Samhain ~ Halloween... my rant for the day...

[RoadRaven]

Hiya... late for Samhain/Halloween

I have read the couple of threads here and it certainly sounds like some of you had a really fun time. We've just "had it" over here in little old NZ and it really bugs me that we have. So my gripe here is with my own country and how we "do" this... not with any others... k?

Advertisers started to adopt the American interpretation of Halloween about 15-18 years ago and now it is huge. The sad thing is that very few people over here have the remotest clue why they are buying costumes and getting their kids to go trick or treating. Devout and evangelical Christians even get into it dressing as witches and such when on every other day they would probably burn me at the stake for my beliefs! Do they realise this is simialr to what Christians would perceive as a "Holy Day" to some?

Its crazy... its hypcritical... its ignorant.

Besides... in the Southern Hemisphere summer is beginning, we should not be observing winter festivals... we should be looking to and celebrating spring and summer. Its Beltane here... but do we celebrate that? Oh no... we adopt aspects of one of the oldest belief systems, we bastardise it with shallow money-making and we give no thought as to why we 'buy' (literally) into it.

*rolls eyes*
We should have just recently celebrated Easter here (Ostara) which before Christians overlayed the observance of the death and 'rebirth' of Jesus, was a celebration of new life - finally the winter was over (hence all the eggs and baby animals). But no, this crazy little mixed up country celebrates the new life and birth in Autumn, just as we head into winter...

We are still a young country... somehow we need to get over the parochial, wannabe-like-the-old-country mentality that colonistion brought and realise we can make our own rituals and festivals...

And guess what - on November the 5th - this weekend - we get to let off fireworks and hundreds of children and animals will be injured because of careless use, and many fires will be started (in fact that begins the moment those things go on sale to the public) and why?
Because a chap called Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the British Parliament - unsucessfully - in 1606
So, for the sake of money (what else is in it except the huge profits made by shops) we remember a terrorist who has nothing whatsoever to do with this country - European settlers had not even found this haven then!!!

Well... when I am in charge of this country... *wanders away muttering to herself...*

[IFjane]

RoadRaven I am ashamed to say I am from that country that has managed to commercialize every holiday there is, and when they got tired of that they created some more - bosses day, administrative assistant's day, yada yada yada. As long as $$ makes the world go round I am afraid there will be no changing it. The rest of us can rant and commiserate with one another. Glad to "meet" you!

[Bad JuJu]

It's all about co-opting something for other, often-nefarious purposes. Several centuries ago, the Catholic church co-opted Samhain and turned it into All Saint's Day in an attempt to silence pagan celebrations and lure people into the church. In our own time, capitalist interests have taken over pretty much every holiday there is in (successful) attempts to make money from them.

I'll admit that I'm pretty caught up in capitalism--you almost can't live in most Western cultures and NOT be--but enough is enough already!

[mary9761]

I'm wishing the Brightest of Blessings albeit belatedly for Samhain and the new year. I noticed much activity in the last several days and weeks so indeed the veil was thin. As the wheel turns, I am wishing for renewed/improved health for many of us.
Blessed Be,
Mary

[Cassandra_Cain]

I find it really sad about halloween RR - both in America, and from having lived in Europe.

What should be the ultimate DIY celebration of creativity, individuality, and a subtle challenge at the establisment, is nothing more than just another bonanza for the corporations and comercialization.

I even remember, way WAY back it seems now, when we'd go around all the neighborhoods, just the kids. Now you are more apt to see kids in America trotting inside some shopping mall.

Must everything be transformed into a mere commodity to be bought and sold?

[light_sabe_r]

Luckily, We haven't reached the proportions New Zealand has... mainly because Melbourne Cup day is next Tuesday and most of us workers are busy getting Lunches (and drinks) organised for that.

I hadn't even heard of 5th November celebrations... Until I saw V FOR VENDETTA...

Australia was a "convict" settlement though. So I guess that means we saved up all our old world holidays for Christmas and Easter in the 1800s thus why none have been big over the last couple of years...

Road Raven, You guys Celebrate ANZAC Day right? that's by FAR the biggest Holiday we have over here from a non-religious, non-commercial point of view.

For the Northern Hemispherians, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Day, The day when thousands of our fledgling army-men fought and died on Gallipoli's shores because Britain wanted us too! First World War It's the day we remember all the soldiers and honour those still serving our country. A non-denominational dawn service is held, usually on beaches or at the war memorials, under the big Jacuranda trees next to the war memorial, the last post is played many times that day, there's military parades and most people do go out to see the old soldiers and military nurses march. Then there's the Traditional Aussie customs of having barbequed Seafood, (and LAMB) and playing 2 up. Or going down to the local RETIRED SERVICES LEAGUE for a nice counter lunch.

[Dogmama]

they created some more - bosses day, administrative assistant's day, yada yada yada.

Brought to you by Hallmark.

I briefly watched a piece on the History channel about witches. They failed to say that women were the doctors and had the healing powers which led (in part) to their demonization by the male Christian leadership.

They also failed to note that after the infamous witch burning, Europe was beset by the plague - caused by burning the cats that caught the rats that spread the plague.

It's the rule of three in action.

[Geonz]

RoadRaven I am ashamed to say I am from that country that has managed to commercialize every holiday there is, and when they got tired of that they created some more - bosses day, administrative assistant's day, yada yada yada. As long as $$ makes the world go round I am afraid there will be no changing it. The rest of us can rant and commiserate with one another. Glad to "meet" you!

IFJane, where do you ride in Madison County? You've got me pining for boulders and hills (I lived in Culpeper for a few years, and have been sneaking up to our cabins in Madison County since I was a wee baby, though I'm lucky to get there once a year now that I'm out on the prairie) Side roads, or mountain biking, or...? (Please pardon hijacking of post...)

[tattiefritter]

Hadn't realised we'd exported Guy Fawkes night - seems a bit pointless anywhere else but Britain (and in Britain too).

I know what you mean about the Americanisation of Halloween, where I grew up in Scotland it was normal to dress up in costumes of your own making, carve turnip lanterns (no pumpkins) and go "Guising" to all your neighbours where you then had to sing/dance/tell a joke to earn some money or sweets. Then it was back home to dook for apples. My mum did it as a child in the fifties as well. I'm not sure if it was a Scottish tradition or not as my grandparents were Irish and I know it is definitely an Irish tradition.

I've since moved down to England and Halloween seems to have been hijacked a bit - its all "trick or treat", pumpkins and nobody making their own costumes any more. The expectation is to be given sweets rather than earn it. There also seems to be a fair amount of older kids spoiling it by trying to get money. My boyfriend never went "guising" so only has the imported American traditions to go on.

As for fireworks...I can hear them going off now and they will do until the weekend. Again as a kid it never used to be like that, we had a neighbourhood bonfire that we collected stuff for, a guy and some fireworks. It obviously makes more sense standing round a bonfire on a cold Novembers night at the start of winter rather than a warm one at the start of summer!


Help, I'm sounding like my mother!