How Dressing Up In Halloween Costumes Helped Me Achieve Freedom Of Self-Expression And Sexual Identity
October brings with it a month full of awesome spooky, scary, gory and crazy things and traditions. Halloween has always been one of the most amazing festivals which is celebrated with extreme pomp and show, across the globe. There are a lot of things that make Halloween special. These include horror movies and Jack-O’-Lanterns to candies, scary decor, creepy costumes and my absolute favourite tradition i.e. trick-or-treating. As a kid who grew up in a very Indian and Punjabi family, I never really had an opportunity to go out for trick-or-treating. I swear this is literally one of the biggest regrets of my life. But, every Halloween since I was 8, I have been creating makeup looks and costumes. Since then, I have been dressing up every year to binge-watch horror movies. I never knew how to explain what I experienced when I did that but, these nights just made me feel so happy and they made me feel closer to myself. This made me realise that there might be much more to the trick-or-treating tradition than what we can see on the surface. I think this tradition really helps people.
Does Trick-Or-Treating Actually Have Another Side?
Every October, billions of kids around the globe spend their entire months trying to decide what or who they want to dress up as for Halloween. Now, this might sound like simple child’s play but the happiness this little tradition brings kids is worth so much more. It actually gives them a chance to make some decisions and control the narrative for a change and of course, they earn their prizes in the form of candy too.
This also helps people express themselves in the best way possible. It gives them a chance to pull their creativity out to play as they create the perfect costumes. But that’s not all, it also helps children gain individuality and come face to face with their fears. As kids, we are often scared of the dark or ghosts and this day makes us come face-to-face with these things and that’s not all, It actually helps them get over these fears and grow up.
But, it goes way beyond that. You see, being armed with cosplay and costumes over Halloween, your comfort and self-expression can actually take on the next step towards finding yourself.
How Can Trick-Or-Treating Help You Find Yourself?
This reminds me of this awesome scene in Lucifer. Remember that scene when Detective Chloe Decker gets called to work on Halloween? Her little daughter Trixie has to go trick-or-treating with Mazikeen and when she tried to show her real face to Trixie, she applauds. This little kid helped Mazikeen wear her scars and the part that she was ashamed of, with pride. Isn’t self-expression what we all crave? The ability to shed our armour and embrace who we really and honestly are? Trick-or-treating on Halloween gives us a perfect excuse, opportunity and space to be our real selves. It can even help you discover beautiful things about yourself.
As a kid, I dressed up as some of the greatest and most iconic characters of all time. I dressed up as Morticia Addams and realised that I am absolutely head-over-heels in love with Morticia. This was very confusing for me and I really couldn’t understand my own emotions but, Halloween just made me aware of the fact that this side of my sexuality exists. Although it was a few years down the line when I actually discovered my sexuality, I thanked the doubt that was created on this Halloween.
Furthermore, a lot of kids end up dressing up like the people they look up to or the identities that they feel they are, on the inside. I heard a story from one of my cousin’s husbands on the same line. He grew up in New York and dressed up as Cher on every damn Halloween as a kid. It was his 14th Halloween when he came out to his mother and thankfully, she reminded him that she has been dressing him up as Cher for ages. She was aware of it and just waiting for him to open up to her. You see, this spooky day is way more than just scary, it is so full of freedom and opportunity and it lets us discover amazing things about ourselves.
On this special day, people learn to accept and appreciate everyone. Little girls can dress up like Einstein and little boys get the opportunity to dress up like Barbie dolls if they really want to. This day opens up a beautiful space for people to be who they feel and help them discover themselves while doing so.
Also Read: 6 Of The Most Wicked Halloween Traditions From Around The Globe. Let’s Get Spooky!
You know, while I might be tearing up as I write this, I swear, this day can just make you feel more loved, appreciated, accepted and stronger. So, you better decide on your awesome costume for this year because it’s time to go trick-or-treating!
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