Halloween is only a little over a week away, and here at college people are frantically trying to figure out their four or five costumes for Halloweek. This can be a difficult task for us college kids, simply because of our lack of money to buy something nice and our lack of time to get creative and make something. Halloween is quickly approaching and, while when I was a child I would certainly know what I'm being for Halloween by now, I have zero clues as to what I am going to be.
Recently, I've been reminiscing on my childhood memories of Halloween, and I really miss what this holiday used to be for me.
One of my favorite aspects of Halloween as a kid was, of course, going shopping for my costume. My family took Halloween costumes VERY seriously, and it was always a struggle to decide the perfect costume for that year. My costumes varied each year and I dressed up as all kinds of things like a Butterfly Princess, Bat-Woman, a leprechaun, a clown, Thing 2, Luigi, and so many more.
I always loved in elementary school when we'd come home after lunch to change into your costume and once you come back, everyone paraded around the school in their costumes.
School traditions were fun, but family traditions were the greatest. Anyone who has lived to experience the annual O'Donnell Family Halloween Party should consider themselves a very lucky human being. These parties were epic. Each year family and friends were invited to 76 Deacon for a night of extreme Halloween fun. There was bobbing for apples, hayrides around the neighborhood, and tons of food and candy.
My favorite, however, was the mummy competition. This was when all the kids would wrap the Dad of their family in toilet paper, covering his eyes so he couldn't see. We'd only have a couple minutes to wrap him as best as we could and then the mummies were "set free" in the yard to go capture their kids. It was the highlight of the night for all the kids, and maybe even some of the dads.
^^^I was a little competitive when it came to bobbing for apples
Looking back on the years I have so many more Halloween memories. Trick-or-treating, the middle school Halloween dance, or Trunk-or-treat in the school parking lot, are just a few of them. Halloween is a holiday that just simply isn't as great once you grow up, which is a little disappointing.
Sure, I still love Halloween, and I probably always will. I'm just very lucky to have had some of the greatest Halloweens as a child because those are memories that I will always cherish and think of each October.
Now it's time to figure out my costumes, and go buy myself some candy!