Article Overview
In the distant future portrayed in Star Trek, not all societies and traditions embrace Halloween, and numerous festivities that are observed on present-day Earth have lost their popularity by the 23rd and 24th centuries.
Although Halloween is not a widely recognized holiday within Starfleet or the Federation, Star Trek episodes occasionally incorporate Halloween themes and references. Nevertheless, the franchise has presented numerous eerie and unnerving episodes that are ideal for Halloween viewing, highlighting its embrace of the horror genre. Interestingly, a few Starfleet officers continue to uphold Halloween traditions even in the advanced 24th century.
In the future depicted in Star Trek, Halloween is celebrated by some individuals, but it is not known or acknowledged by everyone. With the vast array of civilizations and cultures within the United Federation of Planets, it is impractical for Starfleet to recognize every holiday. As time progresses into the 23rd and 24th centuries, many holidays that are observed on Earth today have lost their popularity. While individual officers may choose to observe specific holidays, the majority of Starfleet and the Federation do not partake in them.
Although certain starships may commemorate occasions such as First Contact Day and Captain Picard Day, traditional holidays like Halloween and Christmas are seldom mentioned. In a Halloween-themed episode called "Catspaw," which aired in October 1967 as part of Star Trek: The Original Series' second season, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise find themselves on a mysterious and eerie planet. Although Kirk is familiar with Halloween, it seems to be a holiday that is not widely celebrated by humanity in the 23rd century.
Star Trek Celebrates Halloween... Sometimes
In the Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 7 titled "Catspaw," Captain Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) find themselves in mist-covered landscapes, surrounded by medieval castles, eerie witches, skeletons, and mysterious black cats. Reacting to this strange occurrence, Captain Kirk humorously suggests that they are being subjected to an intricately devised trick-or-treat situation. Although Spock is unfamiliar with the reference, McCoy concurs that the entire scenario bears resemblance to Halloween. While there is no indication that Kirk and his crew aboard the Enterprise celebrate this particular holiday, the human members are still well-acquainted with its customs and symbolism.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) in the 24th century seems to be oblivious to Halloween. In a particular episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1, episode 12, titled "The Big Goodbye," Picard immerses himself in a 1940s detective story holodeck program while wearing his Starfleet uniform. One of the holodeck characters comments on Picard's appearance, comparing it to a Halloween costume. Surprisingly, it appears that Picard is unfamiliar with the holiday, possibly due to not having celebrated it during his upbringing. This highlights the fact that different eras and locations have varying levels of enthusiasm when it comes to celebrating holidays, including Halloween.
In the series Star Trek: Lower Decks, Lieutenants Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) find enjoyment in celebrating Halloween.
When Mariner and Boimler travel through time and board Captain Christopher Pike's USS Enterprise in the 23rd century, Mariner reveals that Boimler once dressed up as Pike for Halloween. While Captain Pike does not mention his own Halloween festivities, he displays knowledge of the holiday. The celebration of Halloween does not appear to have a specific timeline within the Star Trek universe. It is possible for individuals and even entire ships to partake in Halloween festivities, but it is not widely recognized and not everyone is familiar with it.
Star Trek Has Done Many Creepy Episodes Perfect for Halloween
Star Trek has had its fair share of unsettling and terrifying episodes that are perfect for Halloween. From the mind-altering encounters in TNG's "Night Terrors" and "Frame of Mind" to the revamped and more frightening Gorn in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 1, episode 9, "All Those Who Wander," inspired by the sci-fi horror film Alien, there is no shortage of spine-chilling moments. Let's not forget the zombie Vulcans in Star Trek: Enterprise's season 3, episode 5, "Impulse," and the creepy clowns in Star Trek: Voyager's season 2, episode 23, "The Thaw." Brace yourselves for a journey into the depths of fear and uncertainty in the vast universe of Star Trek.
Starfleet officers frequently don different costumes and attire for various purposes, such as exploring historical periods on the holodeck or assimilating within local cultures. Although Halloween may not hold significant importance within Starfleet or the Federation, certain traditions correlated with the holiday persist. Throughout its extensive timeline, Star Trek has often embraced the horror genre, and in the 24th century, some Starfleet officers sustain the spirit of Halloween. Trick or Treat!
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Halloween's portrayal in Star Trek. On the one hand, I appreciate the fact that the franchise embraces the spooky side with eerie episodes that are perfect for Halloween viewing. On the other hand, I am disappointed that Halloween is not a widely recognized holiday within Starfleet or the Federation.
I think it would be cool if Star Trek explored the different ways that Halloween is celebrated in the future. For example, it would be interesting to see how different alien cultures incorporate Halloween traditions into their own unique celebrations. Additionally, I think it would be fun to see more Starfleet officers celebrating Halloween, even if it's just in a small way. Overall, I think Halloween has the potential to be a more significant holiday in the Star Trek universe, and I hope that future episodes will explore this further.
