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Children rarely need an excuse to be silly. They invent games, dress up on a random Tuesday, and find endless amusement in things that might seem mundane to grown-ups. But somewhere along the way, that kind of uninhibited fun becomes harder to come by. Free time for adults is often filled with plans and obligations, and even leisure can start to feel like something we ought to be doing productively.
Halloween offers a welcome exception. For one night, adults can put on ridiculous costumes, eat too much candy, and lean into the absurdity. In a 2022 essay for The Atlantic, Faith Hill argued that the holiday’s childishness is precisely what makes it so valuable to grown-ups. Although traditions have changed over time—widespread mischief and juvenile pranks have largely mellowed out, supplanted by trick-or-treating and bar crawls—what remains central to the night’s celebration is the freeing sense that you can do something simply for the pleasure of it, even if that means looking a little silly.
Adult Halloween Is Stupid, Embarrassing, and Very Important
By Faith Hill
The most inherently childish holiday might be the one grown-ups need the most. (From 2022)
Trick-or-Treating Isn’t What It Used to Be
By Julie Beck
Instead of going door-to-door on Halloween night, many parents are taking their kids elsewhere to get candy. (From 2018)
The Costume I Can’t Persuade My Husband to Throw Away
By Serena Dai
Its name is Wolf Dawg, and it hasn’t been cleaned in 18 years.
Still Curious?
- Just noting that your candy corn is made of bug secretions: Tove Danovich regrets to inform you about the shellac that coats your treats.
- The variety bag has ruined Halloween: Corporate consolidation and changing tastes have made kids’ candy hauls boring, Ian Bogost argues.
Other Diversions
- The rise of the sexy-cozy autumn read
- There are too many apps for that.
- The pants that define the Cool Millennial Mom
PS
My colleague Isabel Fattal recently asked readers to share a photo of something that sparks their sense of awe in the world. “After last week’s thunderstorms on Friday, the deep-red maple background behind the wilting morning glories and their green vines captured that moment of transition between vanishing summer and undeniable autumn. Pictures never capture the experience as well as the moment itself, but I am glad I have a record of the color,” Dale E. from Honesdale, Pennsylvania, shared.
We’ll continue to feature your responses in the coming weeks.
— Rafaela
The post Why Halloween Isn’t Just for Kids appeared first on The Atlantic.
