Opinions on the fall holiday that oppose one another

As October wraps up, Halloween, All Hallows’ Eve, All Saint’s Eve or whatever you like to call it is just around the corner and it’s one of those holidays that people either love or hate. 

Some find it extremely boring and childish, while others love the idea of going out with friends, wearing costumes or even locking up their pantry with free snacks and chocolates. Although it’s celebrated by many with excitement — often indulging in Halloweekend celebrations — there are still plenty of people who aren’t on board with the spooky season and its traditions. 

To get a clearer picture of these opinions, I created an anonymous survey using Google Forms.  

Here are some of my personal unpopular opinions surrounding this holiday:  

• Although Halloween isn’t an official holiday, it deserves a day off. Realistically, Canada has some of the most unnecessary holidays, so if we can get a day off for Victoria Day, why not for Halloween? 

• Teachers/professors should NOT give students tests, quizzes or assignments during Halloweekend or the day of Halloween. 

• Though Halloween is meant to be a fun day, people need to be mindful of the costumes they select as certain costumes can count as cultural appropriation.  

• Candy corns are delicious, and they don’t deserve the hate they get. 

• The hype around Halloween is manifested through TikTok, creating pressure to actually go out and have fun. 

• People should hand out bags of chips instead of chocolate or candies. 

• Handing out candies from Dollarama should be banned. If you’re going to participate in Halloween, put in a little extra effort and avoid being cheap. 

• Halloween is just a way for businesses to boost their sales (a.k.a. Starbucks) and the holiday’s significance is mostly commercial. 

But what do others think? Here’s a look at what different people had to say about Halloween: 

• “Halloween is overrated and should not be celebrated.” 

• “KitKat and Coffee Crisp are the best chocolates to hand out.” 

• “People need to be more thoughtful and informed about their costume choices. Some costumes can appropriate cultures or sexualize communities that value modesty, making them the subject of unwanted objectification.” 

• “Halloween is the best holiday for its creativity, nostalgia and a sense of community.” 

• “The Barbie costume was so overused last year.”  

• “Single costumes are way better than couples or group costumes in a sense that you get total creative freedom and don’t need to worry about what others want to do.”   

• “I don’t like pumpkins.” 

• “Halloween doesn’t have a background story.” 

• “Trick-or-treating is boring and shouldn’t be a thing.” 

•  “The idea that adults can’t go trick-or-treating is stupid and frustrating to think about. Everyone has the right to relive their childhood.” 

• “There is so much pressure to get plastered and party with absolute strangers.” 

These were just some opinions that were summited. Whether you’re a fan of the spooky season or prefer to skip the celebrations, it’s clear that Halloween is a holiday that brings out a mix of excitement and skepticism.