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- calendar_today October 31, 2026
Embracing Halloween for the Kids
Abigail Matula, a Winnipeg-based writer and mother, openly admits that she dislikes Halloween. Despite her feelings, she dedicates significant time, energy, and money each year to ensure her children enjoy the festivities and create happy memories.
Reluctance Rooted in Childhood Experiences
Matula’s lack of enthusiasm for Halloween dates back to her own childhood. She remembers wearing uninspired, homemade costumes and trick-or-treating with her brother and other children in their townhouse community. The aspects of Halloween many enjoy—horror movies, haunted houses, scary decorations, and even parties—never appealed to her. Beyond the treats, nothing about the holiday sparked her interest.
The Modern Pressure of Costume Shopping
Matula observes that the prominence of social media has shifted the focus of Halloween toward finding or making the perfect costume. She spends a considerable amount of time sourcing costumes from multiple stores and online retailers, often making or customizing costumes herself. Past efforts included making a Thomas the Tank Engine costume for her young son and creating a special Dumbo costume complete with a tiny hat. She reflected on the challenge of sourcing a Darth Vader costume in the right size and recounted the mishaps, such as an inflatable dinosaur costume that proved cumbersome and popped halfway through the night.
New Challenges Each Year
Every Halloween brings fresh costume dilemmas. This year, Matula’s son decided to dress as a package—a simple box—while her teenage daughter settled on a ladybug costume. Matula found herself navigating the world of teenage preferences and the limited, sometimes risqué costume options available. For her preschooler, she pre-ordered a light-up unicorn costume, only for her child to change her mind and request a ghost costume instead. Sourcing the perfect, cute ghost costume was yet another task she took on.
Worth the Effort for Family and Tradition
Despite concerns about growing commercialization and the increasing costs of costumes and candy, Matula believes the jack-o-lanterns, costumes, and decorating are worth the effort. She acknowledges that these activities, rooted in Halloween traditions stretching back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, create community and lasting memories for her children. While she does not enjoy the holiday herself, she appreciates the sense of tradition and joy it brings for her family.
A Rewarding End to the Festivities
As each Halloween wraps up, Matula looks forward to relaxing after another evening spent devoted to her children’s happiness. With her kids home and their candy bags full, she takes comfort in knowing she helped make the holiday memorable, even if only by contributing behind the scenes.
Source: cbc.ca.
