For the Trinity community, the celebration of Halloween changes with age, from trick-or-treating to hanging out with friends or attending parties.
Sam Crockett, sophomore undeclared major, said that the celebration of Halloween is influenced by money. He acknowledged the possibility that the holiday was popularized in the United States by corporations, media or individuals seeking profit. Crockett explained that the holiday comes with purchases of costumes, party supplies and candy.
“It is a big commercial thing — that’s what it sounds like to me. I can’t see the reason for [Halloween] other than money,” Crockett said.
In the past, Halloween meant trick-or-treating and collecting candy. The holiday also brought traditions he shared with his family, such as decorating pumpkins.
“My brother once made [a jack o’lantern] that was the xenomorph from ‘Alien,’” Crockett said.
Now as a college student, Halloween does not appeal to Crockett as much as it used to. He now recognizes that buying candy saves more time and money than trick-or-treating. Crockett still enjoys some aspects of the holiday, like dressing up and going to haunted houses. He is especially fond of the creativity Halloween inspires.
“You can have this really cool work and effort put into whatever costume you [wear],” Crockett said.
For Crockett, the holiday allows him to get into scary stuff and dress up as people from the media or real life. Pumpkins, trick-or-treating and lots of candy also make for a successful Halloween.
James Morio, first-year finance and accounting double-major, is more enthusiastic about Halloween. For Morio, alongside trick-or-treating and candy, the possibility to hang out with friends makes Halloween great.
Morio noted that his family would trick-or-treat alongside himself and his brother, with his parents dressing up in a costume that related to his costume.
“I was Curious George and my parents were the banana dad. Once I got older, my brother and I started going out and doing our own thing, and they would stay at the house and hand out candy,” Morio said.
These days, Morio’s perspective of Halloween has changed. Before college, his Halloween goal was getting candy. Today, the purpose revolves around going to parties and hanging out with friends.
For Nadia Lopez, first-year psychology major, the celebration of Halloween typically entails dressing up with friends or spending time with family. She enjoys seeing everyone being creative with their costumes and the spooky decorations.
“I heard there was a haunted house [students at Trinity] are putting together, so that seems exciting. Hopefully it’s good,” Lopez said.
Some Trinity students do not maintain the same passion they once had for Halloween. Regardless, students have the opportunity to pursue their enjoyment of the holiday.
Similarly, David Norman, adjunct professor for the First-Year Experience, explains that he had a stronger perspective of Halloween as a child. For him, in the past, the holiday entailed dressing up and going to parties.
“I don’t really participate in Halloween much today as an adult,” Norman said.
