Halloween 101

I get so frustrated near this day. It isn't the little kids knocking at the door...I gladly give them candy until I run out, at which point I have been known to scrounge for things in my cupboard...snack size chips and pop tarts for example.

No it isn't the kids, or the traffic, or the commercialism...it's the haters.

There are so many groups out there that protest Halloween.

One of my favorite co-workers (read favorite dripping with sarcasm or in that my favorite co-worker to bitch about and/or torture kind of way) was up in arms because the firm planned our annual fall potluck on Halloween. In the history of the firm, we have never actually had it on Halloween, just near it. And as an aside, it pisses me off that I have to call it the fall potluck, and not what it really is...the Halloween potluck, but I digress.

Same co-worker also had a cow because another employee purchased all of the administrative staff cute holiday water glasses with pumpkins on them. As an administrative staff member, she got hers and clucked her tongue in that dismissive disgusted way and said "I am a Christian. You know I don't celebrate that holiday."

That holiday...like it is too terrible to even utter the word Halloween. I'm sure she about fainted when she learned we were allowed to dress in costume this year (something we have never been allowed to do before).

Likewise, on the blog of old, I told the story of the woman in Target who told her sad little five year old that she could not dress up like a princess because Halloween was "the Devil's Day."

Arrrggggg! This mentality makes me crazy...CRAZY, I tell ya!

Halloween is not the "Devil's Day." It is the remnants of the pagan holiday Samhain, also known as All Hallow's Eve, and marks the end of summer, and the beginning of the new year. In pagan tradition, it is considered the most magical night of the year, when the veil that separates this world from the next is the thinnest, and it was believed that the dead could return to celebrate with their families. Tombs and burial grounds were opened, lighted, visited, etc., to help the dead find their way, and a festival like atmosphere was created to celebrate their return. Feasts were prepared, and extra places set at the table for the deceased releatives. Think of it as a festive memorial day.

This is also where the tradition of "treats" comes from. To be blessed with good luck in the coming year, it was customary to have food on hand for the spirits and travelers that might visit.

The jack-o-lantern was made to light the path for travelers and revelers alike, including the dead family members, and the scary carved faces were made to frighten away evil spirits, which were also on the loose on this night. When placed on porches or in windows, the protection from evil spirits extended to the entire household. This was the same reason people dressed in costumes and wore scary masks...to hide from and frighten off evil spirits.

Another aside...pagans do not believe in the devil, so Halloween cannot be deemed the "Devil's Day." The devil is a Christian creation.

So yes, obviously, Halloween's roots are firmly planted in pagan tradition. But to my co-worker, who is too Christian to celebrate that holiday, may I add that all of the major Christian holidays have similar pagan roots.

First, their very placement on the calendar. Christ was not born on December 25. This date was chosen to correspond with the pagan holiday of Yule. Likewise, Easter was dated to correspond with the pagan holidays of Ostara and Beltane. Many of the lesser Christian holy days have similarly coincidental dates.

Also, the traditions of the Christmas tree, the yule log, the Easter bunny and coloring eggs have all derived from pagan traditions.

If you are going to shun Halloween, fine, just don't be a hypocrite, and shun these things, too. You shouldn't get to pick and choose which traditions offend you and which don't. Pagan is pagan, right?

But before you toss all the traditions, reconsider your Halloween stance. It is not a day of evil. It is a day of celebration, new beginnings, and old memories. It is festive. It is fun. It has gotten a bum rap over the years, thanks to the entertainment industry, but that is all make-believe. Just because Hollywood says it, doesn't make it so.

I understand if you don't want your kid dressing up like a chainsaw killer, or a vampire, or a devil.

But, please...let them be princesses. There are so few opportunities in life to feel like a princess. Let them have this one day.

Happy Halloween!