What Does Your Costume Say About You?

As a self-described pagan, I feel a great connection to the Samhain. Halloween has now become a secular holiday, being claimed by many as trick or treat time. And while some Christians abhor the holiday, some going as far as to denounce those who let their children don costumes & get candy from their neighbors, saying these activities are devil worship, there are those in pagan circles who also consider these activities as ’wrong.’

They feel about trick or treating in store bought costumes of Spider Man, Disney Princesses, sexed-out-vampire etc is akin to Christians feelings about Santa being a part of the celebration of the birth of Christ: it just isn’t taking the holiday seriously.

The Samhain is supposed to be about honoring the , it is a time when costumes are worn so as not to be seen or taken by the dead, or other spirits. It certainly isn’t about pretending to be some super hero or sexy devil (you are too ripe with life for your own safety!).

As times & cultures change, I think the new costuming is inevitable. And it isn’t ‘wrong’ at all. Today’s costumes reveal today’s fears. No longer do we as a society fear being possessed by the spirits of the dead, or worse.

So what are the fears of today? Here’s my little guide to adult Halloween costumes and what fears they reveal. (Kid’s don’t count, as they are just falling for the ‘pretend appeal’ &/or get what parents give them.)

If she wears the sexy costumes -- you know the ones with lots of leg & cleavage -- she is afraid of aging, of loosing her sex appeal. She may not be completely vain, but she’s insecure alright. (And, let me tell you, I have & do dress like this myself, so I say it with honesty & love, because we all know one day this beauty will leave us...)

If he dresses in drag -- and he is decidedly hetero with no other cross-dressing symptoms -- he is afraid of loosing his manhood. This macho guy thinks the worst think he could be is a woman. In my experience, this is one guy you never, ever, want to date. He thinks he is being funny & daring, but he’s ridiculing & mean. But then, don’t overlook a closet case -- It is also highly possible that this is the one time he can toy with this sexual fetish fantasies without being ‘spotted’ for it -- so keep an eye out later on, see what you can learn!

‘How‘ & ‘Who‘ they dress as, for either gender, can be very telling. If they have every little detail just so, such as your Star Trek Fan, this is likely just another day to ‘be allowed’ to wear it. Some role playing folks just fear the hell out of being themselves. If they wear a dime store kids costume mask, they probably fear nothing. Honestly, he or she was probably a ‘last minute’ attendee & lucked out with ’something.’ (And I say ‘good for you!’ for trying to join in!)

If she wears no costume, she is afraid she will be seen as ‘silly’ and chooses not to play rather than be viewed as dumb.

If he wears his typical Sunday team jersey, and calls it a costume, it is the same as above. (Hey, if you wear it all the time, it isn’t a costume!)

I have more, but now it’s your turn. Discuss on the boards what fears you see, what you are going to be...