Flying broomsticks, spirits, Jack-O lanterns, trick-or-treating…Associations we never grew up with. A quick read on the background of All Hallow’s Eve and it is clear that the holiday came about as a result of the amalgamation of rituals and traditions believed to have originated from the Celts, the Roman influence, and Christianity. So where do we come in?

Not anywhere near, if close by at all. Evident through the expression of our parents and the ones before them who immediately display frowns of confusion and alienation to the term, Halloween is just beginning to take flight in the country, and possibly the region.

With plenty of training from school essays, our reflexes tell us that it’s simply the western influence that landed the celebration of spirits roaming about with the living, locally. With the increasing number of particularly, American, television shows being aired coupled with the boost in internet activity, the globalisation of Halloween should not really come as a surprise.

Picture source

While the holiday has made its mark, its origins and traditions have all become intertwined to create a universal association with costumes and parties. A holiday that is traditionally inclusive of the whole family, with children dressed up and begging for candy, parents in accompaniment, and non-parents costumed and ready to mingle, has sadly, only surfaced in the form of the latter.

It is understandable that trick-or-treating in this country is not practical, with the safety of children being so vulnerable and the over-protective parents. But isn’t this an ideal time, then, for neighbours to come together, showing albeit uncommon, friendly smiles to each other for the sake of a little fun for the kids?

More apparent are the parties that mushroom immensely come the end of October. For the party-goers, it’s just another reason to let your hair down, and even better, to dress up in costume! Costume stores hike their prices and the economy receives aid, hence we’re a happy, slightly tipsy and prosperous country. Well, that’s one way of looking at it.

The other is by wondering how come only Halloween has gained such popularity. Why not Thanksgiving? Because it’s more of an American holiday, commemorating the pilgrims and the natives coming together. Why not St. Patrick’s Day? Because it’s more of an Irish thing. Why Halloween? More attractive, I say.

Similar to Christmas and Valentine’s Day, most of the meaning to Halloween is lost, all the more here as it was passed down to us from the media. More interest is placed on the preparation and execution of the merriment. Sounds like sour grapes? Maybe, but what is there to be sour about, since almost every festivity suffers the same consequence. It’s time again for us to be sprayed by some desensitizer.

Picture source

Maybe the best way to celebrate Halloween is to work against the spray of the desensitizer; to increase our knowledge, for once, instead of partying for the sake of partying. It could be the start to greater things, like actually having an inkling of why and how the pumpkin came to effect, why trick-or-treating is part of the celebration and why the holiday is still celebrated to this day.

In the spirit of being different, let’s party by recognising that Halloween originated from the Celtic Samhain (Sow-en), is associated to All Saint’s Day and in honour the Roman Goddess of fruits and trees, Pamona, and that its history spans centuries wide. And also, by dressing up as a sexy beast.

Sources:

http://wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm

http://www.halloween.com/history_halloween.php

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/238260/1/.html

Last 5 posts by Denise Chin

• A Whole New World - January 3rd, 2008
• The Local Tourist - November 22nd, 2007
• The Young and the Not So Restless - September 14th, 2007
• For the Love of Money - September 1st, 2007
• Malaysia Then and Now - August 31st, 2007