Kids’ Halloween Costumes Are Supposed to Confuse Adults
Don’t worry if you feel out of the loop.
In the modern era of Halloween, costumes inspired by internet memes often leave adults bewildered. One memorable encounter was when a young trick-or-treater dressed as a Skibidi Toilet, a character from a YouTube series about alien conquerors. The child's parents chuckled and clarified the character's origin, but the adult reporter was left puzzled, distributing Airheads to the child and his friends.
For generations, Halloween saw children don familiar disguises, such as Darth Vader or Spiderman. However, the internet has infused Halloween with a wealth of unconventional costumes, ranging from John Pork, an anthropomorphic pig, to Tung Tung Tung Sahur, an AI-inspired drumming character. Wearing a costume that confounds adults can be seen as a harmless form of rebellion on this mischievous holiday.
The tradition of pranks on Halloween dates back to the early 1900s, with some cities even enlisting "special policemen" to enforce order. Yet, as Halloween evolved, cities began to embrace trick-or-treating as a solution to maintain the holiday's spirit. Despite the resurgence of Halloween, the clash between kids' desire for self-expression and adults' concerns remains a notable aspect of the celebration.
While pranks have largely given way to treats, rebellious spirits endure, as evidenced by the proliferation of meme-inspired costumes, which adults often find perplexing.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
