How to Do Halloween

 

Over the next couple of weeks, many South Africans, especially the young, will plan activities that mark two foreign days of festivities. Both should concern Catholics.

On November 5, fireworks will be let off in many places to mark Guy Fawkes Day, a British celebration that marks the foiled coup against the English crown by Catholic conspirators in 1605, which was followed by more than two centuries of persecution of and discrimination against Catholics.

When the popular poem asks us to “remember the fifth of November”, Catholics must know also that it calls for “A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope…and a jolly good fire to burn him” — an anti-Catholic polemic which is still enacted in effigy in the English town of Lewes.

(A racist tradition of wearing blackface and nose rings in reference to the amaZulu was reluctantly discontinued in Lewes last year following protests by a Zulu dance troupe!)

Those who burn their fireworks on November 5 will likely expend little thought on the politics of the early 17th century, nor on the blood of Catholics that flowed in the wake of the so-called Gunpowder Plot, nor on the bizarre traditions of an obscure town in England.

Those who burn their fireworks on November 5 will likely expend little thought on the politics of the early 17th century, nor on the blood of Catholics that flowed in the wake of the so-called Gunpowder Plot, nor on the bizarre traditions of an obscure town in England.

Nonetheless, Catholics should be aware of what they are “celebrating” on November 5.

The same applies to the celebration of Halloween, which is becoming a tradition in South Africa and many other countries, thanks to the hegemony of US culture.

Halloween has its origins in the Catholic faith, deriving its name from “All Hallows’ Evening”, which incorporated the archaic English term for All Saints (in the old reckoning, a feast day began with sunset the evening before).

The nature of the celebrations, with the spooky costumes and trick-and-treating, has changed over the years, to the point that Halloween is now very much a secular affair.

Symbols such as skulls and scythes were once used to remind the faithful of their inevitable death and judgment, raising the question of whether they were destined for heaven or hell

But even the grim elements of Halloween have Christian roots. Symbols such as skulls and scythes were once used to remind the faithful of their inevitable death and judgment, raising the question of whether they were destined for heaven or hell.

Today these symbols are used not to remind us of our mortality — with the attendant reminder to be prepared at any time for our judgment — but for merriment.

The ghoulish costumes may give the appearance of celebrating death and even evil, which would be a reversal of the original meaning of Halloween, or All Saints, which celebrates virtue and everlasting life.

Naturally, we must be wary of any Halloween activities or symbols that glamourise or normalise the occult.

Naturally, we must be wary of any Halloween activities or symbols that glamourise or normalise the occult.

Even so, we must not be curmudgeonly about Halloween. It is a time of innocent amusement for many people, and if it is celebrated in a good spirit — and due vigilance to the obvious hazards in letting children go from house to house in the pursuit for sweets — then one should not object to that.

Indeed, in Catholic families where members wish to participate in Halloween events, it can become a teaching moment by incorporating in the celebrations the proper devotions for the feasts of All Saints and All Souls.

For example, one could dress up as a favourite saint — since, after all, Halloween has its origins in the celebration of the saints.

One can even combine the two. The skeleton outfits and fake cobwebs could make way for positive costumes and symbols. For example, one could dress up as a favourite saint — since, after all, Halloween has its origins in the celebration of the saints.

By subverting the subversion of the feast, we can reclaim it, at least among ourselves. In doing so, we shine the light of Christian discipleship into the murkiness of temporal pursuits.

On the feast of All Saints we celebrate the defeat of death, which was won through Christ’s sacrifice.

For Catholics and all Christians, this consciousness must infuse their participation in the temporal celebration of Halloween.

And however we might mark Halloween (or don’t mark it at all), let the feast of All Saints be an occasion for us to celebrate the saints, whose examples give us hope for eternal life through Christ.