For the past 100 years, trick-or-treating has been a popular tradition throughout the United States. Americans take the tradition from the Celtic celebrations and rituals which consist of people dressing up as creatures, performing in return for food and drinks. In the U.S., Halloween has been a holiday for children to dress up, walk door to door, and fill their pillow cases with candy.

    As October 31 stamps the calendar each year, the spirit is the same.  Jack-o-lanterns line doorsteps and leaves cover lawns, catalogues and commercials advertise the latest costumes, but one thing does change: your age.  How old can you be before your trick-or-treating days are over?  Is it okay for high school students to trick-or-treat?

    Junior Corey Murray said, “Yes because there is no other way to celebrate Halloween.”  For many it is a day of acting in disguise, getting free candy, seeing all of the costumes that come to your door, and feeling like a child again.

    Another advocate for trick-or-treating is junior Christian Brady, who said, “Trick-or-treating keeps you away from doing bad things like partying, egging, and T-Ping.”

    As an adult in the town of Scituate, art teacher Ms. Hendrickson was in agreement with Christian Brady.  She said “It’s okay for high school kids to trick-or-treat as long as they dress up.  It keeps them out of doing other bad things, like more of the tricking rather than treating.”

    Maybe it matters where high school kids trick-or-treat more than if they trick-or-treat.  Places like the harbor are centered more around children under the age of ten.  However places like Minot and Sand Hills fill up with kids of all ages.

    Some believe it is the teens that continue to trick-or-treat that get into these types of shenanigans.  Maybe it is the thrill of going door to door that fades each year and requires kids to fill this void with mischief.  You are out at night, roaming the streets and no one knows who you are under your mask.  The name of the holiday alone seems to persuade trickery.  Are there eggs in pillow cases and baskets rather than candy?

    From the perspective of math teacher Ms. McGlynn, she said “Yes high school students are too old.  It’s something fun for children, and high school kids are young adults.”

    Because it is a holiday meant for children, “it may be frowned upon” said junior Stephen Payne regarding knocking on doors to receive free candy.

    The question may not be “are high school kids too old to trick-or-treat?” It may more be about the intentions high school students have when they go out on the night of the 31st that make trick-or-treating appropriate or not.