Halloween. All Hallows’ Eve. All Saints’ Eve. What is this strange holiday?
According to Wikipedia, it is a celebration that marks the beginning of the “time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers.” Traditionally, the various celebrations revolved “around the theme of using ‘humor and ridicule to confront the power of death.'” Some scholars believe Halloween has pagan origins with Christian influences coming later. Other scholars claim the opposite. Either way, for hundreds of years this holiday was used to recognize the honorable dead and pray for the souls of the less valiant.
The use of macabre symbols like witches, headstones, skeletons, cobwebs, etc. developed over time. The Jack-o-lantern, which has become for many one of the few friendly elements of Halloween, was “traditionally carried by guisers…in order to frighten evil spirits.”
They used to look like this…
Um…Ew.
Now that’s creepy.
North American culture, for whatever reason, didn’t exactly embrace the historically religious aspects of this holiday and have turned it into something quite different, I think, than what was originally intended…
Yup.
Oh, there are still plenty of the darker elements of Halloween celebrated throughout our land, of which I personally strive to avoid. But the religious overtones are essentially non-existent for most participants.
Is it horrible to admit that I’m glad this particular holiday has evolved into what it is now, which is basically an excuse for shameless mommies to dress their babies up in utterly obnoxious costumes because there is nothing more adorable in the world than a human baby chicken?
I mean, really. I think I like this version better:).
There are a few other compelling qualities to Halloween as well…
{ PUMPKIN CARVING }
{ SCHOOL FESTIVITIES }
Costume Parade
Class Parties
Incidentally, I was not in charge this year (hurray!), so all I had to do was a craft station and a treat.
It was rather enjoyable:).
{ Ghost garland }
{ Graveyard pudding cups }
And a quick visit to boy #3’s classroom. He looooves when I pop in unexpectedly;).
{ GLITTER and GLAM }
I’m not going to lie. I kind of love dressing up. In a house full of boys, I don’t get to do the sparkly, pretty stuff very often. So when I have my kids Halloween parties to attend, I take full advantage. You know, for the kids;).
I was sort of pleased with how my fairy crown turned out, using just what I had on hand. So I made Talmage take pictures:).
Getting ready for
{ TRICK or TREATING }
A beat-up football player and a BYU super fan.
And the cutest Clark Kent I’ve ever seen:).
My chicken finally got happy:).
Ashton and Joseph spent their Halloween night in their dad’s neighborhood. So these were our nocturnal companions this year, along with big brother Talmage who was feeling just a little too grown up to trick-or-treat but perfectly happy to come along to help…and maybe accept generous neighborly offerings.
When we got back to our own street, Seth took a fussy baby chicken home while I took my little super hero to a few more houses. Talmage came along too. It had been a beautiful evening and these last few minutes with two of my boys were just perfect.
Finally tuckered out <3.
But not tired enough to go to bed without enjoying the fruits of his labor!
I cannot think of a single holiday we celebrate that has not fallen victim to the commercialistic world in which we now live, but I think if “Halloween” were to attend a costume party, perhaps it might take home the prize for most extreme transformation. Who could even tell this celebration ever had Christian beginnings?
It’s like Nacho Libre walked into an All Hallows Eve vigil, spiked the Holy Water, brought in a mariachi band, and everybody woke up the next morning with no memory of the… proceedings… the night before.
And I kind of love it:).
