I liked all you wrote until you said “people love to be scared”. Possibly so but I cannot understand it at all - to me Halloween is basically silliness.
I don’t (entirely) disagree—for me, Halloween tends to vacillate between meaningless and minor annoyance. But for the populace at large, I think there’s something to consider in the hypothesis that we (as a species, and generally speaking, with considerable variability) do ‘like’ to be scared—as long as there’s a prompt release from the fear, and, in some small but important ways, feel as if we’re able to escape it or beat it back—that we are, in control (again, in small but meaningful ways).
There is also, I think, a sizable cohort of us who, as I said, just don’t get it, at least at our own personal/emotional level. I generally would rather the whole thing just go away. But if there’s some utility to it for others (consciously or not), I guess I can put up with a little of it.
The troublesome part (and this is something I didn’t touch on) is that there’s also a small cohort that utilize such things as Halloween as an excuse, as it were, to bully, dominate, and control others. That’s something I have a strong hatred of—this kind of behavior is, in my eyes, intolerable. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.
I agree and thanks for the original article. Much of my antipathy to it is that despite living in Canada for 25 years I spent the previous 50 in England - and that prior to the spread of American-Halloween in more recent years. I don't grow up with it so was never 'indoctrinated'. On the other hand, I was thoroughly inculcated in the Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night traditions of 5th November ... only a week after Halloween. How about combining the two - large public bonfires with kids dressed as witches dancing around them eating too much sugar. No fireworks though for so many mostly environmental reasons.
I know of Guy Fawkes Night only second-, third-, and fourth-hand. Or so. I’ll just say this: Based on what I think I understand about it, it seems a celebration that has long outlived its usefulness. So, it seems a good fit for combining with Halloween so as to further dilute the two into a single entity the more innocuous for its confused nature. I would then propose that those of us who don’t care much for the whole shebang celebrate inside near a warm hearth, with good music, each hoisting pints of whatever suits.
Just to clarify something about Catholicity: The day after Halloween is All Saints Day. It's a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning that we're supposed to go to church that day. And some of us actually do.
But the day after that is All Souls Day, otherwise known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. This is the one for all us poor schlubs who aren't Saints. We get to hang out in Purgatory until we can get in.
I had to chuckle at your first sentence. That is pretty much my reaction. I used ‘celebrate’ to help me think about what it is we do with or get out of Halloween, as a society. That thinking is still a work in progress, but I think some of the attraction is as I’ve described.
Thanks for mentioning All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. I didn’t give them as much attention as they deserve—not being Catholic, I suppose, played a role there. But I also wanted to at least gently point to how Halloween, despite its development in association with an important Catholic Holy Day of Obligation (I hope I have that phrase right), is not really a religious holiday, in any meaningful sense, for broader society.
Finally, thank you for the compliment. Very much appreciated.
A wolf in red long johns! That must have been quite the sight! I’m trying to work in how that must subliminally relate to Red Riding Hood, but I’m not getting it there. Probably for the best!
I liked all you wrote until you said “people love to be scared”. Possibly so but I cannot understand it at all - to me Halloween is basically silliness.
I don’t (entirely) disagree—for me, Halloween tends to vacillate between meaningless and minor annoyance. But for the populace at large, I think there’s something to consider in the hypothesis that we (as a species, and generally speaking, with considerable variability) do ‘like’ to be scared—as long as there’s a prompt release from the fear, and, in some small but important ways, feel as if we’re able to escape it or beat it back—that we are, in control (again, in small but meaningful ways).
There is also, I think, a sizable cohort of us who, as I said, just don’t get it, at least at our own personal/emotional level. I generally would rather the whole thing just go away. But if there’s some utility to it for others (consciously or not), I guess I can put up with a little of it.
The troublesome part (and this is something I didn’t touch on) is that there’s also a small cohort that utilize such things as Halloween as an excuse, as it were, to bully, dominate, and control others. That’s something I have a strong hatred of—this kind of behavior is, in my eyes, intolerable. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.
I agree and thanks for the original article. Much of my antipathy to it is that despite living in Canada for 25 years I spent the previous 50 in England - and that prior to the spread of American-Halloween in more recent years. I don't grow up with it so was never 'indoctrinated'. On the other hand, I was thoroughly inculcated in the Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night traditions of 5th November ... only a week after Halloween. How about combining the two - large public bonfires with kids dressed as witches dancing around them eating too much sugar. No fireworks though for so many mostly environmental reasons.
I know of Guy Fawkes Night only second-, third-, and fourth-hand. Or so. I’ll just say this: Based on what I think I understand about it, it seems a celebration that has long outlived its usefulness. So, it seems a good fit for combining with Halloween so as to further dilute the two into a single entity the more innocuous for its confused nature. I would then propose that those of us who don’t care much for the whole shebang celebrate inside near a warm hearth, with good music, each hoisting pints of whatever suits.
Halloween is not so much celebrated...as endured.
Just to clarify something about Catholicity: The day after Halloween is All Saints Day. It's a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning that we're supposed to go to church that day. And some of us actually do.
But the day after that is All Souls Day, otherwise known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. This is the one for all us poor schlubs who aren't Saints. We get to hang out in Purgatory until we can get in.
As usual, good writing. You missed your calling.
I had to chuckle at your first sentence. That is pretty much my reaction. I used ‘celebrate’ to help me think about what it is we do with or get out of Halloween, as a society. That thinking is still a work in progress, but I think some of the attraction is as I’ve described.
Thanks for mentioning All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. I didn’t give them as much attention as they deserve—not being Catholic, I suppose, played a role there. But I also wanted to at least gently point to how Halloween, despite its development in association with an important Catholic Holy Day of Obligation (I hope I have that phrase right), is not really a religious holiday, in any meaningful sense, for broader society.
Finally, thank you for the compliment. Very much appreciated.
Hark, what goes there?
A beautiful essay on a beloved holiday.
Thank you for your fascinating exploration
of its meaning.
I think a lot of people love to be scared.
To me Halloween is a night of freedom.
A mysterious night
when I get to be anyone or anything I want!
I get to invent my own being
right from the ground up
by who I stride through the neighborhood
in the dark on Halloween!!!
Me and my kids would spend WEEKS
throwing ideas for ourselves and each other
in the air at dinner table
until one would stick
in the AHA moment!
My favorite as a kid
was when I was a wolf in red long johns.
Now THAT was freedom!
A wolf in red long johns! That must have been quite the sight! I’m trying to work in how that must subliminally relate to Red Riding Hood, but I’m not getting it there. Probably for the best!
hahaha I never thought
of Red Riding Hood
hahahaha
I had two older brothers to keep up to
so I was the talking wolf
in one of my beloved
Donald Duck comics
I wore a green wolf mask
and thought I looked hilarious