NCC students’ iconic childhood Halloween costumes

It’s that time of year again! Halloween returned for another season of cute costumes and devilish decorations. As the warm weather came to a close and the leaves began to change colors, excitement charges the air and NCC students drew up plans for couples costumes and weekend activities.

Students’ Halloween plans did not always include big parties and get-togethers with friends. A decade ago, these students spent the holiday dressing up in creative costumes and trick-or-treating with their friends and families. This campus is home to some well-dressed students, and some may say they were even more fashionable in their childhood.

Let’s take a look at the history behind the costuming on this nightmarish night and some iconic looks from NCC’s own student body.

Halloween history

Every culture and family has their own Halloween traditions and over time these practices change. Nowadays, however, most Americans who celebrate the holiday don costumes, —some funny and others downright terrifying— go trick-or-treating and watch scary movies.

According to Heather Thomas, a researcher from the Library of Congress, wearing costumes originated in Celtic culture, from where Halloween itself was born. During the festival of Samhain, a religious event celebrating the year’s harvest, Celts dressed up in elaborate costumes to ensure they would not be mistaken for spirits.

Over time, other cultures took on the costuming tradition and eventually began trick-or-treating as well. German-American tradition required homeowners to guess the identity of the person beneath the costume. Those who were too well-disguised to be recognized were then rewarded with a treat.

NCC students’ past Halloween looks & traditions

Keeping in mind Halloween’s evolution, let’s take a look at how NCC students celebrated their past Halloweens.

Lili Melvin, ’23

Melvin, a secondary education student, remembers her childhood Halloweens fondly. At four years old, on theme with her love for everything magical, Melvin dressed up as fairy. When asked what inspired her younger self to choose this costume, Melvin could not help but reminisce.

“I loved everything about magic and fairytales so much. I would be sent ‘fairy’ notes —my sister wrote them— every night. And the fairy would always leave something in my room for me,” said Melvin.

Since her iconic fairytale look long ago, Melvin has kept up the Halloween fun. Each year, her family hosts a themed Halloween party, and each member goes all out with their costumes. This years theme “The Royal Tenenbaums” family.

After dressing up as a bald eagle for her family party this year, Melvin made a quick costume change into none other than London Tipton from “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody“.

Nathan Schwartzkopf, ’24

Schwartzkopf, a history and french studies student, also has his fair share of nostalgic Halloween memories. On the first Halloween he remembers as a child, Schwartzkopf dressed up as Darth Vader from “Star Wars“. Similarly to Melvin, Schwartzkopf chose to dress up as something he adored,

“I picked him because I loved ‘Star Wars’ and he just looked cool,” said Schwartzkopf.

As a full-time college student now, Schwartzkopf’s Halloween traditions look a bit different. Although he does not plan on wearing a costume this year, he and his girlfriend try to watch “Over the Garden Wall” every October during the spooky season.

Natalie Nestler, ’25

Nestler, who’s majoring in secondary education and history, liked to think outside of the box as a child. Years ago, Nestler convinced her parents to let her dress up as a “vamoose”. Sporting a striped sweater, clawed feet, floppy ears and tusks, Nestler’s imaginary animal, a combination of an elephant and a bear, came to life one Halloween.

Like many families, Nestler’s family carved decorative Halloween pumpkins to display during October. Nowadays, although she has forgone pumpkin carving, she still dresses up for the holiday. This year, she celebrated Halloween while dressed as famous comedian Adam Sandler.