The Spirit of Halloween
Do you celebrate Halloween? By celebrating Halloween I mean, dressing up in scary costumes, carving pumpkins, decorating the house with spooky deco and going trick-or-treating. Well, I don't. Well, not in Malaysia, at least. So, why do people, especially those in Western countries, celebrate them? Here's a lil info I got from this website about Halloween and its origins:
What is Halloween?
Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses" and carving jack-o-lanterns.
Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses" and carving jack-o-lanterns.
When is Halloween?
Halloween celebrated on the night of October 31 regardless of the day of the week.
Halloween celebrated on the night of October 31 regardless of the day of the week.
What is the origin and history of Halloween?
Halloween have its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced "sah-win"). The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.
Halloween have its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced "sah-win"). The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.
Why do we "Trick or Treat"?
Trick-or-treating, is an activity for children on or around Halloween in which they proceed from house to house in costumes, asking for treats such as confectionery with the question, "Trick or treat?" The "trick" part of "trick or treat" is a threat to play a trick on the homeowner or his property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating is one of the main traditions of Halloween. It has become socially expected that if one lives in a neighborhood with children one should purchase treats in preparation for trick-or-treaters.
What is the history of carving pumpkins / jack-o'-lanterns?
A jack-o'-lantern (sometimes also spelled Jack O'Lantern) is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday Halloween. Typically the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced. During the night, a candle is placed inside to illuminate the effect. The term is not particularly common outside North America, although the practice of carving lanterns for Halloween is.
A jack-o'-lantern (sometimes also spelled Jack O'Lantern) is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday Halloween. Typically the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced. During the night, a candle is placed inside to illuminate the effect. The term is not particularly common outside North America, although the practice of carving lanterns for Halloween is.
Despite the colorful legends, the term jack-o'-lantern originally meant a night watchman, or man with a lantern, with the earliest known use in the mid-17th century; and later, meaning an ignis fatuus or will-o'-the-wisp. In Labrador and Newfoundland, both names "Jacky Lantern" and "Jack the Lantern" refer to the will-o'-the-wisp concept rather than the pumpkin carving aspect.
Why do we wear costumes?
Halloween costumes are outfits worn on or around October 31, the day of Halloween. What sets Halloween costumes apart from costumes for other celebrations or days of dressing up is that they are often designed to imitate supernatural and scary beings. Costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vampires, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. There are also costumes of pop culture figures like presidents, or film, television, and cartoon characters. Another popular trend is for women (and in some cases, men) to use Halloween as an excuse to wear particularly revealing costumes, showing off more skin than would be socially acceptable otherwise.
Halloween costumes are outfits worn on or around October 31, the day of Halloween. What sets Halloween costumes apart from costumes for other celebrations or days of dressing up is that they are often designed to imitate supernatural and scary beings. Costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vampires, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. There are also costumes of pop culture figures like presidents, or film, television, and cartoon characters. Another popular trend is for women (and in some cases, men) to use Halloween as an excuse to wear particularly revealing costumes, showing off more skin than would be socially acceptable otherwise.
I don't know why, but this year's Halloween really brings back fond memories of our (me and my batch mates, that is - you know who you are!) farewell party-cum-Halloween party during our final year in Wellington, back in 2006. Here are the best pictures from the party:
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| Ni kat rumah with my housemates sebelum keluar gi party~ |
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| It's HELL. Enter at your own risk!! :D |
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| Err.. witches, hantu, pocong, angel.. semua ada! Hehe.. |
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| Get ready.. hantu2, witches, wizards, devil, angel nak nyanyi nih! :D |
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| Bunny pun ada? Heee.. cucuk ekor dia!! XD |
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| My lecturer, Rebecca who is such a sport! And yes, I'm supposed to be a vampiress here. |
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| We got a princess, red devil, gold devil, witch, vampiress and err.. female Indiana Jones? |
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| Angah the Angel with another lecturer of ours - Meredith the Witch :) |
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| Poor Zira.. she got a knife stuck in her head! XD |
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| Farewell, Cohort 1... |
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| Okay, witches, devil and vampiress nak balik dah.. Let's ride on the broomstick, girls! |
So there you go.. Halloween is kinda fun, innit? For some, it is often perceived to be 'khurafat' and the like but I think it all goes back to your 'niat' or intention. Don't take this the wrong way, but for me, there's nothing wrong with celebrating Halloween as long as you don't become too obsessed with the celebration/supernatural thingy. After all, people celebrate it just for the fun of it!
Happy Halloween, y'all!
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