Halloween: History, Parties, and Scary Things
Halloween is, hands down, my favorite holiday. It always has been because I've always been a little weird. I dated a guy once who criticized me for liking to dress up for Halloween. He said I must have missed out on something as a child. Well, that relationship didn't last long because he wasn't fun at all. I mean there was nothing fun about him.
I'm not ashamed. Halloween is a chance to shed one's everyday mask in exchange for being an alterego for the night. It's theatrical. You might even say it's therapeutic, and it's the only American holiday that's still true to its pagan origins.
You probably know the story, but here it is as told on www.history.com:
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.
During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
Following Halloween is the celebration of The Day of the Dead on Nov. 1st and 2nd. This Aztec and Mexican tradition often appears as a mockery of death while it celebrates it as true life following the dream of living. It is thought that it's easier to commune with the dead on these days, and altars are constructed to commemorate them.
I love the beautiful bright colors combined with skeleton imagery and candles. But I guess I'll have to settle for the typical costume parties and RiverArtsFest this weekend.
In addition to the Big Foot party and some private gatherings I can't mention, here are some events you might want to check out:
10/31 - Trolley Tour will be a ghostly gathering as it falls on All Hallow's Eve with parties at Safari and E & H. Safari is having a Masquerade Ball, $25 w/mask or $35 without, which includes dinner, DJ, and cash bar. E&H is hosting the annual Hell On Earth bash with several bands, $7 at the door. Both parties start at 9 pm.
11/1 - Of course RiverArtsFest is Sat. and Sun., and South Main fests are fun, fun, fun. Be sure to check out the art of Shane Paris while you're there! Sat. night starting at 7:30 is "A Night in the Village," a fundraiser for Victorian Village with a few events throughout the evening. If still available, tickets are $50. Find more info at www.victorianvillageinc.org.
As much as Halloween is fun, it's also supposed to be frightful. If you're like me, you can't beat a good scary movie like The Exorcist or The Shining. Movie horror is a lot better than real-life terrors, like that of public speaking, spiders, or the religious right.
Speaking of, anyone seen the latest DNA newsletter? A certain president who wrote a discriminatory letter for all to see was met with a backlash by neighborhood residents. A friend of mine sent out an email of concern for the DNA, which was met with a lot of support and the resignation of the president. But he couldn't go quietly. He filled my inbox and that of others with childish, nonsensical, mean-spirited, though religious, bickering.
If someone like this comes into your life, here's a spell you can cast (as described by www.witchs-brew.org) to get rid of them:
During the waning cycle of the moon (after the full and before the new), burn a roaring fire. Shout the name of the one you wish to be rid of as you pick up a pile of dry leaves. As you throw the leaves on the fire, recite the following: Here is my pain; take it and soar. Depart from me now, and offend me no more!
And last, but not least, enjoy a Halloween cocktail I got from my favorite Food Network witch, Sandra Lee:
Vampire Kiss Martini
In a martini glass, top chilled vokda with a splash of champagne. Pour Chambord in over the back of a spoon so that it floats. Garnish with candy corns or vatever you vant.
