BOO!

'Tis the season when I scare people with how outrageous I look.

- KELLY LEWI

EVERYONE HAS HOLIDAYS they look forward to, like Christmas. Or Valentine’s Day. For me, there is only one answer: Halloween. As a fan of everything horror, it is the only time of the year when spooky skeletons are celebrated. Beyond that, it is the only time I am unapologetically freaky.

It is unquestionably true that Halloween’s charm comes not just its terrifyingly haunted energy, though undoubtedly fear plays a large part. It is quite amusing how people are so drawn towards fear, as much as the idea of it may be off-putting.

The reason is simple: when scared, the brain enters a flight or fight mode that releases adrenaline, triggering endorphins and dopamine. In short, it makes us feel alive. The entire process happens subconsciously out of our control, and the brain is smart enough to process that certain fear is conducted in safe environments, such as haunted houses. We know we won’t get hurt (maybe), so what we feel instead is this sudden rush of addictive awareness.