As a novice to some of the cultures of the western world in the fall of 2023, I remember walking down the streets of St. John’s and seeing some “scary” decorations. Some nights, these decorations genuinely frightened me, and I pondered on the significance. Being a new student at the time, adjusting to my class schedule and adapting to a new environment, I was not particularly enthusiastic to understand the concept of Halloween. However, one thing was certain, it was indeed the talk of the city and a number of people – children particularly eagerly anticipated celebrating Halloween.
Fast forward to about a year later during another Halloween season, I felt more keen to understand the cultures in my environment. After a chat with some acquaintances, I realized three things I would like to share about Halloween, although this might be familiar to the local population already. First, I realized that the culture of Halloween has been in existence for years, with some tracing it back to early Irish immigrants who settled in Canada. Further personal research confirms this, dating the introduction of Halloween to the 19th century, with the arrival of many immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. The second and probably my most surprising discovery is the thousands of dollars expended on these frightening decorations annually. Perhaps, I should not refer to these decorations as “scary” anymore, after gaining this new perspective! Lastly, I realized people hold differing perspectives about Halloween, and I’ll describe using three categories. The first category of individuals are those who consider Halloween a family tradition passed through generations, and they spend a lot on decorating and celebrating yearly. Closely following this category are those who equally consider Halloween a culture, but do not spend heavily on decorating. The third category however are individuals who are indifferent, and do not spend on decorating or partake in any Halloween activities.
The real “Buzz” about Halloween is that it highlights the importance of cultural diversity. Despite the differing perspectives on Halloween and the fact that this is not a culture existing in some parts of the world, you can feel the openness and sharing during the season, even to strangers. This goes on to depict important aspects of humanity – sharing and giving in any way possible. For many of these children, the joyful smiles, excitement and activities during this season become cherished memories they carry with them as they grow. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane.”