Halloween has been a beloved holiday for centuries, with Trick-or-Treating being one of the most defining aspects of the season. Children dress up as their favorite characters, and walk with their parents around the neighborhood, taking candy from strangers. High schoolers fit in a small grey area with Trick-or-Treating: they’re too young to chaperone anyone, but some houses refuse to give candy to them because they’re too old. This begs the question: when do high schoolers feel like they should stop Trick-or-Treating, if ever?
Quite Tricky, Indeed
Trick-or-Treating has always been many students’ favorite Halloween activities, though some students expressed that their love for Trick-or-Treating has slightly shifted over time. One senior in particular, Brendan Skelcey, expressed that his favorite part of Halloween “used to be Trick-or-Treating, and then it [became] looking at the decorations while Trick-or-Treating.”
However, many people mentioned that junior and senior year are generally when they stop Trick-or-Treating. One senior, Ava Smith, explained that “I’m not Trick-or-treating this year, and I don’t know if I’ll Trick-or-Treat when I get to college … so last year was probably my last year of Trick-or-Treating.”
Students also felt weird about the social age limit on Tick-or-Treating. Skelcey told interviewers, “I don’t know about an age limit, but I think there’s an acceptable age. I think that, as long as you’re in school or school-aged, why not?”
Many adults agree with students on the odd social expectations, including the technical director in the Theatre department, Esther Bartels. When asked her thoughts on the social age limit on Trick-or-Treating, Bartels said, “I think there should be no judgement about anyone who wants to go Trick-or-Treating. I don’t understand why it’s socially unacceptable for adults to go, because we all need whimsy and treats in our lives, too.”
The Treats of Halloween
Despite the difficult social pressures around Trick-or-Treating, Halloween as a holiday still redeems itself in other aspects of the season. Aside from Trick-or-Treating, many people expressed their love for dressing up, going to haunted houses, and decorating for the season.
This year’s Halloween does feel different to some, with the energy and participation just not feeling as magical anymore. Some attribute it to senioritis, like Skelcey. He expressed that, “the only difference I’m noticing [in Halloween spirit] is that I’m older. It’s the fact that it’s senior year.”
