Snail Trail of Treats: The annual epic trick-or-treating at Madeira

This article was originally published in The Spectator, Madeira's student newspaper by Yuna Son ’28 Staff Writer.

A group of students dressed up in costumes on Halloween night 2024. Photo courtesy of Patricia Araujo.

The buzz before Halloween night is like nothing else at Madeira. With Halloween decorations set up in common rooms, the dorms, and practically everywhere, Halloween spirit can be seen in all kinds of places around the campus. Halloween is more than just a night of overdosing on candy; it is a celebration of imagination, community, and a chance for students to show off their spooky (or silly) sides. While dressing up in costumes and carving Jack-O-Lanterns are always popular activities, Madeira has an all-time favorite Halloween tradition: trick-or-treating. But, trick-or-treating at Madeira is not just about grabbing full-size candy bars. The real treat of Halloween is not in the bag—it is in the tradition.

Last year’s trick-or-treating was packed with moments that made it unforgettable for everyone who joined in the fun. For several groups of students trick-or-treating near the staff housing, their experience was unexpectedly marked by near-total darkness as they ventured into the woods all as part of their quest for sweet treats. They walked closely together to prevent getting lost in the maze-like trail and hurriedly pulled out phones to turn on their flashlights to illuminate the bumpy road. Despite the anxiety and thrill of wandering in the dark, reaching each doorstep and finally receiving treats felt like both a relief and a reward after their trek through the shadows.

For some of our community members, trick-or-treating was filled with nostalgic memories of companionship, family, and laughter. During an interview with Ms. Meyer from the English department, she mentioned how she still remembers her first Madeira Halloween trick-or treating experience. Her daughter was four years old at that time, and Ms. Meyer had “made a Toothless costume for her out of a black hoodie that had LED lights for the horns.” Ms. Meyer reminisced about how her daughter and another faculty member’s daughter had bonded quickly through trick-or-treating, and how they were “having two separate conversations about the candy they were going to get and neither of them were listening to each other.” Afterwards, the girls went up to every dorm to shout “Trick or Treat!” and Ms. Meyer emphasized how it was such an adorable and valuable Halloween experience for all of them. Another interview with a sophomore student, Alice Hong, revealed that she enjoyed the strong camaraderie she and her friends built during trick-or-treating last year, while “singing 'HOT TO GO,' dancing, and having fun with each other’s costumes.”

For our new community members, they can expect this year’s trick-or-treating traditions to feel like stepping into a world of fun and mystery — a night filled with costumes, candy, and the thrill of bonding in the dark. The usual candy route involves circling around all the dorms (including the faculty and staff houses) along the way to the Hurd, stopping by the Land, and trekking through the woods. Message to our new students: Do not be alarmed to hear whooping and hollering throughout every part of campus. Feel free to blast some upbeat music, dance the night away, go all out with costumes, and feast on full-size candy bars.

Overall, trick-or-treating in Madeira is a tradition that brings students together and creates lasting memories. For both returning participants and those experiencing it for the first time, it is the highlight of the season and a reminder of the fun that comes with community and celebration.

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