My parents are both immigrants from Haiti.

My mother came here at 14 and my father came later as an adult. They are hardworking, religious and traditional people. Maneuvering and comprehending my parents between the years in their merging of the old and new, was trying to say the least. On top of trying to understand them both literally and figuratively, there was a deepening sense of Catholic Guilt in my house.

Growing up I did not always appreciate where they were coming from, but now I begin to understand their mindsets. They did not always agree on how to handle my siblings and me, but they did agree on these three things: 1. Their children are to get a professional degree, meaning medicine or law, hence their emphasis on education. 2. You are not to sleep over at people’s houses, a big point of contention for a little girl with friends who have lots of sleepovers. 3. You did not trick-or-treat for Halloween or believe in Santa Claus.

Now I realize that my point of view on this holiday is colored because of my upbringing, but could someone please explain to me what is so great about Halloween? Because I do not get it.

First, let me say I do not feel deprived in any way. To tell you the truth I could care less that I did not get to trick-or-treat. Why go out in a thin costume when it’s usually cold to ask people for candy?

I enjoy sweets, but usually of the cake and pastry variety so I don’t really care about the rewards of the festivities. Asking people for candy is probably an equivalent asking for food to my parents.

Second, I cannot figure out why people want to celebrate a holiday that has such a somber tradition attached to it.

I think people forget that there are religious ties attached to this holiday. For Catholics it is All Souls Day — a day you are supposed to remember those who died who have not been cleared of their sins.

In the ancient Gaelic tradition it is when the veil between the spirits and this world is thinner than usual.

You wear costumes and masks to protect oneself from harmful spirits. From my point of view the holiday is steeped in uneasiness.

Third, I do not like scary things. Going into haunted houses to be scared out of my wits to the point that I am both screaming and going through the alphabet of curses does not appeal to me.

While many people consider Halloween to be their favorite holiday, I’d much rather stay in, watch a non-scary movie and eat some homemade cake.