Well,
it’s not that I’m against anyone having fun or celebrating
whatever pagan/religious festival that comes along, but what the hell
is Halloween all about?
When I was a youngster we didn’t dress up
in ludicrous costumes and demand (by text) to be given money or a
large bucketful of sweets with the veiled threat that if you don’t
comply you could find your car tyres let down, or worse. In homes all
over the country people are switching off their lights, turning down
the TV and pretending not to be home. The whole thing has got
completely out of hand. And what’s with the expensive costumes?
Designer death masks and Gucci hats? The shops are definitely making
a fortune, no doubt about that, but is it really necessary? Do we
have to be plagued by special offers? 2 pumpkins for the price of
one, £5 box of trick or treat sweets, which will probably disappear
after the first callers! It is all designed to part you from your
money, while being told how much you are going to enjoy it. Can’t
we have a good time without having to mortgage our souls?
Yes,
souls folks, that is what Halloween is all about. All Souls Eve, that
is what we are celebrating. No one, not even the cleverest of
scholars can be absolutely certain where this festival originates.
Quite possibly it hearkens back to the ancient Roman feast of
Parentalia which was a festival in honour of the dead. It seems you’d
take a picnic down to the tomb of your ancestors and share the
holiday with them! Sounds a bit creepy, but I suspect not as creepy
as a menacing 7 year old wearing a David Cameron face mask and toting
a large brick!
The concept of death and rebirth is as old as, well death and
rebirth, and this festival is also associated with holding back the
death of summer. There are many varied interpretations of the
festival going back to Anglo Saxon times, and of course Christianity
put it’s on inevitable twist on it. However, it was left to good
Old Uncle Sam to give us ‘trick or treat’ and dressing up in a
variety of costumes that have little or nothing to do with the
original spirit of the festival.
We are
fast becoming the playthings of consumerism. It happened with Easter
and Christmas, now the minor festivals are being targeted. However
much this may sting the faceless corporations who make a fortune out
of this I think we should simplify things a little. Now my idea which
would combine i) remembering the dead, ii) being a bit of spooky fun,
iii) obtaining money and/or gifts, would be to approach the house
wearing normal clothing, pale faced (perhaps a cheap bag of flour
would help), and when the owner opens the door, whisper in clear yet
dulcet tones ‘I SEE DEAD PEOPLE’. Now if this doesn’t result in
payment I’ll eat my pumpkin!!
Let’s get the party rolling!
- Cleo Bloggs
No comments:
Post a Comment