the spookiness of Halloween? What exactly am I going for? After these questions have been answered, I gather my supplies and decorate starting in September. 

3. What is your favorite fall/Halloween activity? 

1. Watching old childhood Halloween movies is the best part of the season. I love rewatching old movies that, in hindsight, are kind of bad, but they’re so bad that they’re good. They’re just nostalgic, so you can’t beat the familiar feeling that they evoke. I mix those bad movies with some old Halloween movies that are just plain good, essentially the peak of cinema. There’s nothing like looking back and reliving childhood Halloweens. I also love seeing everyone’s costumes, especially when people get really creative and detailed with them. 
2. Pumpkin carving is the superior activity. It’s a classic activity and just fun overall. It’s even better if a trip to the pumpkin patch precedes the pumpkin carving. Going to the pumpkin patch with friends is a fall-fun must. The Starbucks fall menu drop is also one of the greatest parts of fall. There’s nothing that gives you the warm and fuzzy feelings quite like an overpriced spiced drink. 

4. Describe your ideal Halloween. 

1. Halloween is the perfect excuse to be a hermit for the day. On my ideal Halloween, I am head-to-toe in Halloween-themed clothing, from ghost fuzzy socks to pumpkin-patterned scrunchies—I must be dressed for the occasion. I stay home in my comfortable, spooky clothing, meticulously planning my movie marathon for the night and browsing my takeout options. My cinephile activity lasts into the wee hours of the morning. 
2. My ideal Halloween is on a Friday. I have no class, and I sleep in until at least 11:30 am. When I eventually wake up for the day, I am hitting the nearest coffee shop for a pumpkin spice latte and a bacon, egg, and cheese on a cinnamon raisin bagel. I meet up with my friends around 3:00 pm, and we discuss our plans for the night, preferably over a good meal (I am not picky about our dinner plans). We’re getting ready to go out and chit-chatting. Ideally, we’re out of the house by 11:00 pm. At this point in the night, we are going house to house to each and every Halloween party we can find. We call it a night around 3:00 am, but not before stopping at the nearest deli for a burrito drenched in chipotle sauce. 

5. What is your Halloween vibe in five words or less? 

1. Vintage, warm, weird, spooky, ornate
2. Nostalgic, euphoric, party, childlike wonder 

6. What is your process in deciding on a Halloween costume? 

1. I love any costume that doesn’t involve having to get too intricate with clothes. A costume that I can feel comfortable in and is easy to do, but is pulled together by fun makeup or hair. My Halloween costumes are a perfect opportunity to get creative with my hair and makeup.  It's fun to make those parts really intricate. I want to be comfortable, but also want it to be as creative as possible. My costumes are usually ideal for intimate social gatherings. 
2. I prefer my costumes to be niche and unique, usually. My personal favorite that I’ve done is T-Bo from iCarly. I obviously have multiple every year, and each is dependent on the occasion, but my top priority is always to look fun and approachable in my Halloween costume. As far as looking hot, that’s usually just a bonus, but not always necessary. All my costumes are ideal for a night out. 

7. What would be your ideal couples/group costume? 

1. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie. Contrary to my earlier comment about simple clothes, I need this costume to be completely movie accurate. I would want to do it properly, from accurate movie clothing to accurate hairstyles. 
2. I have a couple, but I would love to do The Hangover or The Beatles, specifically their outfits from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. 

8. What is the superior Halloween treat, and what gets left at the bottom of the pumpkin pail?

1. I have so many favorites. Reese’s Take 5, cheese balls, Hershey’s Cookies’ n’ Cream, and those big rectangular Jolly Ranchers that come wrapped like Laffy Taffy. I also love Whopper. Halloween feels like the only time I can properly enjoy those. At the bottom are definitely any coconut-based treats. Almond Joy and Mounds are especially heinous candy bars. I am also not a fan of all the fall squash-based foods that spring up during the season. 
2. Anything chocolate is perfect. I feel like out of all the Halloween candy, you can’t really go wrong with any variation of a chocolate bar. As far as what sucks, Dots and Tootsie Rolls need to be deleted. 

9. Favorite Halloween movie? 

1. I am a lover of Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, Practical Magic, Casper, The Craft, Monster House, and all of the Halloweentowns.  
2. Practical Magic, Halloweentown, Casper, and all the Conjuring movies are superior. 

10. Plan a Halloween party; tell me who you want to invite. 

1. A Halloween party?!? I will not be throwing a Halloween party; I don’t want to be at a party. The attendance at this party will consist of me, myself, and I. 
2. As for a cohesive theme, I don’t think I want one. My Halloween party is simply Halloween-themed, and there don’t really have to be activities. I think my guest list is what will make the party. I think Kaytranada has to DJ at my party. As far as who is there, if I can invite whoever I want, then Marlon Wayans, Snoop Dogg, Freddie Mercury, Jack Black, Jack Nicholson, Martha Stewart, Alvin the Chipmunks, and all my friends, obviously. I also think that I might last-minute invite that one situationship just to create some tension and drama.