Posted October 30, 2018
When I was a kid, Halloween was this foreign extravaganza that we read about in English class as an excuse to learn new vocabulary. Nowadays (since around 10 years ago), a huge part of society talk like it like we have always celebrated. Children wear costumes (even in school), there are Halloween parties for teenagers or adults, business are decorated with pumpkins and cobwebs. I am starting to feel the odd man out for not bothering with any of this.
The thing is, we do have our own traditions. November 1st and 2nd are traditional Catholic holidays (All Saints and All Souls), so there’s usually a long weekend in the beginning of November. What most people do (used to do?) is visiting the cemeteries to remember their beloved ones. Granted, that’s not exactly party material, but I feel it is being diluted into celebrations more directed at spending and consuming (a bit like Christmas). And not everything is sad –there are some traditional All Saints sweets that are very good, and have nothing to do with your typical Halloween candy.
There are other American traditions that are spreading like wildfire. We have Black Friday sales since 3 years ago (not that I complain about things becoming cheaper), and this year I heard about Super Bowl watching parties (for people who don’t follow NFL or even understand the sport –they just watch the game because it’s a thing). Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy American culture a lot, but I don’t see the reason to adopt just about anything that comes from across the pond (other than inciting to consumerism). I wouldn’t be surprised if we started celebrating Thanksgiving in a couple of years (turkey farmers would be happy, though).
If we are going to adopt other countries’ festivities, I would have chosen the Mexican Día de los Muertos. That is one I would like to experience first-hand some day.
What’s the situation in other countries? Is Halloween becoming a thing too? Do you feel holidays are becoming too consuming-centric? Or is it just plain, worry-free fun?
The thing is, we do have our own traditions. November 1st and 2nd are traditional Catholic holidays (All Saints and All Souls), so there’s usually a long weekend in the beginning of November. What most people do (used to do?) is visiting the cemeteries to remember their beloved ones. Granted, that’s not exactly party material, but I feel it is being diluted into celebrations more directed at spending and consuming (a bit like Christmas). And not everything is sad –there are some traditional All Saints sweets that are very good, and have nothing to do with your typical Halloween candy.
There are other American traditions that are spreading like wildfire. We have Black Friday sales since 3 years ago (not that I complain about things becoming cheaper), and this year I heard about Super Bowl watching parties (for people who don’t follow NFL or even understand the sport –they just watch the game because it’s a thing). Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy American culture a lot, but I don’t see the reason to adopt just about anything that comes from across the pond (other than inciting to consumerism). I wouldn’t be surprised if we started celebrating Thanksgiving in a couple of years (turkey farmers would be happy, though).
If we are going to adopt other countries’ festivities, I would have chosen the Mexican Día de los Muertos. That is one I would like to experience first-hand some day.
What’s the situation in other countries? Is Halloween becoming a thing too? Do you feel holidays are becoming too consuming-centric? Or is it just plain, worry-free fun?
