Happier Halloween - ghoulishly green
by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC
Although as a kid, what I best remember about Halloween is an ongoing stomach ache and mood swings (we all hid our hoards of sweets under the bed and gorged for days, right?), but as an adult, I’ve come to enjoy a day where we are encouraged to put on a costume and take the darkness of life lightly. I’m not just referring to ghosts and goblins, but the idea that accepting and honoring what is no longer living. You know, all that pagan stuff - birth, life, death, rebirth - all celebrated and honored.
As we many of the commonly recognized holidays today, we adopted many of the pagan rituals of “All Hallow’s Eve” or Samhain - jack o’ lanterns, cauldrons and apples. Yet, somehow, the mainstream culture seems to gravitate towards one overriding aspect of each (Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny come to mind…) With Halloween, the candy companies have cashed in, But between unfair labor practices on sugar and cocoa farms, and chemicals used in candy and costumes, it means the environment and farm workers have to cash out. What’s a green goblin to do?
Buy Fair Trade, organic candy or at least those sweetened naturally, here’s a list of some greener goodies.
Make your own or rent your costume. Consider the safety of face paints or hair sprays and go with natural ingredients for die - I mean, dye.
Get your pesticide-free pumpkin from a local farm and be sure to compost or feed to wildlife afterwards.
And all that stuff about honoring the dead? The pagans used to set a place at the table for the dear deceased, inviting them to visit. Now, THAT’s spooky.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:13 pm
nothing to add, but, happy that you enjoy halloween. i think its a great holiday, since i am surrorunded by children who can’t stop talking about the big pumpkin day. all i hear is happy talk, and children looking forward to marching outside with their parents….how they love this day………………..i am glad you appreciate the spirt of the day. with children its just pretty simple booo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and trick or treat!
November 1st, 2007 at 1:09 am
Happy Halloween from the bike riders in Asheville. About 50 folks met in downtown, with full costumes, and rode around town for 2 hours promoting commuter biking. After the ride, we went to the Wedge Art Gallery for live music and dancing. It was great.
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Definite food for thought! With kids it is easy to get caught up in the craziness of the holiday but it is good to step back and look at the larger impact.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Halloween is actually one of my FAVORITE holidays because it’s light-hearted and fun (despite the “death” theme ~!).
Costumes and pumpkins and honoring our creative dark sides - whee! - who needs candy??
Tao