You may ask yourself why people love dressing up as characters just to go out for a night. Is this an excuse for a night of drinking? Maybe a way for kids to get to load up on candy? In this article I outline the many reasons people (myself included) love this peculiar holiday.

1. Halloween is centered around having fun and enjoying yourself and those around you.

Halloween is about dressing up with friends, being silly, and overall just having a good time. Unlike other holidays, you don't have to worry about gifts for other people or cooking and making sure everything is in order so everyone's happy. Halloween has no obligations; it's all about going out and having a good time.

2. It allows us to be whoever we want.

If you're a generally shy person but want to dress up in loud outfit, you can. Go ahead and be Lily, the quiet girl at work, but Daenerys Targaryen the mother of dragons on Halloween.That's what it's all about! Halloween allows you to take on whichever persona you want! This allows for a huge confidence boost because let's be real Hailey Swaldi is a bit of a nerd but Katniss Everdeen is a fuckin' badass. Not to mention if you're comfortable with showing off some skin, you can because it's Halloween, and that's pretty much a free pass to wear whatever you want (well unless it's cultural appropriation because that's straight up not cool).

3. It's scary!

OK, hear me out here. Not all people like being scared, but if you're like me you live for it. The adrenaline rush you get from a scary movie or haunted house is exhilarating. Not to mention watching other people get scared is actually pretty funny. I know; this makes me sound like an awful person, but you can't tell me that when you're best friend cried when a guy came up to her in a cheap clown mask it wasn't hilarious.

4. It allows us to shed light on frightening situations.

When we dress up as ghosts, monsters, and generally things that "go bump in the night," we are no longer as scared of them. In other cultures and in history, we continually see festivals when people dress up as the things they're afraid of, whether that be monsters or the personification of death itself. As humans, we are aware of our own mortality. It's one of the greatest (if not the greatest) mystery in life. One way to feel more comfortable with this unknown realm is to make light of it with a festival. This brings all of the frightening ideas out in the open, where we can face them more comfortably, enjoying ourselves with other people instead of contemplating our own mortality. By dressing up as our fears, we take control of them.

5. Two words; Free Candy

No, this benefit of Halloween is not lost once you reach adulthood. If you attend a Halloween party you're bound to find some candy (or at the very least, candy flavored alcohol). Children, teenagers, and adults have an equal fondness of candy, and It's pretty much kryptonite for anyone with a sweet tooth.

If you're one of those people who doesn't like Halloween; carve a pumpkin, dress up as you're favorite character, and go out and have a good time. I guarantee you'll enjoy yourself this Halloween season!