The Celts believed the shortening days following the harvest season heralded the shortening of the ethereal chasm that separated the World of the Living from the 'Other World'. With the diminished separation between the two worlds, it was prudent for those among the living to prepare their homes for the eventuality of night visitors who could cross into our world and possibly snatch you and your children out of this sphere of light and warmth and drag your soul kicking and screaming into the the World Beyond.
The adaptive early Christian church tried not to discourage this belief of the proximity of the World of the Quick and the World of the Dead; but rather declared October 31st to be "All Hallows Eve" - or, Halloween; a day to recognized all the saints that have gone before and have now passed from this world of flesh. In my mind the theology fits, if not outright subverts the old Celtic belief. But some how, I enjoy the twinge of paganism and believe it good to be mindful of the other world.
Rain had moved through the area the day before, but the weather cleared for trick-or-treating and brought with it a gusty cool front that was strong enough to blow over (twice) my coffin lid that I had propped against the porch pillar with a frighteningly shuddering thud. The rustling of the tree branches overhead would add to the affect of the Other World approaching this All Hallows Eve.
The large spider web with red-eyed spider hung over the porch light and the entry hall was draped with white sheets and a small table with a candelabra, a skull candles stand, a bloody hatchet and a pan containing a victim's brain sat on a low table in the center. The mood was set with a CD playing horror sound effects out the window.
Tammy from next door pulled up to the curb in her minivan in the afternoon as I was suspending the 'floating head of death' above the door, and gave me the thumbs-up. I stepped to the curb to chat and saw that her oldest, Ryan (middles school age) was with her. They were returning from Target, where Ryan picked up his skeleton costume. Ryan wondered aloud to me from the passenger's seat, "What have I been doing all my life? Just picking up candy when I could have stayed home and terrified people!" They moved in next door last year, and it was then that Ryan witnessed the power and pleasure of pure pagan pageantry provided my myself. He was enthralled and vowed that "next year I want ot help you scare people!" This year, he was eager to tap on my door and alert me that there was another larger group coming, and then come out of the shadows of my lawn and spook the trick-or-treaters.
I had told him earlier that my M.O. was not to jump and scare people, but to stand silent and still and let them un-nerve themselves. But I did not correct my young apostle's amateur antics this time, but rather let him enjoy what ever reactions he could elicit from the crowd of kids gathered on my porch.
My guess is I had about 30 kids make it to my door, though as usual some trick-or-treaters took a look and opted to move on down the block. My philosophy is that if you are too scared to get close enough for a piece of candy, that little bon-bon becomes mine - I earned that one. Most of the kids were of course polite and watched nervously as I pointed to the noose over the door and told them "You know what they say - 'No noose is good noose'" and then asked them if "they'd like to hang around tonight?" I then would ask them if they believed in ghosts? (usually no response) and then I requested that they 'keep and open mind'; but I then would ask a follow up question; "Do you know what could happen if you keep and open mind?" (usually no response). "Well you brains could fall out!" I would them show them my jello mold of a brain on a platter. They would touch it, recoil and then get impatient and wonder if this ghoul would ever deliver any candy. As I lifted the brain platter for their inspection, a bowl of candy was revealed underneath it - to the relief of the small throng. They would then select a piece and say "Thank you" and then run off to the next lit door.
Part of my neighborhood legacy is Jayden from across the alley. Two years ago he came to my door dressed as an army man. Last year he and his mother came by to ring by door bell and Jayden's mom told me that "after last year, Jayden insisted his next costume had to 'really scary' like Mr. Suneson's". This year he had a nearly identical mask to the one I wore this year and last. He talked brave this Halloween and insisted to his cohort of trick-or-treaters gathered on my porch that "this is not a very scary house".
As the evening deepens, the older candy grabbers come on by. I had one middle school kid with no costume look into my candy bowl and tell me, "Is dat all you got? I ain't be taking any of that kind!" and left. However, his friend asked for two pieces of candy, I growled, "With no costume, you get but 1 piece." He insisted he was dressed as a "swag master" - which I translated as a "too old to trick-or-treat-candy-grabber."
While making late afternoon trips in and out of my garage to get my decorations set up, my olfactory lobe told me that our 'crack house neighbors' had already dipped into their stashed treat bag and rolled a couple of joints to sample before the sun set [we reefer to it as the 'crack house' - but as far as I know it is just frequent consumption of the wildwood weed]. It was then no surprised to see a 23-year old 'crack house resident' slope on over to my stoop with a pillow case and hold it out to seek some remedy for what must have been a solid case of the munchies. Those ancient Celtics may not have anticipated super hero costumes going door to door and collecting free candies as way of marking a night of close contact with the Other World. But I do now believe it was this Halloween that I have seen someone on my doorstep that came out of the haze from the 'Other World' who reminds be to "be cool". Totally like wow dude, you know what I mean, like trick-or-peace man.
The adaptive early Christian church tried not to discourage this belief of the proximity of the World of the Quick and the World of the Dead; but rather declared October 31st to be "All Hallows Eve" - or, Halloween; a day to recognized all the saints that have gone before and have now passed from this world of flesh. In my mind the theology fits, if not outright subverts the old Celtic belief. But some how, I enjoy the twinge of paganism and believe it good to be mindful of the other world.
Rain had moved through the area the day before, but the weather cleared for trick-or-treating and brought with it a gusty cool front that was strong enough to blow over (twice) my coffin lid that I had propped against the porch pillar with a frighteningly shuddering thud. The rustling of the tree branches overhead would add to the affect of the Other World approaching this All Hallows Eve.
 |
| A Messenger from the Other World Beckons the young and frivolous costumed kids into my foyer to consider their fate - or if they make it, get some candy
I left work after lunch to finish preparing my home for any visitors
this evening. The Jack-o-lanterns were placed at the door to ward off any troublesome visitors.  |
The large spider web with red-eyed spider hung over the porch light and the entry hall was draped with white sheets and a small table with a candelabra, a skull candles stand, a bloody hatchet and a pan containing a victim's brain sat on a low table in the center. The mood was set with a CD playing horror sound effects out the window.
Tammy from next door pulled up to the curb in her minivan in the afternoon as I was suspending the 'floating head of death' above the door, and gave me the thumbs-up. I stepped to the curb to chat and saw that her oldest, Ryan (middles school age) was with her. They were returning from Target, where Ryan picked up his skeleton costume. Ryan wondered aloud to me from the passenger's seat, "What have I been doing all my life? Just picking up candy when I could have stayed home and terrified people!" They moved in next door last year, and it was then that Ryan witnessed the power and pleasure of pure pagan pageantry provided my myself. He was enthralled and vowed that "next year I want ot help you scare people!" This year, he was eager to tap on my door and alert me that there was another larger group coming, and then come out of the shadows of my lawn and spook the trick-or-treaters.
I had told him earlier that my M.O. was not to jump and scare people, but to stand silent and still and let them un-nerve themselves. But I did not correct my young apostle's amateur antics this time, but rather let him enjoy what ever reactions he could elicit from the crowd of kids gathered on my porch.
My guess is I had about 30 kids make it to my door, though as usual some trick-or-treaters took a look and opted to move on down the block. My philosophy is that if you are too scared to get close enough for a piece of candy, that little bon-bon becomes mine - I earned that one. Most of the kids were of course polite and watched nervously as I pointed to the noose over the door and told them "You know what they say - 'No noose is good noose'" and then asked them if "they'd like to hang around tonight?" I then would ask them if they believed in ghosts? (usually no response) and then I requested that they 'keep and open mind'; but I then would ask a follow up question; "Do you know what could happen if you keep and open mind?" (usually no response). "Well you brains could fall out!" I would them show them my jello mold of a brain on a platter. They would touch it, recoil and then get impatient and wonder if this ghoul would ever deliver any candy. As I lifted the brain platter for their inspection, a bowl of candy was revealed underneath it - to the relief of the small throng. They would then select a piece and say "Thank you" and then run off to the next lit door.
Part of my neighborhood legacy is Jayden from across the alley. Two years ago he came to my door dressed as an army man. Last year he and his mother came by to ring by door bell and Jayden's mom told me that "after last year, Jayden insisted his next costume had to 'really scary' like Mr. Suneson's". This year he had a nearly identical mask to the one I wore this year and last. He talked brave this Halloween and insisted to his cohort of trick-or-treaters gathered on my porch that "this is not a very scary house".
As the evening deepens, the older candy grabbers come on by. I had one middle school kid with no costume look into my candy bowl and tell me, "Is dat all you got? I ain't be taking any of that kind!" and left. However, his friend asked for two pieces of candy, I growled, "With no costume, you get but 1 piece." He insisted he was dressed as a "swag master" - which I translated as a "too old to trick-or-treat-candy-grabber."
While making late afternoon trips in and out of my garage to get my decorations set up, my olfactory lobe told me that our 'crack house neighbors' had already dipped into their stashed treat bag and rolled a couple of joints to sample before the sun set [we reefer to it as the 'crack house' - but as far as I know it is just frequent consumption of the wildwood weed]. It was then no surprised to see a 23-year old 'crack house resident' slope on over to my stoop with a pillow case and hold it out to seek some remedy for what must have been a solid case of the munchies. Those ancient Celtics may not have anticipated super hero costumes going door to door and collecting free candies as way of marking a night of close contact with the Other World. But I do now believe it was this Halloween that I have seen someone on my doorstep that came out of the haze from the 'Other World' who reminds be to "be cool". Totally like wow dude, you know what I mean, like trick-or-peace man.
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