Beyond the Costumes: Why Halloween Is an Important Tradition for Humanity

“Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it’s about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves.” — Elvis Duran.

Here at ETS, Halloween is our favorite holiday. It’s a perfect mixture of the changing season with the ability and encouragement to be anything from creative to scary. Crisp air, falling temperatures, and changing leaves all lead to amazing decorations and light displays. The holiday also brings multiple psychological benefits.

Holidays such as Halloween and Dia de los Muertos allow us to ritualize important life events such as death and experience fear in a healthy way. People get a positive response after recognizing they overcame fear. With Halloween, we get to go even further and have the opportunity to acknowledge and perhaps even celebrate death, which allows us to vent our most monstrous fears¹. Things such as haunted attractions promote good adrenaline rushes and build skills during a developmental stage (in kids/teens) where risk-taking may be seen as good². People who go through scary experiences (haunted houses, horror films, etc.) often feel less anxious after the experience than before³. Lastly, the season strengthens bonds of friendship. Going through intense fear experiences together strengthens the bonds between individuals⁴. Making the season the perfect time to grab friends for your adventure of choice.

On top of all the above, Halloween is the one holiday that we are not only allowed, but encouraged to stop making sense. This can be incredibly rewarding and freeing. Whether your tastes are creative, cute, or scream-out-loud scary it’s the season for you. Take the opportunity to enjoy it. Buy some candy, invite some friends, and get dressed up for the occasion.

Action: Celebrate Halloween and the fall season.

Further Reading:

1. The Psychology of Halloween
2. Halloween Frights Can Have Scary Good Benefits, Neuroscientist Says
3. Why We Love to Scare Ourselves on Halloween (and the Rest of the Year, Too)
4. A Psychologist Explains Why Americans Spend Billions to Scare Themselves Silly on Halloween