FAIR AND SQUARE: All Souls' Day vs. Halloween aka Is it really necessary to only remember the dead one day a year?
Death is an interesting topic. It fascinates me. I don't think that it's fair, it visits some people needlessly early. But no one can ever escape it. What doesn't fascinate me at all though, is All Souls' Day. Celebrating the dead. In any form. When somebody's dead, they're dead. I remember them when I want to, when it's convenient to me. I don't like that we all do it on command on a certain day. Why is public transportation collapsing because of one day a year and cemeteries officially extend their opening hours?
That's over here. Masochistic group gathering at the graves. Competing for the tidiest and best lit grave. It's bordering on absurd.
The most popular holiday in the year
On the other hand, people overseas aren't such fans of masochism and have been celebrating Halloween since the 19th century. In America it is actually one of the most popular holidays of the year, according to various internet sources. A holiday of the dead, really? I thought it was damn Christmas!
I'll tell you why. Because they've long forgotten the reason for these celebrations. They put their kids in costumes and those, as if they had ADHD, run around like crazy from house to house screaming Trick or Treat, hoping to get so much candy they'll overdose on sugar. Parents probably don't even realize that diabetes is an incurable disease in this critical moment. It's hopeless.
A Celtic tradition
This holiday actually originated from an old Celtic tradition, during which they used to light up the way for the deceased with pumpkin lanterns. They believed that the dead return home during the night on October 31st, which is why they put these lanterns on the front porch or right in the windows.
I don't think that's okay either, because once somebody's dead, they're supposed to rest in peace in the spirit world and live their afterlife there. Why would they go back home and haunt others? The haunting isn't all that awesome either. Modern artists are able to turn a human into a real monster and when you run into that outside in the dark? Heart attack, a stroke or just shock with lifelong consequences is guaranteed.
Parties
For many adults, this holiday is just another reason to get pretty smashed. In costumes on top. So when they commit crimes in the streets in their drunken stupor, the police runs into problems, because they all look like monsters on camera and the identification of the criminals is simply impossible. Just imagine it. "Good evening, I came to report a rape. The rapist looked like Frankenstein." What are the police officers supposed to do?
Decorations
So that I don't seem completely negative, what I do find pretty cool though are the decorations. Autumn decorations are pretty in general, hollowed-out pumpkins are amazing. Not only can you make great soup, but you can entertain your kids, get creative and then your porch looks all pretty. Autumn colors are magical and it's actually the most beautiful thing about this season.
Shopkeepers are wringing their hands even before the upcoming bountiful Christmas. The economy grows thanks to the large consumption of pumpkins, make-up, candles, flowers and candy. These are big economic pluses of pretty much any holiday. Moreover, there are many events happening all over Prague, such as celebrating the dead for kids at Žluté lázně, or Spooky Zoo... Everyone is trying to get as much out of this day as possible.
In conclusion I'd like to say that while death might be an ugly part of our lives, it's nice to remember our deceased loved ones. In any way. The dead will stay alive in our memories. If somebody has left your life, be it unexpectedly and suddenly or expectedly and peacefully, remember them, light a candle, shed a tear... but for the love of God, not just because it says that it's All Souls' Day in the calendar, but simply because you miss them. The beauty in that is that you can do that anytime throughout the whole year.
