Frightfully funny?

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 22 Oct 2024
  • 122 reads
7 comments
 

Why do the shops and schools, and Homes fill
with giggles at ghouls and gore and
ugly imaginary frights
for shuddering at shadows,
but say it’s all frightfully funny?

Kids need the bright side.
the right side,
true Light side,
– not just laughing at fear
in this dark greedy world,
and not pretend cosy
or easy cheesy:
the truth and hope, and real support,
assessment and nous
in this dark greedy world.

[IP: on the bright side]   

Certificate U
Poem
Christian, Biblical
Philosophy
Love
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Nolan on

It's worse than that I believe the original was the witches sabath. Hope I'm wrong. Luckily it never caught on here & Nolan

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I think the roots are in various festivals. I'm not sure about any connection with the idea of witches' sabbath. It's grown here recently, with the feeling that children like to be scared, and know it is just 'fun'. But as children aren't being taught about Who can help them with the real worries and fears of life, Halloween can stir up fears, uncertain what is real and what imagined, and stir up the emptiness of not knowing of a kind and able Shepherd. There is also now an encouragement of letting children go door-knocking to demand 'trick or treat', though parents are supposed to keep an eye on where they go. A lot of churches are having 'light parties' to celebrate light and good things and the gospel, on or near to Halloween night. I did a piece about these one year – https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/light-parties-oct-31

https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/fun was more like this one.

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Sounds bad enough.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I agree with you, Rhiannon. Though there has been celebration in UK for a long time at the start of Autumn, called Samhain. I think Jenny is an expert. From what I can understand it DID start as a celebration of light? With a big bonfire as a symbol of defiance against lengthening nights. Harvest would be celebrated and there would be family and wider gatherings. Just the sort of conditions for telling stories! The commercialisation seems to have come with Scottish imagination migrating into American money-making talent, in 19th century. Where I live it is a fun time for little children particularly, with cute costumes, fancy dress parties and LOTS of sweets. Older children it is not such a big deal. But I don't know what it is like in other places. When my brother lived in London some years ago, he said teenagers would vandalise houses and gardens if not given £10. Your idea of parties for Light sound much better!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks for your comment,

I think there were at one time pagan sacrifices and appeals to whatever 'gods' might be listening as the winter darkness was drawing in. There are also links to some events of wanting to remember those who had died in the previous year in a good way. Somehow now it seems to have moved away from harvest thanksgiving and thought of death, to fun that is mixed up with making scary and ugly things. My concern is that many children do not know of the God who is a good Shepherd to hear their prayers and protect them whatever occurs in life and we are not at the whims of ghosts and ghouls! Older people have been frightened by trick or treaters,. And it does smack of blackmail!!

Bonfire night can be much more relaxed with clever displays and treacle toffee! Well, my Mum made nice treacle toffee and our little firework display when I was young was much appreciated! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

yes. When I was Googling (so as not to be completely ignorant while commenting) all the traditions - apple bobbing, bonfires, treacle scones on strings, sound like meant to be fun rather than scary, the same as the lord of Misrule at Christmas? Even the original "trick or treat" when children would tell a joke, sing, or recite a poem, in order to be given fruit or nuts, when luxuries would be rare. Now, as that website said, a store bought costume is seen as all that's needed. My son was amazed when he got more sweets than his friend because of having a home-made costume, because people thought it showed he had put in a bit of thought. Planning and making it over the weeks before, added a lot to the excitement, too :0) Though he was very sad one year when a papier mache mask disintegrated in the rain.

Thinking about it, how it has become so important for little children, I wonder now if it is more about overcoming fears of starting school for the first time, do you think? Darkness is not such a big deal, with electric light everwhere, and screens on tv and computer all the time. But school with new routines, new people, new rules, uniforms, journey there and back, longer away from home? Maybe it is a way of expelling fear of this? And for slightly older ones, breaking up the long bleak time between end of Summer holidays and Christmas

Though cannot see how the gruesomeness competition helps older children, just frightens little ones. What you say about your Dad's firework display and Mum's home made treacle toffee, that sounds much more fun than traipsing round ringing strangers' doorbells in the dark and drizzle for bargain sweets all the same. Those of us who have such memories are lucky

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

These things have varied over the many years! and now much depends on the parents and teachers. I suppose schools and kids like an event, and an event depicting 'frightening' things is something a bit different and can invovle making costumes and ugly pumpkins etc, so different things to do as the nights draw in and the days are dark!

But I don't like the attention to the ugly and the evil-purposed, especially these days when there is little teaching of the Light of the World, the Maker who calls and came and will come and hears and overcomes the real spiritual evil world. If that is in place then they can laugh at the images, and at the stories of pretend horror that are around!

It was good to hear of your home-made work on costumes! Pity plastic can't disintegrte in the rain!

Rhiannon

PS Just seen a photo of my seven-year old granddaughter going into school for a 'Medeaval Day'! Her mother said she usually makes the costumes best she can but she'd seen this lovely silky dress for a 9/10 year old in a charity shop for £1, so she fell for it and with a safety pin, and braiding ribbons in her plat, she was beaming!