Halloween: A Mosaic of Myths and Magic
Greetings, fellow voyagers of the vast and the vague! I, M.-L. Stranger, am taking you on a moonlit journey today. As the nights grow longer and shadows play tricks on the eyes of the uninformed, I am about to unwrap the layers of Halloween traditions, and together, we’ll discover how the USA has become the ultimate curator of this spectral celebration that originated from Samhain, an old Celtic celebration.
Costumes: Camouflage from the Cosmos
Samhain was and still is the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter. It was believed that during Samhain, the veil between the living and the spirit world was at its thinnest, allowing spirits and fairies (yes, you read that right. Celts believed in fairies known as “Aos Sí" or “Sidhe”) to mingle with mortals. And because the spirit world also has its fair share of a+holes, celts wore costumes made of animal skins to ward off malevolent spirits. The belief was that if you dressed as a spirit, you'd be left alone. As this tradition melded with American culture, costumes became more diverse, reflecting not just fears but also fantasies, folklore, and the far reaches of the galaxy. Please adjust the strap on your nurse costume, it’s irritating the neighbors.
Jack-o’-Lanterns: More than Just a Pretty (Scary) Face
The iconic carved pumpkin, aglow with a mischievous grin, traces its roots back to an Irish legend of Stingy Jack. Jack, a notorious trickster, managed to fool the Devil multiple times. Upon his death, neither Heaven nor Hell would take him. The Devil, in a mix of spite and jest, gave Jack a burning coal to light his eternal wandering in the dark. Jack placed this ember in a carved-out turnip, creating the very first lantern. Irish immigrants brought this tale to America, and finding pumpkins aplenty, the jack-o'-lantern was born.
Trick-or-Treating: A Sweet Evolution
This sugary sojourn began in medieval Europe as "souling" or "guising." Children and sometimes adults would dress in costumes and go door-to-door, offering songs or prayers for the departed in exchange for food or coins. As this tradition sailed to American shores, it transformed into the playful "trick-or-treat" exchange we adore today. Speaking of playful, Frank, I see you. Put the candy back into your child’s sugary stack.
Symbols & The Mystical Connection
It might come as a surprise to you, but I don’t celebrate Halloween. For me, Halloween, with its rich tapestry of traditions and origins, resonates with the symbolic nature of collage art throughout the entire year. Each element, be it the glowing jack-o'-lantern, the varied costumes, souls and ghouls, and the treat-filled bags, tells a story, much like the symbols in a piece of art. They invite us to look beyond the surface to uncover layers of meaning, history, and connection.
As the mysteries of Halloween surround you, I hope you’ll let your curiosity wander into the realm of art. My collages beckon you to journey through layers of symbols and stories. While I've crafted them, their true interpretations? Those are your adventures to embark upon.
