Halloween Tradition Past And Future

Writen by Bob Roach

According to the History Channel Halloweens' origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Door

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

By the 800's Pope Biniface IV kept the tradition alive by making it an All Saints Day. And even later he declared it All Souls Day. Never the less, the point I want to make is this: A tradition needs to pass the test of time. Is it time to continue to celebrate Halloween or is it time to stop celebrating Halloween?

I like tradition as well as anyone you know, but some traditions need to be re-examined. The big question here is: Why do we continue to celebrate Halloween? It would seem to me that we are breaking one of my newest rules for my life. I refuse to do anything today if the only reason that I am doing it is because I did it yesterday. It would appear to me that the only reason we celebrate Halloween is because we always have. Is that a good enough reason?

Let's look at some of the positive points of Halloween. Halloween is a good time for family and friends to get together. They may get together for a party or to go out and beg for candy in our neighborhood. While in their own neighborhood, it is a great time to say hello to friends and neighbors.

Carving pumpkins and creating costumes is a good time for parents and children to spend time together while being given the opportunity to exhibit their creative side. Many times the Parent and child may desire to have theme related costumes. An example would be Mother dressed up as the wicked step mother while daughter is dressed up as Cinderella.

There certainly may be more positive aspects to Halloween. I remember Halloween as a day when kids could be kids and parents were responsible for our safety. The candy was an added bonus to an outing of fun and games.

So how about you and your family? Are you going to celebrate the coming of winter and dead souls with your children? The theme itself seems a bit out dated to me. The danger of taking young excitable children out into the streets and sidewalks is certainly a challenge at best. Many of the costumes obstruct the childrens' sight. Many parents drive up the road stopping at each house to let their children out of the car. While this saves steps for the parent it is very dangerous for other young children who are crossing back and forth to each of the houses.

Each year many children and even adults are risking their lives by going out and begging door to door for candy that may not be safe, with little regard to the message that they are sending their children. By going door to door, we are teaching our children that it is not only okay to speak to strangers but it is also okay to accept food from them.

You may go to many sites to read about the good and bad things that may come about by observing and participating in this time honored tradition. I challenge you to rethink the custom and determine for yourself whether it sends your child the message that you want them to learn. If you are only celebrating Halloween this year because you did so last year, you may want to re- consider. Traditions are only as worthwhile as the purpose they serve. Halloween serves no purpose in our modern society!

Bob Roach Father of one and middle school teacher of literally thousands over the past thirty years. To find out more parenting tips write me at: rproach@yahoo.com