Liz Ortiz
Metro Editor
Halloween is traditionally thought of as a holiday where only children go door-to-door trick-or-treating, but adults participate in the tradition, which has sparked some controversy.
In an informal survey of students, 10 out of the 15 agreed Halloween is a time for children to dress up and trick-or-treat.
Halloween began as a Christian and pagan holiday. It has since shed its religious roots and is dedicated to costumes and candy.
Some see trick-or-treating as a children-only endeavor and refuse to give candy to teenage trick-or-treaters.
Cities have even intervened and banned those who are 13 years or older from trick-or-treating within their city limits. In cities such as Belleville, Illinois, trick-or-treaters, who are in violation of the ordinance, can receive a fine up to $100.
Students at the University of La Verne were asked if it is still acceptable to trick-or-treat as an adult, and the majority said no. They believe it is childish for adults to dress-up, peruse local neighborhoods and ask for candy.
“I got to the age that I just thought it was childish, and it’s important to respect the neighborhoods,” Estrellita Guzman, senior criminology major, said.
Students also believe it is important to respect the neighbors and children. They understand that wearing a costume or mask as an adult on Halloween can make some residents uneasy.
“There’s a maturity gap,” said Ryan Gray, a freshmen international business and language major. “ I realized as I got older and trick-or-treated, I would get a weird looks or a comment.”
However, other students do not see the maturity gap during the holiday.
They believe it is acceptable to dress-up and trick-or-treat at any age.
“Advertisers market Halloween to children, so I think it makes it seem like it’s only acceptable to do if you’re young, but I still trick-or-treat regardless,” Ashley Hoffman, sophomore legal studies major, said.
The students who said they still trick-or-treat agreed with Hoffman. They said that this is one of the few holidays where you can pretend to be someone other than yourself and collect free candy from neighbors.
Those who still trick-or-treat also gave a word of caution. Older trick-or-treaters should expect to get less candy than the younger ones.
Liz Ortiz can be reached at elizabeth.ortiz@laverne.edu.
