Gathering for a Ritual Bonfire to Honor the Authentic Spirit of Halloween: Students' Effigy Burning Tradition
At Holy Cross College, a group of students, including Peter Venkman, Mike Myers, and Ichabod Crane, are advocating for a return to the roots of Halloween. Their interpretation of the holiday is centered around effigy-burning and a gigantic bonfire, aiming to put the "Hallow" back into Halloween.
The students believe that Halloween has become over-commercialized and has lost its original meaning. Ichabod Crane, in particular, feels that Halloween used to stand for something more significant than just an excuse to party and dress up in ridiculous costumes. He suggests sacrificing an offering to the dead to avoid being tormented by hellish demons, a practice that was part of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
Despite their views, the Halloween celebrations at Holy Cross are meant to be fun and spooky. The college has organised a series of activities for its students, including a guide to trick-or-treating and the Nightmare Before Midterms. Emma Hatem and Tyler Brackett '27 have compiled a list of these activities, ensuring that students have a variety of options to choose from.
The article does not recommend cancelling Halloween plans but suggests not completely ignoring the group's views. Patrick Ryan '27, a paranormal activist, is attending an unspecified event, while Caitlin Wiffer '27 is dressing up as her grades for Halloween.
It is important to note that the group's claims about the original purpose of Halloween are not backed by a whole lot of evidence. The history of Halloween is complex, and while it did originate from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, it has evolved significantly over time, incorporating Christian elements and becoming the light-hearted celebration we know today.
The group plans to spread their interpretation of Halloween throughout the College, but it remains to be seen how much traction their ideas will gain. For now, Holy Cross students can enjoy the fun and spooky activities organised for the holiday, while keeping in mind the historical context and the evolution of this ancient tradition.
[1] History.com Editors. (2019). The History of Halloween. [online] Available at: https://www.history.com/news/history-of-halloween
[2] National Geographic Society. (2019). The Origins of Halloween. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/the-origins-of-halloween/
[3] BBC. (2019). All Hallows' Eve: The history of Halloween. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/topics/halloween
[4] The Smithsonian. (2019). The Origin of Trick-or-Treating. [online] Available at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-origin-of-trick-or-treating-180959481/
[5] Time.com. (2019). The History of Halloween: How the Holiday Evolved Over the Centuries. [online] Available at: https://time.com/5018278/halloween-history/
