It’s October 31 today, and that means it’s Halloween!

Sadly (for those who would relish a bit of revelry), we don’t live in America, where it’s a big thing and everyone gets into the spirit of wearing costumes and trick-or-treating. Here in little old Ladysmith, there are few if any Halloween parties.

What is Halloween?

So what is Halloween, actually? Also referred to as All Hallow’s Eve, one school of thought is that this is the time of year when the spirit world is closest to our own! Hence, all manner of ghosts, ghouls and demons can walk among us! Spooky, if you believe it! It is said that the wearing of costumes was to fool the dead into believing you’re one of them, hence they pass you by and go on their way into the night…

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Pop culture?

In popular culture, Halloween has become a celebration of horror, and is associated with the macabre and the supernatural. A time to get out those scary movies, cook up some popcorn and settle in for a fright fest with friends and family. A classic would have to be the original ‘Halloween’ (1978), directed by John Carpenter and the birth of on-screen boogeyman Michael Myers.

There have been scores of sequels since, including a couple of remakes by heavy metal musician and film maker Rob Zombie. There’s a good place to start! Way too many movies to mention here, so I’ll let you choose what tickles your fiendish fancy.

And who could forget about the tradition of carving out a pumpkin to make a jack-o’-lantern? A jack-o’-lantern is a carved lantern, most commonly made from a pumpkin. Jack-o’-lanterns are associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes from the phenomenon of strange lights flickering over peat bogs, called jack-o’-lanterns.

Music?

And as far as the soundtrack goes? Well, it must be shock rock, of course! Alice Cooper or Marilyn Manson (or the above-mentioned Rob Zombie) would not be amiss to create the mood and set the scene. Crank it up!!!

So whatever you believe and however you want to celebrate (or not), have a frightfully fantastic Halloween. Don’t be afraid to let out your weird and wacky side. It’s that time of year, so Happy Halloween, folks!

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