All hallows.

All hallows! An investigation:-

It's been a while since I posted, mostly because I've been busy but otherwise I've not had much to say. But there is one thing that's interesting me. Halloween.

Halloween, lot's of people seem to be excited by it:- "Oh it's my favourite Holiday!" "I love Halloween!" "So what are you doing for Halloween" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas is my favourite film of all time Evar!" It never hit me why, alright it's a good film, but why does everyone get so excited by Halloween? I've never really understood it and I think I know why.

Of all the holidays it's the most social. Now I'm not a social animal, mostly I keep to myself in the pub or those that know me. I hate loud parties (what few I've been to) because I always seem to end up the loner on the corner. Cringing at the oppressive, and crap, music and wondering why I'm surrounded by people I can't relate to. So I've identified why I don't rate Halloween. Why do other people rate it higher than, say, Easter or Chinese New Year?

It's because the others aren't social, well not really. They're always family things. Christmas has become that time where we have to dust off the address book and contact relatives you haven't heard a thing from for 12 months. Or long car journeys to old friends that you no longer have anything in common with and can't quite understand why. New Years is more a case of getting drunk and shouting a lot. The parties are always at someone's house, or with some work buddies that you don't know socially.

As for Easter, well that's on it's last legs. Remembered for chocolate eggs and the fact you get some extra days off work.

Most, if not all of the non christian celebrations are ignored when it comes to time off work or celebration outside of themselves.

So in the end we get halloween, the one last party all the evil sprits get before all Hallows. Their banishing before winter winter sets in. That's the origin of it and some how, while that's been mostly lost this simple little pagan festival has survived it all. Religion, mis-information and even crass commercialism to be the one night of the year we all have a good party.

So if you're going to enjoy yourselves, dress up as a witch and party more power too you. Me, I'll be the loner in the pub.

One last thing before I go:- An interesting point about Easter, it's the polar opposite of Halloween. Originally another pagan festival, celebrating the start of life in the year. Hence the bunny's Eggs and everything else.