OCTOBER 29, 1999
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THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA OCTOBER 29, 1999 |
Many of us enjoy Halloween, some don’t care, and a few want it banned. Just what is this strange fall ritual all about? The answers may surprise you.by Lily DysonHalloween creeps in quietly. There is no formal announcement of its advent, only the appearance of pumpkins in boxes outside markets, skeletons in school hallways, candies in the grocery stores, and horror movies on TV. Several weeks ago, a Lower Mainland mother asked her local school board to ban Halloween celebrations because they are too frightening for children. On the other hand, when asked how her children felt about Halloween, one Grade 1 teacher gushed, “Oh yes, second only to Christmas!” Meanwhile, one Grade 7 student wrote,” I don’t even know where Halloween got started.” Such is the paradox of Halloween. Although it is one of the major festivals in North America, it elicits mixed feelings among people -- many like it, some don’t care, and others wish it would go away. But what is Halloween and how did it originate? What meaning does it have for the public? Should it be banned? IN TRADITIONAL BRITAIN and Ireland, Halloween is All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day. Hallow refers to the holy status of the saints. This festival was first proclaimed by Pope Boniface IV in the seventh century. But it was Pope Gregory III in the next century who associated it with November 1, a day which had been linked with supernatural powers of the dead for centuries. |
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| The day was also recognized throughout Europe as a time of seasonal transition. Regarded as the start of winter in pagan Ireland, All Saints’ Day was called Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”). The Celtic year began on Samhain Eve, October 31, when the frontier between the world and the supernatural realm cracked open. The ghosts, sorcerers, witches, and beasts that now roam the streets on Halloween are replicas of those supernatural invaders.
On Halloween night in ancient Ireland, all the fires were lit. The tradition, believed to ward off evil spirits, is retained in North America with bonfires and front porch jack-o’ lanterns. In the Middle ages, on All Saints’ Day, which was intended by the church to root out the paganism associated with Samhain festival, beggars went begging for “sweet soul cakes” in exchange for saying prayers for the dead. They chanted, “Soul, soul, for a souling cake, I pray, good missus, a souling cake. Apple or pear or plum or cherry, anything good to make us merry.” This is thought to be the forerunner of “trick or treating.” Through Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century, Halloween arrived in North America, and by 1880 it was established. Halloween soon became what Modigliani in 1985 called a “rite of inversion” for pre-adolescent and adolescent boys whose festive transgressions of rules were tolerated on the Halloween night. It was a time of festive partying for adults, and an annual rite of passage for small children who ventured out onto streets filled with other unknown creatures to collect goodies. From the 1970s onward, however, rumours of razor blades in apples and contaminated candies circulated widely. Prompted by fear of vandalism and concern over the growing commercialism of Halloween, the mayor of Hanna, Alberta, in 1980 called for a ban of trick-or-treating. Similarly, many U.S. towns banned the practice, while others imposed curfews. The Halloween festival, nevertheless, has persevered. HOW IS HALLOWEEN viewed in 1999? Children, university students, and the police shared their perspectives with me. Not surprisingly, Grade 1 kids singled out themes centering on the celebration of autumn and “spooky stuff,” getting dressed up, and a chance to get candy and “scare off ghosts.” Grade 7 children added such themes as: carving of jack-o’-lanterns, wearing costumes, partying, fireworks, trick-or-treating, being with the family and friends, “having a good time,” “late nights,” and “dark skies with bright moons.” These children especially captured the essence of modern-day Halloween, which allows cathartic release under societal sanction. For them, Halloween is a night when “you dress up as people you aren’t,” and “you’re allowed to be a little crazy.” These children also observed that Halloween is the time when “many kids and teens play pranks.” Do people like Halloween? Almost all the children and university students said yes. However, a few children admitted they were “sort of afraid” of it. Younger children were scared of costumes, the unknown, and fireworks while older ones were concerned about mischief, poisoned candy, and groups of teenagers hanging out on the streets. Despite these fears, all of the children were getting ready to join in this year’s festivities. Younger children planned to dress up as characters from Star Wars, the others will pretend to be a princess, black jaguar, queen, or Dracula. Trick-or-treating with friends, partying, and watching fireworks were planned by Grade 7 students. Several older children declared that they are “going to do the usual.” For one child that’s defined as “dress up in something original and eat candy till my tongue is at least 10 different colours.” Only the university students attached traditions, religious overtones, and harvest festivities to Halloween. They regard the occasion as mainly for children to have fun and to gather candies. Some view it as a time for adults to “costume our personality or alter ego” and “to build community spirit and sharing.” Although a few university students were concerned about the growing commercialism of Halloween, most of them were planning similar activities as the children -- dressing up and partying. Does traditional Halloween misbehaviour continue to be true? Yes, said two police constables. It’s the second biggest night of the year in terms of misbehaviour, which mostly involves drinking, vandalism, fist fights, egg-throwing on cars, pumpkin-smashing, and firecrackers and fireworks aimed at individuals. Fortunately, say the police, such incidents have not increased over the years. S0, WHILE THE CEREMONIAL origins of Halloween have been lost, the spirit and tradition of celebration live on. Halloween is still enjoyed and anticipated by children. It sanctions a time for children and adults to indulge in their fantasies and to step outside their regular selves to try out other roles and to release tension from the daily hassles of life. To ban Halloween would deprive children and adults of an opportunity for fun, expectations and imagination. As an enduring tradition, Halloween enlightens the life of children in general and can strengthen families and communities. Fun and sharing are key themes to this festival. To make Halloween night more enjoyable, parents need to provide guidance about safety, closely supervise young children during trick-or-treating, and talk to their kids to allay any fears. Now let’s get out the candy, light up that pumpkin, and get ready for those trick-or-treaters. Have a great Halloween! Dr. Lily Dyson is a faculty member in UVic’s department of educational psychology and leadership studies.Views expressed on this page are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of The Ring or the University of Victoria. The Ring welcomes your views on the above article, or any other issue of interest to the UVic community. Submissions for Viewpoint or Letters to the Editor can be sent to the editor, UVic communications services, Sedgewick C149, fax 721-8955, or e-mail: vshore@uvic.ca. |
