Halloween Through an International Lens
A Halloween-themed poster enlivened the dean's office this October. Photo: Alondra Brooks
By ALONDRA BROOKS
Imagine arriving in America for the first time, and it’s October 31. As you drive through the city, you see people dressed in scary or cute costumes. Later that day, someone rings your doorbell. A small child holds up a bucket and yells, “Trick or treat!” Wouldn’t that seem strange?
Halloween actually dates back hundreds of years to a Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced Sou-when) that welcomed the harvest at the close of the summer. During this festival, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
The color black represented the end of summer and orange was for the harvest in autumn. Bats came from the fact that during Samhain the bonfires attracted insects which in turn attracted bats.
Carving jack-o-lanterns originated in Ireland, but early carvers used turnips instead of pumpkins to frighten the evil spirits roaming the earth. The idea of seeing ghosts came from All Souls’ Day, practiced by Christian missionaries on November 2, when the living and the dead would come into contact. The day before All Souls’ Day is All Saints’ Day, and the day before that (October 31), is All Hallows’ Eve – shortened to “Halloween.”
Most Americans have grown up with this celebration of scary supernatural beings, but newcomers from other countries might find it odd. Some might not celebrate because of religious reasons.
“I am from Uzbekistan,” said senior Madina Khasanboeba. “I think because of the religious importance in the culture, a lot of people think it is a sin to celebrate it.”
“My parents are from Haiti, and they think it goes against Christianity,” said senior Takiyah Laroche.
“Since the Dominican Republic is a [mostly] Christian country, people don’t usually like Halloween with the devil, so we don’t usually celebrate it,” said senior Arianna Jimenez.
Mr. Urbain Blaise, a history teacher at Midwood, said, “My mother was Haitian and Pentecostal, so she used to explain to us that Halloween was a time to celebrate those in the underworld. My West African father said it's a culture of consumerism to get kids to buy candy.”
In some families, the holiday caused a minor conflict between parents and their children. “Basically, my parents weren’t supportive,” said Ms. Sakaina Simon, a guidance counselor. “I wanted to participate because I was Americanized. It was always hard to want to go out trick-or-treating because in Grenada they don’t celebrate Halloween.”
Senior Amari Adams’s parents thought of Halloween as “the devil’s holiday,” he said. “When I was younger, they didn’t let me trick or treat.”
But others didn’t face the same friction. “I think it's a wonderful way to express ourselves,” said Mr. Edy Rameau, a math teacher. “Back in Haiti we celebrate All Saints’ Day, where we have street bands and masks. It's basically the same thing. It’s just like Carnival as well.”
“My parents are Hindu, and they don’t have an issue with it,” said senior Elexander Bawa. “When I was younger, we used to dress up, go trick or treating, and pick pumpkins.”
“My dad is Trinidadian, and he is fine with the holiday,” said senior Julia Ramoutar.
Ever since Halloween was brought over in the 1840s by Irish immigrants, it has been evolving, and it is now a uniquely American tradition. Whether you believe it’s all in good fun or it’s just a little too devilish for your tastes, we can all agree on two things: Kit Kats are the best, and candy corn is the worst. Stay spooky, everyone.