Pumpkin patches and haunted houses opening up all around. Costumes, spooky decorations, and candies lining store shelves. Halloween is one of those major holidays where lots of people tend to get into the spirit by dressing up and possibly going trick-or-treating to get some candies – yet many teenagers and young adults choose not to just because “it’s not cool” or they’re “too old.” However, there are still many who embrace the traditions associated with Halloween and gladly dress up and collect candy despite being “all grown up.” This raises a question: is there really an age limit to getting in the holiday spirit?

Halloween is one of those “commercialized” holidays nowadays. While in the past the traditions associated with the holiday were celebrated as part of the Christian “All Hallows’ Eve”, the day before All Saints’ Day on November 1st. The religious, Irish and English practices that shaped Halloween into what it is today are no longer performed by the majority of people, and most of the appeal of the holiday nowadays is among children, who find great joy in dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door to collect sweet treats.

School is a major factor to teenagers’ participation in Halloween – and in schools, both sides of the debate are shown. While many teens dress up in costume because school serves as an outlet for them to show off their costumes to friends and peers, others choose not to.

Trick-or-treating is another Halloween tradition that teenagers’ opinions vary on. Some teenagers still enjoy trick-or-treating as they are old enough to walk through the neighborhood without the required parental supervision of childhood, and it helps them practice responsibility as well. Besides, who can’t resist the candy? Other teens, though, don’t see the joy in trick-or-treating anymore, either attending Halloween parties as a substitute or just doing nothing.

Personally, I feel as if there is no age limit to enjoying Halloween traditions. Even if you’re an adult, I believe you should be able to celebrate the holiday how you want to.