Halloween. The one day a year you're allowed to wear crazy masks and extravagant makeup without being looked at like a crazy person. It happens every year on the 31st of October and is college & high school students' favorite holiday weekend. Everyone seems to love Halloween -- except me. I really, really hate Halloween.

It started even before middle school, but my hatred for Halloween really blossomed more then. I remember distinctly one Halloween where I dressed up as a fairy, but couldn't wear the wings all day because I had to wear my backpack. A boy came up to me and stared me up and down for a few seconds, then said: "What even are you?" I told him I was a fairy, to which he responded, "You are the worst fairy I've ever seen. Gross." His remarks made me self-conscious for the rest of the day, and I have never (willingly) dressed up for Halloween since.

I'm not cynical about what he said to me. We still go to school together and we are friendly; his comment didn't single-handedly make me dislike Halloween, even though I think about what he said nearly every day. It did strengthen my hatred for the "holiday" though.

I never understood why people were criticized for their attire; Halloween or not. People take Halloween as an excuse to call out others for "not dressing up enough" or "not looking realistic." I also never understood what the appeal was. People usually associate Halloween with revealing outfits and candy. I don't feel the need to party like crazy in short-shorts or eat my body weight in sweet; it just does not sound appealing to me! And call me crazy, but it is almost always cold on Halloween in the Northeast, and I never liked coming home to frostbite so quickly in the year.

Most Halloweens, I am dragged out by my friends because "it'll be fun!" It never is. I always am cold or tired (I have such a low tolerance to the cold & I got to bed at 9:30 so maybe that's it). I also have no desire to dress up as someone else. Why can't I just be me? I'm perfectly happy with myself, so why should I take advantage of this day and pretend to be someone I'm not. The fall is for hot cocoa and cozy blankets, not morphing yourself into people you aren't.

Regardless, Halloween will come around each year, and I'm sure I will continue to go out each year in hopes of developing some love for the all-popular holiday. It will never replace Christmas (because what can?!) in my list of favorite holidays, but maybe eventually I will stop hating Halloween and find some enjoyment in ending my night without feeling in my toes. Maybe.