As a wanna-be Halloween enthusiast, my first-ever college Halloween weekend was an event that I, like many others, greatly anticipated. Growing up with U.S. college stories, I always imagined Halloween as a chaotic and drama-filled time of the year when people partied harder than ever before and left their dorms (and selves) a mess. However, Halloween in Segovia and Madrid, with its incredible costumes and electric atmospheres, debunked the film-induced myth that Halloween is supposed to be a time when anything and everything goes.
Segovia
For my roommates and I, preparations began a week in advance with countless Shein orders and numerous trips to Madrid to find that ‘perfect costume’ set to impress with aesthetics and creativity. In trying to find a balance between looking over- and underdressed (an IE student’s perpetual internal struggle).
I was shocked to see people taking their Halloween costumes seriously. For a girl who was prepared for the type of Halloween where looking hot was all that mattered, the reality shocked me. Whether I saw them from a distance or was smooshed up right next to them at Drilo’s or Casanova, I was left in awe from cowgirls to Catherine from Vampire Diaries, and even Lady Gaga. It was refreshing to see people enjoy the process of designing costumes and being innovative, instead of picking a mini skirt, or a button-down shirt, buying a couple of cat ears or fake blood, and calling it a day.
Much like every weekend, the big event was in Casanova, an IE student’s third home (after Drilo’s). Supposedly, the club was meant to be fully Halloween-themed, but the music remained the same for the most part and wasn’t as decked up as I had imagined. What differed this evening? People’s attitude.
Instead of complaining about the lack of Latin music, or the fact that the bathrooms never seem to be working, people had smiles on their faces. Taking pictures under the iconic red lights of the club, messing around with each other’s costume props, and complimenting everyone’s outfits were just some of the things that made that night something special, something unique. Whilst I wished the club was as dressed up as we were, I valued and cherished the sense of community that I felt that night.
Madrid
On Friday, I attended a party called “Fake Wedding” with parties worldwide, one being in Madrid. In this year’s edition, the event incorporated a Halloween twist, which meant costumes and less elegant attire were welcomed. While most pulled out their elegant dresses for the “Black tie” dress code, only some were in costume attire.
The event could have been elevated by tapping into a gorier idea of a wedding, and inciting people to come in costumes, or having better Halloween decorations, yet I once more found myself having such a good time with the DJ’s music, dancing, and overall vibe, that it swindled away. Regardless, it began to click together how Halloween here is deeply focused on having a good time with friends, rather than the stereotypical rager.
Yet, the weekend was far from over, with Barceló’s anticipated party on Saturday. And surprisingly, it was the most disappointing one. The evening opened with a bang, almost everyone was dressed up in elaborate or group costumes. The main floor had a huge screen covering two out of the three floors and changed between sketched-out graveyards, skulls, and other creepy designs. Every so often, fire would sprout from the first-floor balcony, and red ribbons would drop from the ceiling.
However, whenever my friends and I would find a spot to dance, we’d be pushed from various directions, and couldn’t hear the music due to all the chatter around us. This party resembled what movies had shown me about Halloween ragers – crammed parties with way too many drunk people wanting to destroy everything around them. Hence, it’s no surprise that after a mere hour and a half, we all left and went home.
Conclusion
While college Halloweekends are depicted as absolute mayhem, and students crave utter chaos, the European way of elaborating on Halloween is a much better option. Instead of uncontrollable craziness, this Halloween weekend was the time to share laughs and fun memories with friends, instead of just losing control. It is no wonder why Casanova and “Fake Wedding” were a much more enjoyable option than Barceló, and why next year I’ll be following European Halloween, instead of the commercialized U.S college parties.
Featured Image courtesy of Daniela Ramirez, first-year BBABID student.
