What Halloween Really Means

When you look out at your neighborhood street on a cool, Halloween evening, what do you see? Children and teens in costume going door-to-door asking for a trick or treat; nearly every house opening their door to every knock without hesitation; a smiling welcome, happy chatter and yelps of joy in the neighborhood.

It’s supposed to be the scariest night of the year…

…but we leave our doors unlocked and use Halloween as an opportunity for families in our communities to get out of our homes, drop the invisible barriers of distrust and knock on our neighbor’s door and say “Hi.”

Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, originated as a day to appease spirits, who were said to haunt us that day. Offerings of candy and sweets were given to appease them. Chances are, most people celebrating Halloween don’t really think about that. Over the years, Halloween morphed into a chance to celebrate community, neighborhood-to-neighborhood.

A day for family, friendship and community

Whether subconsciously or consciously, we have transformed every major holiday—Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas—into a family and community affair. Why? At our core, we treasure the need for community and time with family. The evidence of this may not be present on a day-to-day basis where we live, but it’s there, waiting for the chance to be expressed.

So as you adjust your makeup or finish up your kid’s costumes and fill up that bowl of candy, just know you’re not just celebrating Halloween, you’re sharing in the experience we all fundamentally yearn for: family, friendship and community.

Step out of the house, don your masks and make friends… or get freaked out!