You’ve already seen the decorations – in the shops and in the front yards of enthusiastic neigbours, but what is Halloween all about and does it make sense to acknowledge it in Spring time in Australia?
If you ask any kids (or adults for that matter) today they will tell you that Halloween is about dressing up and knocking on doors of the local neighbourhood to recieve lollies and treats. But that’s not how it originated.
Like many festivals western society celebrates, Halloween has Pagan origins and is closely linked to nature and the seasons. In Ireland it was called Samhain (sowein) and also known as All Saints Day. It is one of the 8 major celebrations of the year occurring between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice.
October 31st was the day before the official celebration of of All Saints Day, – and became known as All Hallow’s Eve – eventually shortened to Halloween .
So what is All Hallow’s Eve and All Saints day all about?
All Saint’s Day is a seasonal celebration linked to the natural world and the spirit world. It is a time of year that acknowledges the ending of one of nature’s cycles – movement toward winter and slowing down. The crops have all finished and nature is dying back. The connection with death and dying is a theme throughout this season: considered to be a time when the veil between the two worlds – living and the afterlife – was very thin; the spirit world was close. This time of year was where people celebrated and acknowledged people who had passed on into the spirit world. The dead could either cross over, move on or send messages back to their loved ones. People would light candles (hence the Jack-o-lanterns) and tell stories about their loved ones who had passed on.
The turn in weather and darkness coming on early sets the scene for the stories to come to life. Children are told it is a time when ghouls, ghosts and demons can appear. It is quite easy to imagine a chill running down your back with a crisp winter wind whipping at your neck. The ritual of dressing up as ghosts and ghouls is all part of the ritual and was originally designed to disguise our human form so we can’t be caught out by any demons.
So I ask you is this the way we are feeling in the Southern Hemisphere? We have only recently celebrated the Spring Equinox: days are becoming longer, the crops are being harvested and the weather is warming up. We have a tendency to spend more time outdoors celebrating and enjoying life – living off the benefits of the new crops and spring life. Not really the backdrop for turning inward and being visited by ghosts!
Over the years I feel like the original purpose of the celebration has been lost as kids to go about searching for lollies and special treats. On the positive side, it is an opportunity for adults who might be supervising the kids, to mingle in the street and perhaps have the opportunity to meet neighbours for the first time.
If you are in the southern hemisphere and a traditionalist, like me you will be following the celebration of nature with the wheel of the year – acknowledging the richness and energy of this time of year – known as Beltaine. This festival is all about fertility and abundance. Now to me, that seems appropriate – it really fits with the energetic feeling of the season and our connection with nature.
What about you? Will you be celebrating Halloween/Samhain or Beltaine?