Halloween or not Halloween?
Today’s One-question Interview is about Halloween.
Halloween (also known as Samhain, Summer’s End, All Hallow’s Eve, Witches Night, Lamswool, and Snap-Apple) is a holiday that is celebrated each year on the night of the 31 of October. Its origin is from Ireland, and nowadays it is a official celebration-day in the following countries: Ireland, US, Canada, UK, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden. The activities that takes place are: trick-or-treat, costumes parties, “haunted house” or ghost tours, bonfires, carving pumpkins (Jack-o’-lanterns) and evening reading scary stories or watching horror movies.
On Madeira this day is known as ‘Dias das Bruxas’ and the last few years we see signs that, namely the commerce, is trying to introduce this celebration on the island.
The question is therefore the following:
Is the celebration of Halloween for you acceptable / welcome fact here on Madeira?
Let us know what you think about it. Thanks in advance.
Hmm thats quite difficult to answer. I remember i was in Madeira last Halloween and dont recall seeing any recognition for this celebration. It wasn’t too much of a shock or shame but i guess it would have been nice to see people embracing the occasion. The awkward part is whether locals would see it as too much of a commercial ‘Americanism’, even though Madeira still celebrates loads of very occasions,they may be offended at mixing it with this commercial one. Another thing i know many of the people from Madeira are Catholic, so would a Pagan witch be discriminated against because of their beliefs as it may be deemed as dark. Like i said its very hard to answer but from my stand point it would be good to see celebrated..in the light sense, its another excuse for a cool dress-up & kids to get free sweets!
I think Halloween should remain in the US. Kids can dress up for many other reasons… they don’t need reasons to dress up really.
Here in Europe it was purely commercial. It started around 2000 and now in 2009 it has nearly died out. Thankfully…
Halloween or All Souls Eve was and is a recognised Christian festival common to all Christian Churches not just Roman Catholic. Over the past few years it has become a commercially inspired event and many people are frightened or intimidated by Tricking or Treating. Keep it away from Madeira if you can!