Get the pumpkins out, It's Halloween! The most eerie time of year is upon us, and things are getting spooky once again. Or are they?
Shops are still crammed with Halloween treats, and houses are still being furnished with ghoulish decor. But is it enough? The time of year for costumes, parties and ghost stories doesn't seem to be exciting as many people anymore. I got a chance to speak to a few local residents about their most recent Halloween experience. They spoke about how they feel the annual holiday may be losing its candy-filled charm on the town and how the local spirit may have disappeared.
Lauren, 15, spoke about how she felt that 'there is no fun left in Halloween, and it feels as if people are not doing enough anymore.' When asked about any local events that she had come across, she said there were none that she had seen advertised, and that she didn't think people cared enough to host anything around the area.
Alongside the lack of activities, the number of trick-or-treaters has also significantly decreased, as one person I talked to said 'there were only two groups that rang on my door this year, I used to love handing out sweets to the little ones, but no one seems that interested anymore.'
The hair-raising holiday has seemed to have less people bewitched year on year. But don’t fear, because Christmas is nearly here! Get ready for the festive period of parades, puddings and presents!
Mia-Rose Gillison, Carshalton High School for Girls
