BOO!!! Ha… I got you didn’t I? Ok, really, what is Halloween? I mean I really don’t know, I never got out there as a kid and did any “trick or treating”. I am not even sure that Halloween is a real holiday. Where did it come from? And why is it getting bigger every year… better yet, who cares? I sure don’t. Ok, yeah I do or I would not be writing this. So let’s get to it, I am ready. Why all of this stalling?
Halloween is a combination of three different traditions passed down and some of which were confused. The word was derived from a few things; All saints day (1st of November) Eve of hallows (all Hallows Eve) or Hallow Even. The celebration of Halloween was originally the new years celebration for the Celts, the eve of Samhain or “winters eve”. It was originally believed that the dead and disembodied spirits of all those who had died that year would come back in search of a body to posses for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the after life. All who were alive of course did not want to be possessed by these souls so on the night of October 31st, villagers would put out their fires in their homes to make them cold and unpleasant then dress up in ghoulish costumes and parade around the city making as much noise as possible to frighten away the spirits looking for a body to posses. Food and drink (which I’d say accounted for the crazy actions of the villages, not the fear of being possessed) would be left out for these costume wielding villages.
This practice was started around the ninth century in Europe by the church… but you should probably look that up because I only have so much time. With that said, I think Halloween is kind of stupid and dangerous to anyone trying to live a responsible “spiritual life”. I know, I know, what does that mean? Well, it means that it was founded on the idea that souls are left in limbo and looking to posses a body and “trick or treat” was founded on the idea that people could give gifts to have their loved ones prayed out of “limbo”… which is not only asinine but not exactly a practice I want to explain to my kids. I mean come on, this is a history lesson and my kids do not need the candy.
As for what to do about this holiday, I am going to scare the crap out of the brats that wander around my house this year. Or at the very least, bore them with the story of Halloween. Stay tuned for the video… it’s going to be a lot of fun.
*this article was featured on October 29, 2007