All Hallows Eve

All hallows eve. A holiday dedicated to give people an excuse to behave in abnormal an irrational ways. It brings out the hooligan in all of us (except maybe Donovan, killjoy). Many times it is taken too far but when you are living in a place like Rexburg a night of ruckus and debauchery is less than problematic. People are reserved and behave themselves but they still manage to unleash their "inner demons", whatever that means. Each holiday seems to bring out a certain side of us whether it’s the romantic, the glutton, the altruist, the environmentalist, the optimist, or for some the alcoholic. Halloween seems to bring out our dark, obnoxious side that we find inappropriate for other occasions. This could come partly from different expectations or maybe a lack of expectation. We don't feel shame in our weirdness because people want to see us be weird. It could also come from the fact that everyone else is acting just as strange as you creating a comfortable atmosphere where you can let loose. My favorite way to think about it is that the respectable version of ourselves that we spend our entire life tweaking is protected behind a false face. We are disguised leaving the person we want to be known as in a safe place where bad impressions can't attack them. It is a relief to take a break from having to perpetually defend your reputation. Some sort of mask provides that solace. It may not be saintly to want a quick vacation from this but when executed the right way it does allow you to avoid regret. You can be weird and then be able to live with yourself the next day. My weird side comes out generally when I'm around my best friends, very late at night or when my identity is a secret. People like masks. They like to be unrecognizable. It is for this reason that it is the perfect time to get to know people better. If you want to know someone inside and out then it is good to observe them when they feel their most comfortable. This is why it is one of my favorite days in the year. You are able to enjoy the time you have with your friends to the fullest (unless, of course, you run into a deranged sociopath). Halloween is prime time for masks to do their work. So enjoy your break from sanity, I know I do.