With the holiday season right around the corner, it is easy to get caught up in the commercialization of it all. As soon as November hits, stores around the country launch into Christmas mode before anyone can even say “ho ho ho.” The winter holidays, behind the Hallmark movie facade, are characterized by rushing around and doing things last minute. Fall holidays, lacking the stress that accompanies their counterpart, are unquestionably the superior holiday season.

The holidays are a time for families to come together, and with the rush of winter holidays and the year’s end, people often forget to take the time to truly celebrate the winter holidays. As there is no pressure to buy gifts for Christmas or to conclude the year’s tasks, fall holidays are far more relaxed. Everything is slower paced, allowing more time to be with family and to appreciate the holidays for what they really are. Fall takes people back to what a holiday is supposed to be: a time to gather with loved ones where everyone can put aside their mundane life and be a kid again. Thanksgiving, in particular, is a time where families can come together. It is a time for remembering precious memories of one another and visiting relatives you have not seen since last year. In addition, fall holidays, namely Halloween, provide an opportunity to meet neighbors and embrace one’s community. Autumn allows for community activities such as the football season, festivals, pumpkin patches and hayrides. On top of that, the winter holidays are known for an abundance of pressure from relatives or friends to get the most primo gift. In contrast, the fall holidays are known for being thankful for what we already have.

Togetherness is not the only thing that proves fall holidays superior. The holidays themselves are more spirited. Halloween, for example, is arguably one of the best holidays for its decorations, free candy and themed movies. Halloween is a holiday that is meant to be celebrated by everyone, not confined to a single group. People can celebrate this magical holiday any way they prefer, whether it be in their bed watching scary movies or throwing a costume party. Throughout October, one can find haunted houses and candy everywhere they look. Dressing up is a significant factor of the holiday for many people. It allows people to take a well-deserved break from their everyday lives and pretend to be someone else. The costumes people choose often mask a person’s life and for one night, they can be someone completely different. Most importantly, there are pets in costumes that will undoubtedly make any person smile. Halloween is one of the world’s oldest holidays, and it is one that is truly bewitching to the world’s population.

While stores are already preparing for the winter season, it would be wise to slow down and take time to appreciate the simpler celebrations that bring everyone together. For these reasons, the fall holidays reign supreme.