Episode Transcript
[00:00:05] You're listening to The Love Vox with psychotherapist Amynah Dharani.
[00:00:18] Happy Friday, everyone.
[00:00:21] Fall is my favorite season, and the part of it that is truly special for me is Halloween.
[00:00:27] As a child, I love the decorations and the costumes, and I still love it today.
[00:00:34] The small New England town that I live in has an annual Halloween parade through the town center, and it's so much fun to see the children and parents and even the pets get dressed up. But how did this all start? And why do we wear costumes and carved pumpkins? Well, let's dive in.
[00:00:54] Halloween as we know it today echoes the ancient rituals of the Celts.
[00:00:59] The Celtic people were of Indo-European descent. These were tribes that originated from Western Europe and were eventually pushed out of many areas and ended up populating the British Isles.
[00:01:12] The Celts celebrated the transition from summer to winter, and this was known as Samhain, which literally means summer's end.
[00:01:21] If you can picture these ancient tribes gathering around bonfires, offering sacrifices to appease the spirits wandering the earth. For the Celts, this festival marked their new year. This was a time when the harvest was complete and the chilly winds of winter began to blow. It was a shift of seasons, yes, but also a deep connection to life and death.
[00:01:44] On this night, the line between the living and the dead was thought to be blurred.
[00:01:49] Samhain honored the finality of the harvest. It was a time for farmers to gather their remaining crops and prepare for the months ahead.
[00:01:59] This transition to winter was more than just seasonal. It symbolized the cycle of life.
[00:02:05] When night fell. During Samhain, rituals honoring the dead took center stage.
[00:02:11] Families put out offerings for their deceased relatives, and this tradition dates back over 2000 years, emphasizing respect for the dead.
[00:02:21] These offerings created a bridge between the living and the dead. It was believed that the spirits of the deceased might return to visit.
[00:02:30] It was a night of remembrance and reflection. The church's efforts to christianize created the new holiday called All Hallows Eve, marking the transition from Samhain to Halloween. Practices like “souling,” where children went door to door asking for cakes in exchange for prayers for the dead, eventually morphed into the familiar trick or treat tradition.
[00:02:54] Fast forward to today and you can see many aspects of Samhain and modern Halloween celebrations. The costumes we wear, the pumpkins we carve, and the parties we hold are all woven into the fabric of this ancient festival.
[00:03:09] One key figure in shaping Halloween into the holiday we know today in the US is Elizabeth Krebs of Hiawatha, Kansas.
[00:03:18] In the early 20th century, Elizabeth Krebs recognized that Halloween had become a chaotic event, often filled with vandalism and mischief, leading to the destruction of her beloved flower garden.
[00:03:32] Instead of sitting back and letting the chaos continue, she took action. And on October 31, 1914, Elizabeth Krebs organized the first Hiawatha frolic, which is the precursor of the Halloween parade.
[00:03:48] These events focused on fun and creativity. They showcased costumes, music, and community spirit. And it wasn't just about scares anymore.
[00:03:57] In 1927, the term trick or treating appeared in print. And in the 1950s, Halloween was officially recognized as a family and community event in the US.
[00:04:09] Looking back, Halloween has come a long way.
[00:04:12] But Halloween isn't just a day for costumes and candy. It's also a powerful reflection of personal and societal change.
[00:04:22] Every year, people transform their identities through masks and costumes.
[00:04:27] But what does this really mean?
[00:04:30] This holiday taps into deep, universal themes, themes of transformation, fear, and mortality.
[00:04:39] Think about it. Halloween marks the shift from summer to winter. This transition reflects both personal growth and societal evolution.
[00:04:49] When you dress up as something else, you step outside your usual self.
[00:04:54] Is there a fear or a hope hidden behind your costume?
[00:04:59] Each outfit is not just for show. It's a narrative about who you are or aspire to be.
[00:05:06] Over the centuries, our perceptions of fear have shifted in fascinating ways. What once invoked genuine terror now invites curiosity and playfulness.
[00:05:18] Think about horror films or scary costumes.
[00:05:22] While they may seem spooky, they encourage a healthy confrontation of your own fears.
[00:05:28] In modern times, many of us interpret fear through entertainment.
[00:05:32] It's vital to reflect. Does confronting what scare us help us to grow?
[00:05:39] Lastly, Halloween continues to carry a legacy regarding our mortality, and this has become a playful approach to examining a fundamental part of the human experience, and that is death.
[00:05:52] Instead of shying away from it, we embrace it in a celebratory manner.
[00:05:57] These practices act as a reminder that while we all face mortality, we can do so with humor and creativity.
[00:06:06] Halloween serves as a rich tapestry of experiences interwoven by transformation and connection.
[00:06:15] As you celebrate Halloween this year, consider its history and the profound impact this holiday has on your life and community.
[00:06:23] The fun and festivities are but layers covering larger conversations about fear and mortality, a reminder that we are all connected in this human experience.
[00:06:36] If you'd like to learn about my private practice, you can go to thelifeinterrupted.com. in the meantime, please connect with The Love Vox on Facebook, Instagram and X. And if you'd like to contribute to the show, please visit the show's website, thelovevox.com, where you can leave voicemails that can be featured on the show and you can also contribute to stories we're looking to feature. Until next time, stay passionate. Stay curious
