Horror and Spooks!

     Now we are currently in the month of October. Any idea what holiday makes October famous? Well, aside from the celebration of the United Nations of course. That one holiday that brings the creeps to all of us yet never fails to entertain us as well. It's Halloween! Halloween is an annual holiday held on October 31. What makes it unique from other holidays is that instead of hearts, fireworks, cakes, mistletoe, or flags, it has its candies (the kind of which are fitted to be given on that day with a horrifying style and carved in a spooky form), coated apples, candles, soul cakes, and the famous trademark of that holiday, the jack-o-lanterns (A pumpkin that has its insides scooped out and its cover carved into a form of a monstrous face.). Its activities include trick-or-treating, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions (this is optional though and it's only meant for the bravest of hearts), playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

     Halloween originated in Europe. A historian named Nicholas Rogers believed that Halloween originated specifically in Rome. It is either the Roman Feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia that the customs and practices of that holiday began. One of Halloween's origins can also be traced in the Celtic Festivals. Some historians say that October 31 marks the end of the Celtic Calendar and that on that day, the Celts are believed to be honoring the dead through bonfires and offerings of their abundant harvests. The original name of Halloween is All Hallows Eve.

     What made Halloween so famous? The answer is, pop culture. Most especially that of the influence of Hollywood. Ever since the film, Dracula (1931), came out, people began to spark their interests towards the horror genre. From then on, the Hollywood film industry never failed to entertain people with their horror films. Films like The Wolf Man (1941), Freaks (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), Suspiria (1977), The Silence of the Lamb (1991), The Exorcist (1973), Child's Play (1988), Dawn of the Dead (1978 and 2004), The Omen (1976), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), The Sixth Sense (1999), Friday the 13th (1980), Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Salem's Lot (1979), Psycho (1960), Drag Me to Hell (2009), Paranormal Activity (2007), The Ring (2002), and Insidious (2010). From these films, people then got interested in celebrating Halloween.

     Halloween is celebrated around the world and the celebration varies depending on what culture or tradition the countries which are celebrating it, have. In the case of my country, the Philippines, being influenced by the western culture, we usually have a three-day celebration of it. On October 31, we celebrate it similar to how the westerners have it celebrated. We have costume parties, trick-or-treating, and a marathon of horror films. On November 1, we recognize that date as the All Saints Day in honor of the saints and martyrs who died for their faith and the good works they made. On November 2, that's when we celebrate the All Souls Day in honor of the departed loved ones we had. The country that is most popular in celebrating Halloween, I believe, is the USA. The westerners were the ones who popularized its activities most especially the costume parties and trick-or-treating.

      What I love most about Halloween is that it's not that serious of a scary holiday. Of course since it's a holiday, people would really make any sorts of entertainment from it. I guess it's the only holiday that would make us feel entertained when we are scared or when we scare others. Based on my personal experiences, I never tried doing trick-or-treat activities when I was a child. I must have been so fun if I've tried it though. I think I didn't have the guts to do it because I was a typical shy kind and I was not comfortable wearing any costume and it's not really that prominent in my neighborhood though. But I wish I tried at least once. This coming Halloween, I think I'll be with my family to visit our departed loved ones especially my beloved grandfather who died last year of Emphysema. May his soul rest in peace.

     Halloween's already fast approaching this year! I hope you'll have a good one! Keep those horror and spooks coming! Happy Halloween!

- Angelo Lorenzo