Frights Over Feasts

Celebrating the Best Halloween Has To Offer

Photo by Sudan Ouyang on Unsplash

Two of our favorite holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving, emerge as the leaves change color and the winds become cool. Every family nationwide is brought together in different ways by each, which all have their own charm and style in which they celebrate it. Halloween is celebrated for its emphasis on horror, creativity and community involvement. Thanksgiving is celebrated for its focus on family, tradition and thankfulness. Although both have their own qualities, Halloween is far superior to Thanksgiving.

The chance that Halloween presents for people of all ages to express themselves via their costumes and decorating their homes, each scarier than the next. Costumes, which range from wacky to scary, let people highlight their individuality and creativity. In addition, a lot of places hold scary houses and themed parties which encourage people to have fun with their friends and allow them to show off their costumes. As neighbors get together to create haunted houses, eerie displays and original decorations for Halloween, the DIY culture surrounding the holiday strengthens ties within the neighborhood. In addition to adding to the joyous mood, this creative spirit enables everyone to participate in a way that feels meaningful and personal.

Halloween is a special occasion that encourages individuals to delve into the exciting genre of horror in an entertaining way. For many, especially kids and young adults, Halloween introduces the horror genre with its haunted houses, ghost stories and eerie themes. Fans are encouraged to delve deeper into horror storytelling during this time by the increased showing of horror media, such as movies, books and video-games with strange characters and exciting storylines. This culture truly makes Halloween one of a kind.

Furthermore, Halloween is a social holiday that unites people in a variety of ways. With decorations, neighborhoods come to life and foster a fun environment. Trick-or-treating encourages families to meet new people and become closer as a community. Pumpkin carvings, haunted houses and neighborhood parades are all examples of community events that enhance ties between people.

However, to some, Thanksgiving fosters thankfulness and brings families together, which are qualities Halloween does not possess. One of Thanksgiving’s core values is reflection, which inspires people to be grateful for what they have and spend time with family. Families come together to celebrate relationships and show each other how much they care on this holiday.

Nevertheless, despite its emphasis on gratitude and family ties, Thanksgiving can cause a lot of stress and tension among people. The meal preparation, high expectations and family dynamics that accompany the holiday can take away from its intended purpose of creating for the family. Halloween, on the other hand, offers a singular experience for people to show off their creativity and bond. With events like trick-or-treating and themed parties, Halloween promotes fun and easy interactions in a more laid back environment.

For these reasons, it is safe to say that Halloween is a better fall holiday than Thanksgiving. However, as we reflect on both of the holidays, it’s important to appreciate all the unique qualities that both holidays have to offer.