Halloween has been mythologized and revered as the one of the most beloved holidays in America. Every year we see hundreds of thousands of children dressed up as their favorite characters traversing their neighborhoods with pumpkin shaped bags or even pillowcases, sugar-crazed glee in their eyes. It is the one day every year that people are celebrated for their ability to transform into someone completely different.

These activities don’t seem to dictate a specific age group, do they? Why then are teenagers ridiculed and mocked for trying to join in the festivities? When is the correct age to give up our youth and pretend that we don’t find appealing the concept of getting free candy from kind strangers?

To be quite honest, I don’t think there is a right age for that. Technically speaking, teenagers are still children, but we’re expected to act like adults all the time. We live in this confusing limbo between youth and adulthood, where we try to hold on to our childhood but also elevate ourselves to the status of “grown-up”. It’s frankly quite exhausting. (First world problems I know, but that’s beside the point)

Personally, I see no offense to teenagers going trick-or-treating. It’s a great way to de-stress, hang out with friends, and get even get some exercise—definitely a necessity considering the monumental amounts of candy about to be consumed. Besides, why discourage teenagers from trick-or-treating when the obvious alternative ends up being rowdy parties with less-than-legal substitutions for chocolate. I’m just saying, there’s an obvious preference here.

So to the teens out there who are concerned about projecting a “childish” image by dressing up and going trick-or-treating next year, just remember that you have the right to every part of your childhood. Gather your friends, put together a fun outfit, and take advantage of your time as a kid.