For many Seattle Pacific University students, Halloween is a night they look forward to all year. From scary movies to costume parties to passing out candy, there is no shortage of ways for SPU students to get in the Halloween spirit.
While some may just be getting started with their preparations, other SPU students already have plans for the big night. Junior visual communications major Liz Crutcher is hitting the town on the spookiest night of the year.
“I’ve got a few friends who are hosting costume parties on the night of Halloween, and I’m planning to hop between the parties,” Crutcher said.“Although I’ll probably be staying the longest at my friend’s who is making us watch horror movies. I’m not really great with horror films but it is always nice to get a good scare every once and a while.”
While some Falcons are planning on getting their monster mash on, others are anticipating a quieter night in. Fifth-year English major Taylor VanLanduyt is looking forward to a cozier All Hallow’s Eve.
“This is my first time living in a neighborhood in Seattle and so, I think I am gonna dress up and hand out candy, maybe I will even invite a friend over. I will eat a lot of candy with them and watch ‘Coraline,’” VanLanduyt said.
VanLanduyt is not alone in her Halloween plans. Fourth-year English major Isabell Petersen is planning a movie marathon, just without the costumes.
“I am planning on staying in and double-featuring some movies with my roommate. I think ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ ‘Hocus Pocus’ and maybe ‘Twitches’ too. There will be lots of popcorn, but I do not think I will dress up much,” Petersen said.
Besides the hustle and bustle of making new plans, the season is also a time for reminiscing on the celebrations of past years. Crutcher shared a cherished childhood Halloween memory.
“The church I grew up in used to do Trunk-or-Treat, where they would have all the cars in the parking lot pop open their trunk and they’d have candy,” Crutcher said. “Often they would decorate around the car for a certain Bible story and the candy would be tied into the story. For example, for the creation story we got Milky Ways and for the story of Ruth we got Babe Ruths.”
While some memories are all about the specialness of group celebration, others express the fun in the individuality of Halloween. VanLanduyt also spoke about a favorite moment of Halloween’s past.
“My elementary school had a parade on Halloween so we got to bring our costumes to school. I felt so cool when I was changing into mine because there were a lot of girls that all dressed up as a group. I was the different one and so proud of it,” VanLanduyt said.
For VanLanduyt, the enjoyment of costumes is not just confined to her childhood. She expressed the joy she finds in it, even as an adult.
“I love getting to come up with different ideas and I feel like every year I come up with something more me or more creative,” VanLanduyt said. “I love the idea of getting to express myself and my interests through something that I dress up as. Like last year, I dressed up as a very niche Wes Andersen character and no one knew what I was, but I didn’t care because I thought it was awesome.”
However Falcons are planning on celebrating, the spirit of Halloween is a fun time for many SPU students. Not every chilling celebration stops when November starts. Petersen shared a Halloween tradition that helps her get into the spooky spirit and stay in it for longer.
“One of my favorite parts of Halloween is painting pumpkins a few days before and decorating with them. It’s always fun to come up with a new design each year. Plus, then you can use the inside for pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. It’s a win-win,” Petersen said.
