I'm in two minds about this whole Halloween thing. While the IDEA of Halloween appeals to me immensely, it just ISN'T something Australians have ever celebrated, and as it's a seasonal holiday it's entirely illogical to be celebrating it in Spring anyway. But commercialisation has taken over and where once we only encountered it in movies and books from the US, now every shop here has all manner of Halloween junk to sell (I managed to rein in the excitement of the small people and limit them to a hat, a broom, and a skull necklace each...oh, and the aforementioned glowing eyeball). Most of it is really nothing more than instant landfill. I've noticed the same thing happening with Easter and St Patrick's day. Easter was once a time when you bought chocolate eggs...and that was about it. Now you can go completely overboard and decorate your entire house with life size (or rather 'human size') Easter Bunnies, chickens, banners, easter egg 'trees' and ornaments and God knows what else. And come St Pat's day, it's all green glitter bowler hats and leprechaun costumes. No sooner is one holiday over, than they roll out all the stuff for the next one. I don't have a problem with special, meaningful holidays...I love them, but these are being stripped of all true meaning. I'm sure there must be someone somewhere as we speak, trying to come up with a new holiday that will require decorations and cards and gifts etc, for the middle of the year, it seems to be the only bit left that isn't already tied up. Now that Halloween is out of the way, Christmas will take over...which usually means that by the time Christmas actually gets here I am thoroughly sick of it! I have this dream to one day take my whole family away for Christmas, somewhere in the northern hemisphere where it will be cold and snowy, but somewhere that Christmas hasn't been entirely ruined by months of muzak carols in shopping centres, plastic Santa Claus' scaring me out of my wits by yelling Ho Ho Ho at me as I pass by them, impossible-to-avoid Christmas buy buy buy advertising, and people going nuts trying to buy the biggest, the best, the most expensive whatever-it-is and putting themselves into debt for the whole next year. I don't suppose such a place actually exists, but I live in hope. I love Christmas, but I hate what it's become...a 3 month retail orgy to convince as many people as possible to part with money they haven't got, to buy stuff they don't need. I want a REAL Christmas!
Oh dear...I'm probably sounding rather like Scrooge by now...Bah Humbug!
6 comments:
No, actually, you took the words right out of my mouth -- and said them a lot better, too.
We had a lovely peaceful time celebrating Beltane..which is the time between Spring solstice and Summer solstice..and it is so meaningful to celebrate the season. Halloween should be in April in NZ. I am loving learning about this. I agree with you fully.
I think it is fun to think of Halloween in Spring. It is hard to imagine it with flowers and blossoms, instead of fall colors and seasonal cold.
What a thoughtful well-written post. I feel much the same as you--I loved the part about the plastic santas! lol
I would love to go to Alaska for Christmas someday--where when it is cold is snows instead of sogging. Here in Oregon--and especially here in the lower elevations, near the river as we are, we don't get much snow.
I would love to have enough snow to build a snowman this winter--but alas, that is a dream which may not ever come true. lol
Have a great week!
I hear you. For me, one of my most sacred holidays is now suppose to be candy, scary and full of blood and gore. My community celebrates more quietly than the large towns. Some motivated folks carve a TON of pumpkins and places them on stones in the river and along the banks and bridge. Someone goes out for a few nights in a row and lights them all. I love it.
Maybe some Winter Solstice you'll find your way here to walk in the silent woods, cold and very snowy, to our forest circle where Grandmother Winter welcomes you and spins tales of stones and bones and reminds you that she births the light in the midst of the deepest dark. Then a circle dance in the with bells and candles calling back the dark.
Wasn't intending such a long comment! I avoid malls, shut off the radio, and listen to what the trees. But, easy for me, I don't have kids....
Woops, I mean calling back the LIGHT!
I totally agree with you. Commercialization is a global problem...countries and cultures that has nothing to do with Halloween...now celebrating it or at least they trying to copy the Us. Like my country of origin, Hungary,..I've never even heard of Halloween and trick-or-treating while growing up.We celebrated(and still celebrate)Day of the dead...lighting a candle for our loved ones in the cemetery. Sometimes I wonder..why countries with old history and rich cultures has to take up traditions of other countries!?
It makes me sad that holidays lost their meanings and that my children can't experience the magic of Christmas the way I did when I was a child. I also hate what it's become....I'm just trying to close it out as much as possible :(
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