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Is today just another mindless excuse to drink? Another day where drinking from mid-afternoon is acceptable (just like that other day).
In pre-Christian Ireland there was the Druidic “fire festival” called “Samhain“. In the year 835 Pope Gregory IV changed the date of All Saints’ Day from May 13 to November 1 so as it would coincide with the Pagan festival and so it would be overshadowed. Supposedly.
“On Halloween night in present-day Ireland, adults and children dress up as creatures from the underworld (e.g., ghosts, ghouls, zombies, witches and goblins), light bonfires, and enjoy spectacular fireworks displays, despite the fact that such displays are usually illegal.
It was believed necessary to dress as a spirit or otherworldly creature when venturing outdoors to blend in, and this is where dressing in such a manner for Halloween comes from. This gradually evolved into trick-or-treating because children would knock on their neighbours’ doors, in order to gather fruit, nuts, and sweets for the Halloween festival. “
The good old days? This is part of my confusion, since when did it become okay to dress up as stuff that just ain’t scary. Comic book characters are not scary! Sexy cop, sexy nurse, sexy pirate, cat (generally sexy), spiderman, princess, angel, fairly, bumble bee, cheerleader, clown (debatable?), doctor, penguin, playboy bunny, school girl, batman, wolverine, the list goes on… When did any of these examples of outfits become ’scary’? I have no problems at all with any of the ’sexy’ outfits. But this is not ‘Fancy Dress Day’, its Halloween. I’m not scared!
My Granny asked me recently if I would be calling round to her house on Halloween night: she had found a photograph of me ducking for apples in her house as my cousins and I would do every year when we were younger.
Those were the days… A bright colourful apron, a large basin in the kitchen filled with apples - DUNK! Ah yes to be six again…
As I got older my dad would paint my face before I went out trick-or-treating. White, with a few nasty cuts and scars. He even used home-made latex, which turned out to be quite painful to remove and my friend came out in allergies. Most years I have done something similar; an amateur goth impression if you will.
This year and last year I didn’t bother. I would like to do it well, and maybe I will next year, though with being on a tight budget at the minute and with work in the morning it seemed very appealing.
This evening I did, however, go to the biggest fireworks display in Belfast ever. I mean EVER! Wonder if it will be bigger next year… Great advertising it may be, with such a pretty word like ‘ever’, but surely everything just gets bigger each year anyway.
I followed the crowds towards the odyssey; family fun and entertainment for the kids. Street performers, the City of Belfast Youth Concert Band and fireworks from the top of Harland and Wolff cranes.
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