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Writer's pictureLalita Dileep

Beyond Halloween: Getting past the candy and costumes

Celebrating ancestors across Cultures

Embracing Cultural Traditions


The skeletons, spider webs, witches and treats that make up Halloween are icing on the cake. The entertaining traditions enjoyed by all ages. Adding to the seasonal joy are the scary movie releases, the shop displays, the pumpkin treats, hay and mums spectacles at every corner. Oct 31st is celebrated by masquerading and partying, while kids live out their fantasies in costumes of their choices. The fanfare is endless, spooky, creepy and crawly.

Halloween’s origins can be traced back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced SAH-win). The Celtics who lived in areas now known as Ireland and northern France celebrated their new year on November 1st, marking the end of summer and the harvest season and the advent of winter. They believed that the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead were blurred during this time. During Samhain, Celtics lit bonfires, wore costumes to ward off ghosts and left food offerings to appease spirits. Halloween traditions in America evolved as a blend of Celtic and Native American practices, with trick and treating becoming popular in 1920s and 1930s.


As we unravel the outer trappings of Halloween, rituals to honor our ancestors and acknowledge our lineage, lies at its core. Recognizing we carry their precious DNA.  Though we may not think of them every day, this festival is us honoring that we are here because our ancestors survived and evolved through the ages. To afford us our very own place under the Sun. No wonder so many cultures have holidays dedicated to remembering and honoring ancestors. Spanning continents and beliefs unique in their customs, sharing common themes of respect, gratitude, and continuity. An homage and an opportunity to highlight our lineage.


Preserving Heritage


By actively celebrating these festivals, we fortify our cultural heritage for future generations. Guiding our children, educating them in traditional modes and building heritage. This conservation ensures that the wisdom and traditions of our ancestors continue to enrich our lives. Incorporating global festivals that honor ancestors and cultural traditions into our lives is a powerful way to connect with our roots while building bridges across cultures. It reminds us that despite our differences, we share fundamental human experiences of love, loss, and remembrance. By embracing these celebrations, we not only honor our past but also create a more understanding and interconnected future. Evolution is the thread that binds future and past generations, a lesson to be passed on to our children and grandchildren.

While the specific practices vary, there are some common themes that emerge across different cultures. In Mexico's Día de los Muertos celebration, families create ofrendas (altars) with photos, favorite foods, and possessions of the deceased. During Japan's Obon festival, families leave food offerings called ozen for the spirits of ancestors. For the Hindu festival of Pitru Paksha in India, people make food offerings to ancestors as part of religious ceremonies. Cambodia's Pchum Ben involves offering food to monks to deliver to ancestral spirits. Ancient Samhain rituals in Ireland included lighting sacred bonfires to guide spirits.

Some traditions incorporate costumes or performances, much like the Halloween traditions of today. For Día de los Muertos, people dress up as La Catrina, an iconic skeletal figure. Nigeria's Awuru Odo Festival features masked performers representing ancestral spirits. Ancient Samhain celebrations involved people dressing up as guisers to ward off evil spirits.


Building Empathy


Despite differences in specific practices, these celebrations all revolve around universal themes of family, remembrance, and the cycle of life. Recognizing these commonalities helps us appreciate our shared humanity. A common thread links us all, reminding us that vast migrations have reached the farthest corners of the planet. With celebratory days marking the change of season, we give thanks to Nature, honor our ancestors and carry on traditions for future generations. Recognizing and embracing global festivals, we create shared experiences that transcend cultural boundaries. Halloween is definitely candy and costumes, and while embracing the fun – what is equally relevant is understanding the underlying tradition of remembering and honoring our ancestors.


This narrative intricately weaves together the universal themes of family, remembrance, and the cyclical nature of life. It delves into the profound connections that bind us to our loved ones, the significance of memories that shape our identities, and the enduring cycle of life that reminds us of both our fragility and resilience. My fellow readers, do you agree that this exploration invites readers to reflect on their own experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the bonds we share and the legacies we leave behind?  And that exploring global festivals encourages us to see the world through different lenses and appreciate the richness of human diversity? Do weigh in, comment and share your thoughts so we can enhance these conversations.

We are stronger together


 

 

 

 

 

4 Comments


r_chandhoke1
Oct 09

Really liked the blog, especially drawing out the commonality of purpose across cultures of different parts of the world.

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Lalita Dileep
Lalita Dileep
Oct 16
Replying to

Thank you Ruhi for noticing and commenting - if we study cultures closely we do see more similarities than differences.

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Soumini Srinivas
Soumini Srinivas
Oct 09

We are stronger together__ yes, as in diversity.

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Lalita Dileep
Lalita Dileep
Oct 16
Replying to

So true - there is strength in Diversity

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