Oh, autumn!  It is the BEST season, and one of the longest because it comes in slowly, and takes its sweet time to segue into winter.  At this point, when colors everywhere are burnished russet and gold, deep red and speckled green, our thoughts to turn to holidays of all sorts, which brings us here to Halloween. 

An Obscure Holiday

This is the least transparent of holidays for an expatriate, and it puts me on the spot every year as I’m called upon to:

1. Defend the commercialism of the holiday
2. Explain exactly what it is

Focus on the What

I ignore the first part and focus on the second, which at first wasn’t easy since from birth I regarded Halloween simply as an opportunity to wander around in the dark dressed outlandishly, knocking on people’s doors to yell at them, then holding out a paper bag for the “thunk” of whatever candy was dropped into it.  After that came the real commercialsm,  when we were all inducted into the profession of trading:  “I’ll give you two mallow bars for one peanut butter cup…”

Significance of Halloween

But one can’t really translate that to anyone who hasn’t had an American upbringing, so I turned to the significance of Halloween.  I’ll share my story with you but sit down.  It’s not JUST about witches and goblins.

Thank you, Celts

Halloween goes back to the Celts – ancestors to so many of us – who celebrated all changes of seasons.  The Celtic feast day which fell around on the cusp of October to November (harvest time) was called Samhaine.  It was considered a time of the Netherworld, as days shortened, temperatures fell, and the spirits of the dead roamed freely.   

Fire, Costumes, Spirits

These spirits swirled around huge bonfires built by the Druids.  The people, dressed in animal skins and heads, burnt crops and animal sacrifices to the deities, and told fortunes, which were savored throughout the short, cold days of winter.  Once the bonfires burnt down, each family took an ember home to kindle their own fire, which would protect and keep them warm.

Then, the Romans

By the 9^th century, the Romans had arrived to overtake the Celts, and during their 400 year rule they coopted Samhaine with their own celebration of the dead, called Feralia, which coincided with the feast of Pamona, the goddess of fruit and trees whose symbol is the apple.  The Romans had fire and costumes, though theirs replicated Saints, angels, and devils. Later, the Christian world added the All Saints holiday to the fete, to legitimize it.  Today, Toussaint is still celebrated in France on November 1, a national and church holiday focused on those gone by.

The Tradition Comes to America

The Halloween tradition came to North America with its ghost stories and witchcraft, much to the consternation of the original Pilgrims.  Gradually the holiday became one for children and families, though certain frightful aspects have always been present.  To temper it all, candy became the focal point.  And thus, my explanation of Halloween, vague and incomplete as it is, though at least it provides a certain legitimacy to something which seems wholly based on decorations, costumes, and nothing.

My Version of Halloween

I had my own version of Halloween when my children were small, which involved costumed children and skeptical parents, a vaulted and very scary wine cellar, and an adult stationed behind each bedroom door of the house, where kids would knock and say “treek o tweet”, French for Trick or Treat.  They had NO real idea why they were doing this, but since each doorway elicited candy, they loved it all.

The Cake

Along with our celebration I always made this Halloween cake.  Spiced, dark with molasses, sticky with caramel, tart with apples, it is a huge success in all cultures.  So whatever your traditions you follow, add this to the mix for you ‘Alloween (French pronunciation) celebration, and have a wonderfully delicious time!

Bon Appétit!