When i was young, i hated Halloween. The candy, the costumes may’ve served to balance the cold and chaos, but they couldn’t outweigh my fear. i hid behind a fronted rationalization of moral high ground. Perplexed and protesting the celebration of ghouls and devils, of trickery, and evil. Misconstruing the evening as a toast to bad behaviour, to villains and sinners.
In truth my posterizing was more cowardice than confusion. The subconscious’s self-conscious rejection of mirrors. Missing the profound and beautiful send off of seasons, the rousing celebration of a year’s inevitable fall, an embracement of the coming death in winter and rebirth of spring. i couldn’t see through the disguised symbolism weaved through the festivities, a ready rubric, waiting to solve deeper puzzles of both society and the self. Maturity, courage, and experience helped change the lens, and allowed sweetness to arise above the sugary treats. To recognize Halloween as something healthy and important. A celebration, not of evil, but the glory of darkness. The darkness of the night, the harbinger of dreams, the safety of sleep, the beginning of existence, a celebration of the Shadow.
Some argue that it’s good to have a healthy expression of chaos, to release a dash of disruptive behaviour. The importance of trick amongst treat. Naughty, though not malicious. The art of pranking, the harmless fun of inconvenience. Trouble without consequence. We frighten, startle, and tease ourselves and each other. It’s the uncanny gravitation we have to horror films and stories. A contained, safe environment to explore our fear, to troubleshoot our reactions. Opportunities to feel alive, and play safe outside of comfort zones. Be that curled on the couch with a scary movie, or in the throws of an elaborate haunted house.
Of course it’s not all fun and games, some people take things to the extremes, cross lines, and harm others. Leveraging the festivities as a shameless excuse for their poor behaviour, and needless cruelties. While a little mischief is encouraged, only the misguided pretend that moral slips are justified because of the date.
Erring on the eerie, across the planet cultures celebrate their dead near the end of the harvest seasons. While different latitudes influence the month, we see similarities when the veil thins. When the spirits are believed to walk. Ritual, costumes, in Samhain, food offerings, make up during Día de los Muertos, India’s Kartik Purnima, Japan’s Obon, heavy with the candles, and lanterns, the joys of Halloween temper the fear of other realms. Fearless we welcome the ghosts, the dead, we remember them globally, face them, alongside our inevitable mortality. While we receive no real clarification on the afterlife, only are gifted a glimpse at our own personal evolution of comfort regarding these concepts year after year.
One of the most astounding aspects of the evening is the costumes. An invitation, an easy avenue to explore different aspects, and archetypes that build our own character. A Jungian dream(?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungian_archetypes https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-jungs-4-major-archetypes-2795439). Our Self plays with various Personas, changes masks. The whole night bows to the Shadow, many impersonate monsters, each riddled with metaphor. Others explore The Anima, or Animus, the masculine, feminine, the lovers, the muses, mystics, and beyond. These basic archetypes are the very foundation for every character, every costume, expanding to the heroes, rebels, and tricksters that have enchanted us through the eons. The event is but a rich canvas for the soul to explore.
The most profound facet of the costumes is not the clever, beautiful, horrific, or ornate, but what’s beneath the ghouls, monsters, and horrors. A simple person, exactly like you, your neighbour, your friends and family members. More than they tantalize, they show the humanity within. Like the crux of every Scooby Doo mystery, the monster is always a person in disguise. Often misunderstood, overwhelmed, out of options. In our greatest stories our favourite characters time and again, begin as villains. We see ourselves in their follies. Golem, Snape, Darth Vader, they find forgiveness, understanding, and ultimate redemption. That’s where costumes shine. We see the soul of the ghost, the vampire, the werewolf, and temptress. See play. We see the human, and the heart within.
The evening is filled with tremendous generosity. Of patience. Of gifts. Real gifts. Memorable moments, much like the candies given at each door, briefly savoured before they melt away, and disappear. Not trinkets, not toys, no lists, nothing but a taste of the temporary, like the days of our lives. More than that, is the opportunity for reward. Children face frightening decorations, and find treasure. They find benevolence beneath the magnanimous monsters handing out sweets. We’re revelled for showing our metaphorical fangs, and embracing those of others. We admire, and award costumes. We divulge our characters by our choices, exposing more than we hide beneath our make up. Despite our masks, we’re finally known.
The costume is far from important. The costume is but a riddle for the heart within. Hopefully, in time, we may learn to apply it to our day to day, when we look to each other. When our gaze falls on the downtrodden, or perceived villains in our society. Or the follies of our friends, family, coworkers. Not to give fouls, misdeeds, crimes, or atrocities a pass, but to see the humanity within, if only for ourselves. Like this metaphor, i see the humanity within Halloween now, which i didn’t understand as a child afraid of the dark. Didn’t see the beautiful hearts beyond the ghoulish grins. Nor the warming beacon of candlelight within jack o’lanterns. Couldn’t hear the joyful notes within the costumed witches cackles. i misunderstood the charades, the play. Thrown by the masks. Unable to comprehend how the shared characteristic of the most ghastly creatures is the childish mistake of pushing others away, when in truth they only ache to be pulled close, and cherished.
i wish you the best Halloween. Wish you mild weather, generous neighbours with gigantic candy bars. i wish you fun. i wish you safety. i hope you carry these ideas with you each month, and you can find a little Halloween all year round.
Happy Halloween!
Thanks for reading!
-Mr. Write
Keep your evenings spooking with some releases from my CYOS project! My newest EP Pale Dancers is available on all your favourite streaming services! Enjoy!