Why I Love Halloween

Pumpkins and ghosts, black cats and ghouls – the perfect chance to eat chocolate and dress up as fools! Happy Halloween, everyone! Today’s blog post falls on the day itself, so I figured, why not write about why I love Halloween?

I have always loved spooky things. In our shop, you will find an assortment of spooky accessories. We have handcrafted glow-in-the-dark ghost necklaces and earrings. We have four varieties of pumpkin necklaces and keyrings – one of which glows in the dark as well! And if you’re looking for something softer and squishier, you’re in luck with our pumpkin plushes!

Although I am a coward when it comes to playing most horror games and watching horror movies, I love reading scary stories and listening to a Let’s Play of my favourite Youtuber playing a horror game while I work.

Within Australia, I’ve noticed that Halloween is a controversial one. The spooky season has a lot of people divided – with many in love with the jack-o-lanterns and phantoms, and others, far less so.

Over the years, I’ve found I have received a fair amount of criticism for loving Halloween as much as I do. In some of my past and present circles, it has been treated as taboo, which I always found to be odd and eventually, mildly entertaining. I’ve even been told that loving Halloween is barbaric, unholy, immature, pointless and far too ‘American’.

I find I am drawn to things that many others claim to be unlovable and unwanted, and Halloween has fallen into that box for a significant portion of my life. Christmas products are seen in shopping centres as early as August, which I have always felt is unfair to the people who find so much joy during Halloween, even if it isn’t considered worthwhile to be recognised.

Each year, as Halloween comes around the corner, I look to my beloved black cat, Jasper, and realise he falls in that same category. From baseless superstitions, himself and other black cats around the globe are still seen as unholy, troublesome and the source of bad luck.

Outside of the physical elements of Halloween, like costume parties, trick or treating and other spooky novelties, I think the thing I love the most about Halloween is that there is little to no expectation to participate, as there is with other holidays.

This may be controversial to say, but while Halloween is highly monetised, it is far less expected societally. As with Valentine’s Day, you are meant to fall in love. Easter, you are expected to care for the religious background, even if it isn’t your cup of tea. Christmas, there is so much pressure to participate.

Perhaps I have developed such a negative association with these holidays because of past familial experiences, but even outside of that influence, I have known similar themes. Even people who I do not know have told me, without prompting, I need to care more about the holidays listed above.

Whereas, I have had a mere fraction of the negative experiences when discussing the spooky season with other Halloween-lovers. In my experience, they have been far more open-minded, accepting and care-free. They are less pressed on how you appreciate the holiday, and more concerned about making sure you do.

Of course, there are bound to be people like that in regards to Easter and Christmas… But in my experiences, they have been few and far between.

The world can, and often is, a very solemn place. There are plenty of days which are grey, so why not have some fun? Take the excuse to have a dress up party or watch a spooky movie. Wear a pair of obnoxious Halloween earrings or carve a pumpkin. Take this chance to do something fun, exciting and different from day-to-day responsibilities.

Today, I’m spending it at home, as I usually do. Outside of work, I will be allocating some time to enjoy cat cuddles, watch my favourite youtubers play horror games and enjoy a homemade hot chocolate with ghosts (aka marshmallows) floating around the mug.

Are you a Halloween fan? Do you have any spooky traditions? Or do you prefer a quiet day inside the house like me? I’d love to know!

Have a wonderfully spooky day,

Kimberley (they/them)

Accessories by Antoinette