Laurie Snider
Notes From The Nest
The Thanksgiving turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie have barely been stored in their Tupperware containers, before the next seasonal celebration appears on our calendar, namely, All Hallows’ Eve.
As empty nesters, it would be easy to overlook Halloween as just another date on the calendar, which has succumbed to over commercialization. The nostalgic side of me however, still can’t let it go.
I’m a sap for customs and traditions. They conjure up memories, of warmth, laughter, good times and security.
Halloween can be traced back to its Celtic origin, the festival of Samhein (pronounced Sow-in), which marked the division, between the light and dark halves of the year.
It occurred at the end of harvest and beginning of winter, with All Hallows’ Eve one day, followed by All Saints day the next. It was thought, this was when the boundary between the material and spiritual worlds, was thinnest and ghosts, goblins and dead souls could connect with the living.
Costumes and masks were worn, to disguise individuals from the same spirits, that may have wished to harm them. The term “Bonfire” comes from “Bone fire,” where communal fires were built from bones of slaughtered animals, to aid the dead on their journey. Food or “treats” were prepared for the living and dead, to appease any malevolent spirits.
During the Middle ages, “souling” or “mumming” was the practice of begging for offerings. Prayers for the dead were offered, in return for food, “soulcakes.” By the mid-1800s children would dress up in a costume, recite a poem or sing a song, in exchange for a treat, piece of fruit, nut or perhaps a coin.
The term Jack-o-Lantern came from the 17th Century story of an old drunkard and scoundrel named “Stingy Jack.” Not quite making it into heaven, or hell, he was destined to spend eternity between the two, with only a hollowed-out turnip, with an ember from hell, to light his way! Turnips were the original produce of choice for carving, often with the face of a demon lit by candle, to ward off evil spirits. This eventually evolved into pumpkins, which were easier to come by.
Halloween traditions we practice today, originated with Irish and Scottish people, that immigrated to North America. Trick or treating became popular in the 1920s, then waned until after Second World War. There was a resurgence in the 1950s, with the rise of suburbia. Interestingly, the first recorded instance of dressing up for treats in Canada, occurred in Kingston in 1911. Now Halloween is second only to Christmas, in terms of commercial sales.
My dad, who is 84, remembers wearing a paper bag on his head, with holes cut out for eyes and drawn on eyebrows, as a costume.
Mom also remembers trick or treating and recounts that after the candy was gathered, some local boys (probably including her brother) would go around town, tipping over outhouses! Both mom and dad recall collecting suckers, kisses, apples, licorice or jaw breakers in paper bags or old potato sacks.
I remember in my own childhood that Halloween was an exciting, happy time. At school we’d have a small, class party, toast pumpkin seeds and make Halloween- themed crafts. Mom remembers this as a harrowing time, cobbling together our costumes at the last minute. My sister, brother and I were dressed as such things as a Robot, Jack-in-the-box, and Angel. One year my sister dressed as a Scarecrow, wearing a plaid shirt, stuffed with straw and a broom stick threaded into the sleeves, that made her arms stick out straight all night. It was a great costume, despite lacking comfort.
When Randy and I had our children, I enjoyed making costumes and trooping around the neighbourhood with them. The year our youngest, Ellie, was born I made bumblebee costumes for all of us, including the dog and we went out as a swarm of bees. The next year, we all dressed as pumpkins and went out as a pumpkin patch. I’m not sure Jake, our dog, ever forgave me!
I made our children into, Hobbits, ghouls, a slippery bar of soap, a pizza and a bunch of grapes. One particularly windy Halloween, I remember chasing stray foam French fries around the neighbourhood. This was the year Ellie and her friend Hannah were dressed as McDonald’s fries. With each new gust of wind, another French fry was airborne and I was in hot pursuit!
What fun! What memories! I guess this is why Randy and I still carve pumpkins, decorate with Rats, bats, crows and ghosts, give out treats and serve hot apple cider to weary parents. If even in a small way, we can make a happy memory for another child, then any extra efforts are worth it indeed!