We survived another legal begging session. Even though I have lived here for just about 12 and a half years I still find the whole spectacle of Halloween rather odd. Get children dressed up and get them to beg for sweets at a stranger's house when normally this kind of behviour would be frowned upon.
My daughters whole heartedly embraced this tradition and turned the visits into a sprint and occasional obstacle race when some unsuspecting smaller child got in their way. They remembered pleases and thank yous which was amazing. They were a princess and a cat in case you were wondering.
The haul from last night was impressive and they cataloged what they had. There was a stack of chocolate on the floor so I stole some before they counted. I am particular as to what I take so had to be careful. Anyway the younger daughter went to her room with a goodie bag in an almost pantomime skulk, oh no she didn't! Oh yes she did! She proceeded to eat a few choice pieces and left wrappers on the floor to completely give herself away.
I am not sure if all children think their parents are mentally deficient and incapable of realising that disappearing to a room with a ton of chocolate and closed door equals pigging out. To me this is part of the holiday. If she throws up Daddy can handle it. Incidentally her own word for vomit is "razzle" which has a Vegas showgirl-glitter, Liberace-princess kind of feel.
This whole preamble eventually gets to my point that Halloween is time for the living to mock death/ Death.
America is a deeply religious country that does not see Halloween as a pagan festival but as a time for children to dress up and have fun. The holiday here celebrates the macabre and makes light of all things grotesque. Women dress scantily and enjoy the naughtiness of it all. Children emulate their heroes.
For one night and one night only we do not tremble at the thought of death. Death is feared and the dead revered normally. There is a huge sense of grief and loss as a general rule but almost a feeling that were you to go Halloween would be seen as almost a comic exit.
At Halloween we taunt death with all manner of images and severed body parts. There is an overwhelming sense of mortal superiority. We are living yet simultaneously embracing death.
It is all a bit of a giggle because come 1st November everyone is terrified of dying once more.
2 comments:
The one exception to the death aspect of Halloween are Women's costumes. Why are they all stockings and suspenders etc? I am not complaining but it doesn't make much sense. All the men's and kid's costumes are ghoulish or super heroes as you said.
I think there should be a summer equivalent of Halloween where the ladies tour the neighborhood at night in their bikinis. I would reward any one who knocked on my door in such a costume with a sherry and biscuit.
What a gentleman you are! I don't like sherry nor would I think that the world would enjoy me scantily clad!
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