Halloween 2015

Halloween in Australia

  So again we are being assaulted by Halloween merchandise. Its in our department, clothing, and grocery stores. I walked into Big W and saw staff actually dressed in the "traditional" witches costume.

For my take on Samhain in Australia please see my post Samhain 2005.

  This time i would like to reflect on what to do about Halloween in Australia. It looks like its not going anywhere, the shops are pushing it more and more and Australians hardly have a history of respecting others religious beliefs.

We are stuck with this "False Halloween" and its getting more popular.

 

 It is actually Beltaine in Australia now.

  I had toyed with the idea of celebrating The Day of the Dead (La Día de los Muertos) instead and gently correcting people about Halloweens seasonal nature. But i honestly don't know enough about The Day Of The Dead to really know if it is a set date or should itself be celebrated at a particular time of year. Everything i have read simply says its dates, but i haven't seen this issue addressed so i am unsure. The last thing i would want to do is be as bigoted as those i am trying to educate. So i have dismissed this idea. But if you know for sure about La Dia De Los Muertos please let me know.

 

 Another option would be to educate (and disappoint) the trick or treats at the door, to again campaign the shops in an attempt to quell their bigotry. But the more popular it becomes the less the shops will listen, i think they had an opportunity to sell this stuff at the right time of year, to help educate their customers and they missed it. I don't really want to get into arguments at my front door, with ignorant neighbors who are adamant that they have the correct night, while their children watch on.

 

  The option i am trying is to attempt to separate Halloween from Samhain in my mind and soul. Samhain being the sacred Autumn holy day but then what of Halloween? Halloween in Australia becomes a holiday (celebrating) acknowledging commercialism, media manipulation, cultural appropriation and consumerism. 

  It is a time to dress up, eat lollies and to celebrate a mockery of an ancient holy festival, at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons. 

  My only problem with this is that it kind of takes away from the real spring seasonal festivals. But its okay, maybe just for one day, kind of like Invasion day or birthdays...right?