The Real Horror of Halloween

The Real  Horror of Halloween

I used to rant about Christmas being commercialised and being overhyped.  With money to be made the pressure is still applied with the summer solstice not yet faded from view.  Hamper Clubs, Savings Clubs and even the infamous ‘Pudding Clubs’ gather pace. Toy makers, money takers jostle for the lead and the pressured race to be ready for ‘the big day’ truly begins to tell.

I really don’t know what the true meaning of Christmas is meant to be any more. I have my faith, but that is celebrated or neglected daily and has no place on that so called ‘special day’

Funny really as I meant to start this piece talking about Halloween. A much distorted festival of crap and hype that almost rivals the trash that is dished out about Christmas.  Yes, it has a darker side, but no one seems to see that anymore or give a damn.  People talk of it being ‘just a bit of fun’…try telling that to someone who refuses to give a treat and finds their waste bin emptied over the drive and before I am pilloried too much I don’t begrudge the little ones who come to my door and smile gratefully at a fun bar of chocolate.

My real axe (and yes, I’m going to grind it) is the greed that permeates Halloween.  Not just the plastic costumes costing a fortune to be thrown away after the day or the commercial opportunists (after all, we encourage them don’t we?) but the greed.

Until recently I taught in secondary education and a staffroom conversation with a fellow teacher summed it all up for me and confirmed that for some at least Halloween has followed Christmas into the same dustbin of greed…

“I got a knock at the door last week and it was X from  Year 8.”

“Trick or treat Mrs X!” and an expectant hand reached out for reward.

“It’s the 24^th and Halloween isn’t until next week!” she remarked.

“Yes, but it’s Half Term next week and I’m going away on holiday!”

The following week she received another knock at the door and this time the date was at least appropriate. The child in question had been less fortunate than his classmate and was at home for Half Term.

“Trick or treat Mrs Walton”

The reaction when she produced a small basket of chocolate treats summed it up for her and indeed for me.  The child’s face screwed up in disgust and said “I want money, not rubbish!”

Yes, I bribe the locals in case the ‘trick’ is enforced, but Halloween a celebration or festival….Oh please!