Happy Halloween?
Depends on your perspective.
Representing the end of the harvest season, Halloween has been a time of celebration that symbolizes the beginning of the cold months. As our society has moved so far from that of an agriculturally based life style, the true spirit (pardon the pun) of all saints days has been skewed.
October 31st was a time from bringing in the last of the grains from the fields and slaughtering live stock for winter. Big bonfires were set to burn off the animal carcass and in the true spirit of all saints day, people wore masks to symbolize the evil spirits. To help ward off superstitions, pumpkins were carved into the shapes of heads (considered the most powerful part of the body) and lit with candles so they could be seen in the night hours.
Today we dress up in customs and celebrate our indulgences. Sure some still worship the recently departed, but in America we mostly eat junk food and pass out candy. However, a new tradition seems to be creeping into our culture–Halloween seems to represent the NEW beginning of the Christmas season. Huh?
Go to ANY store today and you’ll see the Christmas items are already on display. Stores are already bidding for the consumers attention (and dollars) with hopes of capturing our diminished disposal income before the other guy. A true dichotomy, October 31 is the day we beginning our celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and the death of cattle–all while welcoming in untold numbers of cavities.
Rather than taking our children out to corn fields to pick some food, we dress then and send them out in to the neighborhood to beg for treats. Although, based on the way these kids today beg I question their understanding of the concept known as trick or treat! The gem of a concept behind trick-or-treat is the homeowner MUST give candy or suffer some sort of prank or ridicule. Can you image such a lesson in school? How about government? Wait, back on December 6, 1773 we kind of did play a trick on the owner of Tea. I guess buried deep with-in the American traditions we’ve always played with the notion of “give it to me” or else. Not to draw too many parallel, but this November 4th, I think we are faced with a similar decision–spread the wealth around?
Is it appropriate for me to use bah-humbug and avoid the spirit of Halloween? After all, if the stores can jump right to Christmas, why can’t I?
Tonight, instead of sending your children out to threaten your neighbors, how about taking them to a local grower and teach them what it means to prepare for the future.
Happy Halloween!
Ed Bejarana