I don't like them, it's too much to handle and frankly it makes me uncomfortable to be around…
Death, destruction, and disturbia.
Our society has dedicated an entire month to the Triple D’s. At times, I find human nature to be strange. We give credence to something we otherwise avoid like the plague. I don't mean to be all doom and gloom; there are many others that take advantage of Halloween to explore creativity. I remember back in my youth I was costumed as Spiderman. I reminisce on the times pulling that mask over my face, only removing it to eat candy. As a child, last week in September I became anxious and excited to go to the costume store to decide who I would be that year. Getting dressed on Halloween made me feel like I was the coolest person in the world. Even now as an adult, I can imagine myself in a full Iron-Man suit. Tricking and treating would be replaced with fun-themed parties and alcohol. For adults, Halloween is used to explore our creativity and perhaps live out some fantasies without judgment or ridicule. It’s a time of year when people disguise who they are to be free. However, where did it all start? Beneath the fun of costumes and candy, there's a deeper history that many of us might be forgetting…
The root of Halloween can be traced back to the Celtic Festival of Samhain. It was believed around this time the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. Locals would disguise themselves to protect from evil spirits while simultaneously giving homage to the dead. As cultures intertwined, especially with Christian traditions, it would give rise to what was known as All Saints Day or All Hallow’s Day, which focused on honoring the saints and the souls that had departed. It’s clear that Halloween as we know it today is a complex blend of these mixed traditions.
Giving homage to the dead is recognized in many cultures around the world.
In Mexico, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd.
In Peru and Bolivia, Día de los Difuntos (Day of the Deceased) is observed in a similar fashion, with people visiting cemeteries to decorate graves and honor the spirits of their loved ones.
In China, the Ghost Festival takes place during the seventh lunar month, and it is believed that during this time, spirits are allowed to roam the Earth.
Japan has the Obon Festival, a Buddhist tradition held in August, where families light lanterns and clean graves to guide spirits back to the world of the living.
In Nepal, Gai Jatra, or the Festival of Cows, is celebrated in memory of those who passed away in the previous year.
These festivals, like Samhain, all share a common thread: a reverence for those who came before us. They remind us that across cultures, death isn’t just an end, it’s a moment for reflection, celebration, and connection with our ancestors.
Perhaps this is why Halloween in the United States has such a broad spectrum. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the passing of loved ones, a celebration of life through creative self expression, and perhaps a way to confront the inevitable in a controlled, non-threatening way.
It fascinates me that we can come together as a collective to give celebration to those who have lived before us, those who have guided us, and bestowed us with knowledge to make us the better people that we are today. The recognition comes in many forms, from death, destruction, and disturbia to freedom filled festivals. Regardless of how you celebrate Halloween, at its core, it’s a celebration of freedom, a preservation of the past, and, dare I say, a more prominent future.
As a society, we have developed coping mechanisms to mitigate unsettling situations and to bring forth understanding and education, creating a more bearable way to face the unknown.
So go ahead, dress up as a horse, wear that Tinkerbell outfit with the cute fairy wings, or even don your best Michael Myers costume. In doing so, you're not just having fun. You're part of an ancient tradition, celebrating the life you live today while honoring the dead who have paved the way for it. Halloween isn’t just about costumes, it’s about freedom, creativity, and the eternal dance between life and death.
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