Inherently Different

hallowed ground

I love this time of year (October through late November) not only because it is traditionally some of the best weather in Southern California, where I grew up, but also because it features my two favorite holidays (Halloween and Thanksgiving).

The one thing that makes it harder and harder to enjoy Halloween lately is the growing trend for “sexy” costumes. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of women dressing well (or even provocatively), but I’m bothered by the belief that Halloween is the perfect excuse to dress for the type of attention that women traditionally avoid. This isn’t anti-woman, or in any way meant to degrade their choices. They can dress however they like and as provocatively as they like… I just think Halloween is better left a more innocent holiday.

I am not sure when it happened, but Halloween stopped being a holiday celebrating an innocent deviation from reality and became something tawdry. Again, I am far from a prude. I think the human form is beautiful in all its various incarnations both clothed and unclothed. I don’t even think there is anything wrong with dressing provocatively in social (or even work) situations. I just think Halloween is supposed to be a time to pretend to be something you aren’t or something you aspire to be. Dressing up as a sexy nurse or a sexy cop is sort of overkill… both those professions make you a hero without being sexy.

I don’t know really… maybe I am just too old for Halloween.