Holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving have very distinct traditions that many families participate in. However, students may not do as much on Halloween. Every year there are parties, costumes, and candy, but family traditions are rare. 

Halloween is not as big of a holiday as others, with the United States being one of the few countries that celebrate. The holiday for some high school students is a way to hang out with friends in cool costumes. The holiday is popular with many kids who love to trick or treat as well. 

For Natalie Czarnik, junior, trick or treating has been a constant tradition since she was a kid. 

“I’ve never not gone trick or treating before,” Czarnik said. “Sometimes my friends and I may not stay out in the cold as long but as far as I can remember I’ve always gone trick or treating.”

While the tradition is something Czarnik has done without fail, it is not a common one among high schoolers. However, Czarnik has had mostly positive experiences when she talks to others about it. 

“I’ve never been bullied for continuing to [go trick or treating], people are often surprised when I tell them that I still go or may give a side eye, but I’ve actually had more instances of people supporting it, saying that they miss it and would love to go again.” Czarnik said. 

Czarnik is not the only student who continues Halloween traditions in high school.

Matthew Nerenberg, sophomore, still has a childhood tradition with his family. 

“Our Halloween tradition is to bake something Halloween themed, whether that be in colors or shapes,” Nerenberg said. “We’ve done it since I was in first grade, so about 10 years.”

Although he has done it for over a decade, Nerenberg says that “there is not much emotional attachment.”

“It doesn’t have any underlying deep feeling. It’s more or something fun that began to become repetitive so it became a tradition.”

While Nerenberg’s tradition is a fun activity, similar to the light hearted holiday, other countries such as France have a more somber tone towards it. 

“[France doesn’t] celebrate Halloween a lot, though it’s starting to become a little bit more popular,” Lisa Loeb, French teacher, said. “Younger kids will dress up but they view Halloween as very American.”

Even though France does not celebrate Halloween, they celebrate a similar holiday on November 1st called La Toussaint.

“It’s a way to celebrate and mourn the dead and they do that by bringing flowers, specifically chrysanthemums, to the graves of their loved ones.”

Though this holiday in France is very somber, Loeb still celebrates Halloween with her two sons.

“We always make some kind of pumpkin recipe. Whether it’s a pumpkin pie or roasted pumpkin seeds, things like that,” Loeb said. “[When I was a kid] we mostly trick or treated with my friends and parents. We decorated our house. We always had lots of Halloween decorations like big skeletons hanging from the trees.”

LIn addition to new ones, Loeb wishes to carry on these childhood traditions to her kids now. 

“I’m a huge tradition person so to carry on some of the traditions that I had when I was little, with my own kids now is really special and to see my kid light up and be so excited about it is really special.”