10 great benefits of Halloween
How do you feel about Halloween? Getting into the action of dressing up or helping your kids find a costume? Or are you just looking forward to November 1?
Since I am a holistic marriage and family therapist, I focus on the different ways that people can feel better physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. My mission is to help people “love themselves to peace”, which I believe is the key to health, happiness, success and world peace.
By observing this holiday, I notice some of the main benefits of celebrating your holidays. For starters, people have fun dressing up their homes, offices, and themselves. Having fun is beneficial for all ages. It reduces stress, helps us to be more positive and balance our lives.
Second, most people have been programmed by their parents and society to conform to a specific dress code. However, on this holiday, everyone is encouraged to wear whatever they wish and to be as outrageous as they wish.
Third, we have many aspects of our personality and we often hide them from others and from ourselves. On Halloween we have the opportunity to express a different part of ourselves. For example, John was brought up to be a calm and pleasant boy. On Halloween he loves to be a loud and scary ghost. How healing it is to express this side of yourself in a safe and fun way.
The fourth Halloween treat is that it’s an excuse to take time out of your busy schedules to party and socialize.
Another benefit of Halloween parties is that people who feel shy in groups are more likely to attend these events. Wearing masks and costumes can help them feel less self-conscious and offer them the opportunity to feel comfortable in a situation that is not normally the case.
This holiday also offers children the opportunity to dress up, go to people’s houses, and ask for treats. They experience the gift of receiving. Healthy snacks, safe little toys, or coins would be great gift options for these little ones in disguise.
Meanwhile, children offer others the opportunity to experience the gift of giving (in this case, treats). It is very healthy to enjoy the gift of giving and receiving.
The eighth benefit of this holiday is the fun that adults and children have as a family project to collect pumpkins, cut them into faces and light the inserted candles. In these busy times, quality family time is a gift to everyone involved. Of course, decorate the house inside and out, make Halloween cookies, etc. they are more fun family activities.
Personally, I love going to the stores on October 31 and seeing how the vendors dress. It’s fun for me to especially watch bank tellers in their outrageous costumes. So even if I don’t participate in all of the above, I can still have fun on that special day.
The 10th way we can benefit from this fall break is that it offers us an excuse to get to know our neighbors. When adults accompany children to other homes to say, “Trick or treat!” they can also introduce themselves to the local people.
In short, there are numerous ways to appreciate this holiday and how to participate. If you focus on the positive, you can enjoy October 31, no matter what you choose to do.