The Season of Halloween

Although my Mom never allowed me to trick or treat, I was still swept up by that same spirit of spookiness; as neighborhood kids. It was late night movie flicks like The Son of Svengoolie, taffy apples and my uncle who rented costumes faithfully. I was entranced year after year anticipating the fun with him before he went to his party. It was hard not to admire how he embodied both horror and humor just like the tv show host but while the nostalgia tiltilates our senses; the origins of this cultural holiday run deep.

The history of the Celtic holiday, which is known as Samhain is when the veil between the living and dead was thought to be thinnest, which allowed spirits to cross over into the realm of mortality. People wore costumes to disguise themselves from souls who wandered. This was later shaped by All Hallows Eve (the night before All Saints Day), which is very Christian in contast. It became a US celebration which, combined Pagan and Christian customs to create a secular holiday; then adding costumes and candy.

Some children enjoyed the aspect of dressing up to become anyone who they wanted to be during Halloween and others enjoyed all of the candy that they received, while visiting door to door. For me, it became more about the power to be a part of this fiendish mash up without ever having to leave my living room and less about being up close to where all of the action was going on. Neverthelesss, I created my own memories that still go into the collective of this tradition and this is my dedicated page.