Scared to Death of Halloween?

 

                                                                          The cast of Coco

Have you figured out what to do about Halloween yet? It's tomorrow, so we should have decided by now, but we're getting so many mixed messages it's hard to know what to do. Never before has trick or treating seemed so tricky, and possibly lethal!

How did we get to our version of Halloween as a colossal Sugarfest anyway? We can't blame the Druids or the Celts. Their festival of Samhain, was the "thin place" between this life and the next. Spirits roamed the Earth and carved faces warded off the malevolent ones. This became Christianized as the three days known as All Hallow's Eve (Halloween), All Saints, and All Souls. 

In Latin America the tradition has its own twist, although it too has become commercialized and tamed. November 2nd is the Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos)  and it has its own flavour for honouring those who have gone before us. I was in New Mexico years ago for a Celtic Christian seminar, coincidentally, when I had my first jarring, fascinating encournter with the imagery of Dia do Los Muertos.

There are two animated films which do a fine job of addressing the grief and fear and hope which are part of the Day of the Dead. Coco is a wonderful film, both enchanting and suspenseful. A short film called Dia de Lost Muertos (go figure) is  acclaimed and an award-winner as well.

Isn't it ironic that this is an unprecedented time when we are "scared to death" of Halloween, which is an important aspect of its origins? The hope is that we move beyond the dark spirits and fear of death to our  resurrection promise. So, please stay safe. And get a grip, pass the candy, and praise the Lord!

                                              a scene for the short film, Dia de Los Muertos