Hocus Pocus is a way of life

It’s Halloween.

Time to break out the pumpkins, candy and classic movies.

The top movie of the season, hands down, is “Hocus Pocus.”

Every year, my friends, family and I partake in all things “Hocus Pocus”
religiously.

“Hocus Pocus” was released in 1993 and features Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy, who are sister witches seeking out the souls of small children to keep them young for eternity.  

This movie has a certain charm.

It’s not scary or thrilling.

It isn’t RomCom or Action, but each year thousands of people watch it on repeat until October ends.

“Hocus Pocus” is ingrained into every Halloween memory I have of my childhood.
My mom and I would sprawl out on the floor with our pumpkins ready to carve, turn on the VCR, pop in “Hocus Pocus,” munch on some Reese’s cups and make an evening out of the simplest traditions associated with the holiday.

Then we would quote the movie to no avail throughout the year.

We would walk through crowded places chanting “Amuck, amuck, amuck,” giggling just because people were bustling everywhere.

Or when we would drive somewhere we would say “’Tis firm, ’tis stone, why, it’s a road!” in shock of the “black river” that was the newly paved street.

We’d point at our feet and shout “Dead man’s toe, dead man’s toe, dead, dead, dead”
in the witches’ accents just to entertain ourselves.

I still make the trip home to watch “Hocus Pocus” with my family.

After a few years, my younger brother and sister were brought in on the
tradition.

Now the weekend before Halloween we turn on ABC Family’s 13 Nights of Halloween and curl up on the couch together to watch it.

I’m fortunate enough to have friends who share my passion for “Hocus Pocus.”

We gift each other special edition DVD copies, post random facts about the movie on each other’s Facebook walls, listen to the soundtrack, dress up as the characters and play games all centered around one simple movie.

I know other people believe Halloween is all about fearing, dressing up or stocking up on pumpkin seeds and candy, but to me it’s the tradition.

The memories of “Hocus Pocus” I have are some of the best of my childhood and some of the most quality moments with friends at IU.

So, if you’ve never seen the movie, give it a whirl.

Find a cozy spot, pull up the movie online or turn on your TV, and see the magical wonder of “Hocus Pocus” for yourself.  

I hope “Hocus Pocus” can “put a spell on you,” too.

­— andlzimm@indiana.edu
Follow columnist Andrea Zimmerman on Twitter @AndreaLZimm.