#E.T. halloween scene would've been perfect because he also goes as a bedsheet ghost to avoid being seen

[givehimthemedicine]

seasonal reminder that this probably happened because El saw It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Hopper seems surprised that she even knows about Halloween, and watching tv is all she has to do all day in the cabin, so that must be where she learned. and sure there were other shows/movies that probably mentioned Halloween, but ITGPCB:

explains how to go trick or treating in terms a small child / cultural newcomer would understand

introduces the specific concept of a bedsheet ghost costume and the anonymity it offers, and shows how to make one

shows a group of 5 friends trick or treating together (El + the party = 5)

would've been on network television during October 1984

El doesn't know about this, but there's also the whole pumpkin patch thing in season 2 - which is where Hopper is on Halloween night when he's supposed to be with her

Sally spends Halloween waiting for the Great Pumpkin with Linus, but in the end she's furious at him when she realizes the Great Pumpkin isn't coming, and now she's wasted her night and missed trick or treating because of him. much emphasis on missing trick or treat being something to be very angry about.

El's also mad at Hopper for making her miss trick or treating, because he's instead forcing her to wait around for something that's not really coming (Hopper himself, since he stood her up, but more broadly her freedom from the cabin).

not saying El needs any help from media to be frustrated about her circumstances, but her being pissed off about Halloween does seem to be what kicks off her confronting Hopper about his promises that never come true, and the ensuing sneaking out / fight