Some of us grow out of Halloween

By: Cory Berlekamp

Email: berlekampc@findlay.edu

Twitter: @Cberlekamp

 

Cue the Monster Mash, pull out the pumpkin bowl filled with candy, and pop in those fake vampire teeth; now you are ready for Halloween. I do not know if it is just me but I have started to lose the joy for the holiday in my late 20s, early 30s.

The meaning of America’s spookiest holiday changes as you age and grow as a person. When you are a child it is all about dressing up as your hero and getting candy but as you get older it just starts to become a reason to drink and dress up. Not to say that either of those things are bad, it just kind of takes the sparkle out of the whole ordeal.

 

According to Alcohol.org, a resource for American Addiction Centers, the average amount of drinks consumed by a person that drinks on Halloween is 3.5. with the top three choices being beer, tequila, and then vodka.

 

I am not coming down on people being festive, I am guilty of it as well. But after spending the extra time and resources trying to come up with a costume that will likely never be worn again, it does not seem worth it. By the end of the whole ordeal I feel worn out, covered in corn syrup, and overall uninterested.

 

I could imagine it becomes wholesome once again after having a family. Trick-or-treating with your children and vicariously living through them has to bring a light back to the jack-o-lantern’s eyes. But as a country, we now understand the health risks that refined sugar bring to the table especially children.

 

In an article published by the Cleveland Clinic, it states that children under two should not receive any added sugars to their diet. In an article published by U.S. News; sugar, sugar additives, and processed foods can have a negative impact on a person’s mental especially those who already suffer from depression and anxiety.

 

According to a survey done by the National Retail Federation, American’s spent 2.6 billion dollars on candy this year. Who does not love a Reese’s cup or a mini Snickers bar on occasion but does a child need to acquire an entire pillowcase full of dentistry nightmare fuel?

 

I know that this is sounding more like the Scrooge of Oct. 31 and I understand why people enjoy the holiday. For me though, I have slowly let it slip away to help prepare myself for all the other holidays coming up that are about to take up my time and money. Instead, I will just make a bowl of popcorn and curl up in a blanket while watching some old monster flick.

 

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