THE MEANING OF HALLOWE'EN

The pumpkins are out and symbols of the harvest abound, Indian corn, cornstalks, and colorful gourds. The air has a nip in it and despite a lovely Indian summer, the hint of frost threatens the hardy perennials. The supermarket shelves are overflowing with ready bags of candies and costumes are being prepared for the trick-or-treaters. Keeping pace with the economy, the trend is more toward treats than tricks. But it wasn't always this way.

The encyclopedia says that Hallowe'en is only now a children's holiday, but it was originally a Celtic festival for the dead, celebrated on the last day of the Celtic year, October 31st. Elements of that festival were incorporated into the Christian holiday of All Hallows' Eve, the night preceding All Saints' (Hallows') Day. Until recent times in some parts of Europe, it was believed that on this night witches and warlocks flew abroad; and huge bonfires were built to ward off these malevolent spirits. Children's pranks replaced witches tricks in the 19th century, but most of the other Hallowe'en customs are probably survivals from the Celtic festival.

In many cultures there are customs, rituals and festivals to appease the dead. In our culture the eulogy is traditionally said at the memorial service. Listening attentively, people often wonder how any person could be so good, taking the eulogy literally. Actually, this speech is a carefully edited document, leaving out all the negative characteristics of the deceased. It is as if we didn't want to anger him or her, while the spirit is still assumed to be close by. It is as if the ghost is listening, and we wouldn't want to offend him or her. It is as if there is really no death; religion teaches us that the spirit lives on.

But there are many ghost stories which assume that the spirits can be malevolent or mischievous. The best of them, told in the right way, can scare the wits out of you. BOO! People go to haunted houses to frighten and be frightened. It is a time for the living to be mischievous; that is why we have tricks and masks and costumes. We will say BOO! back to the ghost, and maybe, if we are lucky, scare him or her away. Begone!

In the psychologic theory of the unconscious, we call this defense, "identification with the aggressor". If we can't beat 'em, join 'em. The negativity which has been edited out is transferred to the ghosts, demons, goblins, witches and warlocks. We, the living, will, one day in the year, assume the prerogatives of the dead. In our various costumes and disguises we will become skeletons and though dead, do damage (tricks), like the malevolent dead. The symbol is the smiling skull and the smiling Jack o' Lantern--- how fascinating, how horrible, how delightful!

Hallowe'en is one of the best times to defend against the horror of death, about the thought of our bodies disintegrating six feet under, worm food. The very idea of ghosts living on is a denial of death, at least physical death. But the best denial of death is in laughter in the face of it, and sweets. The supermarkets abound in sweets, candy corn and chocolates and little pumpkins, pumpkin pie and pumpkin muffins and donuts and apple cider. It is ironic and significant, that at the very time of the abundant harvest, we celebrate the process of death.

It is because winter is coming. After the harvest the cornstalks wither with the grapevines. The salmon come back to spawn and die. The birds fly south, escaping the chill of death in the air.

The ancient Celtics were pagans who had reason to fear the coming of the cold. Many would die in winter. Some years there would not be enough food to go around. They were desperate to find ways to forstall the coming of winter. One of the stones in the ancient structure of Stonehenge was the tallest. When lined up with another stone, the sun would be directly over it at the summer solstice. This is when the sun was highest in the sky, and from then on the days got shorter, even though it was the third week of what we now call June.

I think that what the ancient Brits had in mind, with what we now call 'concrete thinking'--- if they set the stone under the sun on that day, it would stay up and the days would not shorten and winter wouldn't come. They had the will to move these multi-ton megaliths with primitive means over considerable distances.

This is how the mind of primitive man worked, rituals, prayers and incantations to influence the gods in their favor. The Egyptians built pyramids to protect and preserve the dead, and the ancient Chinese of the northern province of Xian created thousands of life-size terra-cotta soldiers to protect the dead emperor. Frightening statues guarded the temples and palaces to ward off evil spirits, while gargoyles performed the same function on gothic cathedrals.

It is interesting to consider, while we watch the antics of children and adults alike, the historical context and psychological meaning of the customs and rituals which have been evolving throughout the years. When I was a kid in the Bronx, the wildest ones wielded flour in a sock and would jump out at you, shouting "Hallowe'en!" Eventually we were all covered white and the sidewalks and walls were chalked with skulls and crossbones. Windows were soaped.

Now the costumed kiddies are acompanied by parents coming door to door with no real tricks, only seeking treats. The trees are festooned with ornaments and lights, representing pumpkins and skeletons. The decorations are a reminder that Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming. Christmas is the ultimate denial of death, because the Messiah was born on this day, in the dead of winter, and because of Him, we are given the choice of everlasting life.

Dr. Bloom lives and practices in Grosse Pointe Park. He is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry in Wayne State University's School of Medicine, a Life Fellow of the APA and a member of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis. Comments and questions are welcome at vbloom@comcast.net.