Why Halloween is a Good Holiday

I don’t know if Halloween needs defending. There may not be a “war on Halloween” like there is with Christmas, but here’s my hot take:

Halloween is fun and good, and here are three reasons why.

#1) Candy is a Fun Treat 

When Halloween candy hits the stores it’s a sign of the changing season. It’s like the capitalist version of a kobocha squash or a bright red tree. It’s why the pumpkin spice latte is a thing. And yes, we’re being sold that crisp, fall feeling, but we still get the feeling! Celebrating the season is fun, and it helps us live in the moment. And, for me at least, Halloween candy is part of that.

Another benefit to Halloween candy: It’s scientifically proven to taste better than other candy! (Stick with me here.) I’ve long asserted that seasonally packaged candy tastes better than regularly packaged candy. Seasonally packaged candy tastes fresh-- it has a stronger aroma and more flavor, and it is less likely to have dried out.

I’d pointed out this trend for years, and Eric, my deeply skeptical partner, thought I was full of shit. In 2013, he challenged me to an experiment. We called this the Reese’s Challenge. As Reese’s Miniatures are a perfectly engineered food product, they were an ideal fit for a quality check.  

Me in 2013, crushing the Reese’s Challenge.

For the Reese’s Challenge, objective friends purchased two different bags of Reese’s Miniatures, one that was seasonally packaged, and one that was regularly packaged. Our objective friends then unwrapped the candy, mixed them up, and presented me with the candy. I identified 100 percent of the candies correctly. Eric, who was still skeptical, suggested I be blindfolded. (To be fair, the freshness of the seasonal candy was evident by sight alone.) When blindfolded, I was still able to distinguish the seasonal and regular candies. 

So, objective friends, go get those Reese’s while they’re fresh!!

Would you like another reason why Halloween candy is good? I’ve got one: Halloween candy provides an opportunity to celebrate and model a peaceful relationship with food. 

I used to find Halloween candy a little stressful in my dieting days, but when candy is drama-free, I’m able to really enjoy it and eat the amount I actually want. I know that dealing with a pile of Halloween candy can be fraught for parents of young kids. For most families, it’s a break from routine. And for some parents, it might feel like your own anxieties about the candy are at odds with your kid’s excitement and joy around the candy. If you need a resource, I loved this article from Virginia Sole-Smith in the New York Times about how to “stay sane” about Halloween candy.  Instead of freaking out about the candy, Sole-Smith encourages us to view Halloween as an opportunity to “become comfortable around treats— and by doing so, neutralize their power.”

#2) Halloween Fosters Community

I love the opportunity to connect with my friends and neighbors on Halloween. It’s sad to admit, but we’ve lived in the same place for 6 years and out of everyone on my block I only know a handful of folks in my apartment building. Given that lack of community, I really look forward to greeting all the neighborhood kids with candy and waving hello to their parents. 

My most welcoming jack-o’lantern

I also use the holiday as an excuse to gather my friends. (If you hadn’t guessed, the venue for the “science” experiment detailed above was a Halloween party.) Most other holidays are dominated by family obligations, which certainly have their place, but for many these holidays can be emotionally loaded and socially complex. Halloween, on the other hand, is pretty free of obligations and expectations. (Especially for those of us without kids, participation is downright optional.)  Even though there’s no obligation, I delight in getting a little festive and spending time with friends and neighbors. 

#3) Halloween Helps us Face our Fears

Another aspect of Halloween that I appreciate is that it provides a healthy opportunity to embrace darkness and fear. I’ve always been pretty sensitive to scary stuff. (I have a very strict No Horror Movie policy. )This was also the case as a kid--I remember one Halloween party where my Dad read classic scary stories by candlelight to a room full of my little friends. It’s so sweet to think about that scene now, but at the time I had a complete meltdown. Even though the stories were a little too much for lil Corrie, I remember how empowered I felt dressing up as something scary and tromping around the neighborhood in the dark with my friends. It was a safe way to face my fears and feel brave.  

Baby Corrie as a scary vampire and Baby Sarah as an adorable dalmatian.

For some, this is also an important time to reflect on death and remember those who have died. In a culture that struggles to even acknowledge death and make space for grief, I see this as a welcome opportunity. Darkness is real, and so is death. It’s best not to ignore. 

Whether you’re just enjoying some fresh candy, or lighting a candle for a loved one who is gone, I wish you all the best this weekend. 

Here’s secret reason #4: Our resident Halloween Cat