Halloween Like It Used to Be

When I was eight years old, I had three different Halloween costumes. I marched in the school parade as Princess Jasmine and sashayed across the ballet studio as the Pink Power Ranger. For the main trick-or-treating event, I twisted rubber snakes into my hair, put on the previous year’s Morticia Addams dress, and called myself Medusa.

Now that I’m older, I look forward to hosting pumpkin carving gatherings and count down the days until it’s acceptable to bring out the Halloween lights. It doesn’t take much for me to get into that spooky spirit.

That being said, I do recognize that it’s not exactly sensible to go all out in the office. It’s probably not the best idea to deck everyone’s desk out with zombie caution tape, bring in a fog machine, or stick fake bloody handprints on the windows, especially if you frequently have clients in and out of the office. For the office, we might need to a “less is more” approach.

Tone down the decorating. Rather than picking up plastic monster tablecloths from Party City, why not invest in some quality harvest themed decorations that’ll last for years and can be used for both Halloween and Thanksgiving?

To get your office involved, give everyone their own mini pumpkin and have them deck it out with paint, markers, and stickers. You could assign each department a theme to work with (Things That Go Bump in the Night, Friends of Witches, Sea Creatures, etc.) or hold a contest to pick winners like “Scariest Face,” and “Friendliest Ghost.”

Candy has become an integral part of our Halloween traditions. But buying a bag just isn’t satisfying. Let’s bring back everyone’s favorite childhood activity: trick or treating. Place bowls of candy around and have each department take turns going around the office.

Too much of the childhood spirit gets lost in the day to day grind of being an adult. Halloween is a chance to reconnect to that whimsical nature you once had. I get it—responsibilities should come before dressing up like Batman, but on Halloween maybe there can be a bit more leeway.