The reasons behind fangirling

Why are girls in love with celebrities? Especially of the male variety. Some examples: Justin Bieber, One Direction, Josh Hutcherson, Zac Efron...the list goes on forever.

A guy friend of mine asked me a while back why I liked Justin Bieber so much. For a little while I was completely thrown. If a girl had asked me the same question, I'd probably say something along the lines of "because he's perfect" or "he's my whole world;" however, this was a boy I respected and cared about so I didn't want to look like a total fangirl. So instead of saying the first thing that popped into my head, I started to think. Well, there's the voice, the hair, his looks, the personality I see every day through the media. But could there be something more, something I wasn't immediately aware of, but it was still there in my subconscious? Why are people, and girls in particular, so attracted to famous people? In a girl's case, why is she so attracted to famous boys and men, but she complains about the real boy in her life all the time? Famous boys aren't perfect, right? And yet we still fall for them. I decided to investigate further. Here are the reasons I came up with:

• First of all, celebrities seem better than everyone around us because they're famous and they seem to have it all: good looks, money, the personality... They're not real people in our eyes, but idols, perfect people.

• We see them everywhere, all the time. Because of this we think they are with us everywhere we go, no matter what happens. If you're having a bad day, listening to your favourite artist's song can really brighten your mood.We think they will never fail us and that they are always there when we need them (unlike some of the boys we really know).

• We forgive their imperfections and faults more easily because they don't directly affect us. For example, Harry Styles from One Direction is well known for being a womanizer and a heart breaker  However, most of his fans just think it's cute. If they met a player in real life though, they wouldn't like him so much, would they? They still might be attracted to a bad boy, but they wouldn't forgive him if he broke their heart.

The ladies man

• We communicate with other fangirls who always put that particular person in a good light. Whether you're reading fanfictions or simply scrolling through your Twitter newsfeed, other girls are always gushing about how perfect that person is, and expressing their love for them. It's difficult to resist joining them in their excitement.

• We always see them at their best - when they're well dressed and groomed, when their hair is perfect and they're in a good mood. What about the bad days? Everyone has them, right? When we feel moody and snap at everyone, when we're depressed, sick or tired. We don't really see our idols like that. Because of this, we can't fairly compare them to the real boys we know.

• They always say the right thing. Celebrities say what is best for their target audience. Therefore, our idols usually say what we women want to hear. For example, the song Little Things by One Direction. Most of the girls I know, even the ones who don't like One Direction, swooned over the lyrics of that song. This could be because of Ed Sheeran's songwriting skills, of course. It is relatable. We like to hear these things. Another example is Justin Bieber's song, Boyfriend. Every girl wants a boyfriend who will never let her go. The song makes us feel like we deserve love, and when we go back to reality, we realise that all the boys around us aren't like Justin Bieber, and they probably will let us go..

"If I was your boyfriend I'd never let you go" - Justin Bieber

All Saints Day in Poland

I was in Poland this midterm break, and I went to the cemetery to celebrate All Saints Day on the 1st of November. It is a day devoted to the dead - relatives and friends who have passed away. I think it's much more special than Halloween. While I was there I had these feelings and experiences that I just had to write down and share. So here we go.

You've never seen something as beautiful, and yet so sad, as a cemetery in Poland on All Saints Day. It's a very sad occasion, with everyone mourning their loved ones. The people take a break from their busy everyday lives to devote this day to the ones who passed away. It's really interesting to see the people's faces in the graveyard. Older people remembering their friends and family, perhaps thinking about their own death. Are they afraid? Some of them tell stories from their past, remembering the people who are buried underneath them. 

I watch some families laughing at funny anecdotes, others hanging their heads in silent prayer. For some families, this day is the only chance to catch up. I watch people, young and old, hugging, laughing, chatting. I see little children praying, holding hands with their parents. They don't understand what is going on, but they realise that they have to behave and be serious on a day like this.

The cemetery itself is beautiful. The amount of flowers in here is shocking. They come in all sizes and colours. There are wreaths and potted plants. There are huge quantities of lights, the flames inside the coloured glass flickering. It's pretty and serene in the daylight, but it's truly beautiful in the night-time. There is a red hue all around the cemetery, like you would see around a huge bonfire, except a thousand times bigger. There are no streetlamps needed, because the reddish-yellow light is everywhere, and it's very bright. It's like you're walking through glowing colours. There is a unique scent in the air, of flowers, matches, and burning candles. Also, during the month of October leaves are burned, especially coming up to November. The smell of burning leaves is almost traditional. I've always loved that smell, it reminds me of warmth and mystery and fires. It's a pleasant smell.

People lighting lights at the front of the cemetery