There’s something in the air and it smells like, well, a variety of things, but what can mainly be described as excitement. It’s quite astounding how a night traditionally intertwined with the underlying motifs of fear, horror and all things spooky has evolved into one of the highlights of our calendar year. Whilst not as big in SA as our US counterparts, it is undeniable that recent years have seen a marked increase in the interest levels surrounding Halloween. And let’s be honest, between the free candy and an excuse for us adults to play dress up, what’s not to love?

Halloween is a phenomenon overseas, but here in South Africa we’ve grown accustomed to treating strangers knocking at our door with an element of suspicion. However, the rise in popularity has been marked, and can be attributed primarily to its value as a promotional tool. We’ve seen a notable increase in marketing activity from both the kid friendly and grown ups only stomping grounds. With this hype comes plenty of excitement and, ultimately, the aforementioned rise in Halloween related buzz. But as this holiday threatens to infiltrate our country, we wonder how South Africans feel about it?

While many of us view it as just another day, once the sun goes down it’s a completely different story. Halloween has now become more for the grown-ups than its intended demographic- but for good reason. Life can be taxing. Between the pressures of work and the responsibilities of being an adult, we should welcome a reason to let our hair down, dress up and be silly. The event provides a much-needed escape from the monotony of everyday life, acts as a means of creative expression but, most of all, it’s just fun to be a kid sometimes. South Africans are traditionally more sceptical by nature and far less likely to believe superstitions about ghosts and zombies. However, we’re twice as fun as we are realistic, and any chance to share a few laughs while making some memories should not be turned away.

So, while you may be cynical about growing down instead of up, the reality is that more of us need to occasionally let that inner child out. Our advice to you is simple: don’t overthink it.

Pick a hero (or a villain), kick back, let loose and just have fun. And if you can score a few treats along the way then consider it a night well spent.