Sarah's mother looked at the letter in disbelief. Here, just a few weeks before Halloween, was the head of the Orange and Maplewood district telling parents that it could not be celebrated in local schools. What about all the hours she and her daughter had spent planning a brilliant costume? It was outrageous!

The letter from Ronald Taylor¹ said that the ban was to promote "diversity, equity and inclusion meaningfully" in New JerseyA northeastern US state, close to New York. in the USA. It said some students did not celebrate Halloween for religious reasons and some could not afford elaborate costumes.

Some parents supported the decision - but many did not. The governor of New Jersey, Philip Murphy, tweeted: "Seriously? We can't let kids celebrate Halloween? Give me a break."

A similar ban was introduced at schools in MichiganA state in the northern USA. in 2021. "We have young children who become overwhelmed and sometimes frightened of the costumes and others who come to school with no costume at all," said the letter to parents.²

But in Northborough, MassachusettsA state in the northeast USA. a ban in 2022 provoked such a backlash that the celebrations have been reinstated this year.³

Halloween has been a major festival in the US since the 19th Century⁴ and is consequently valued by traditionalists. It is also valued by people who believe there are benefits to being scared:

Saving cavemen Humans would have died out long ago if fear had not taught them to stay away from things that threatened them - particularly in ancient times when they often faced life-or-death situations.

Stimulus plus We all need to be shaken up from time to time to make us think about what it important to us and feel that we are alive.

Fright flight When we are afraid, our bodies release hormonesChemicals created inside living creatures. They are used to send messages from one part of the body to another. and chemicals into the bloodstream which make us think and act faster than usual. This is known as the "fight or flight" response: it helps us either tackle the danger or get as far away from it as possible.    

Fright delight Scary experiences make us value the safety of our everyday existence. When we turn off a frightening film and find ourselves back in familiar surroundings, we feel relief and pleasure which lifts our mood.   

Trepidation confrontation The most difficult things to cope with are the ones you try not to think about. Being scared helps you to confront them and learn to deal with them.  

Trepidation inspiration Some great works of literature have been produced by writers dwelling on their inner fears - among them Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Yes: We fall too easily into routines, so that one day feels much like the next. We value festivals like Halloween so highly because they stimulate us - but they only happen for a few days each year.

No: You only have to read the newspaper headlines to know that life is very exciting indeed, often in a frightening way. If you are lucky enough to live in peace and quiet you should make the most of it.

Or... People's idea of dullness varies enormously. Some consider it boring to take a bus to school every day - but to someone who has only ever walked to school it could be thrilling.