Boo! I know that Halloween isn’t officially until tomorrow, but based on all the people that are dressing in their offices and on television, I think it’s safe to say that many folks are “celebrating” this “holiday” one day ahead of schedule.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a “random musings” post here on Beyond the Rhetoric, so I thought I’d take Halloween as an opportunity to do so. Feel free to chime in with your random Halloween-related ideas through the comment form at the bottom as well.
Everything is Commercial
The original story of Halloween (All Hallows’ Evening) tells us that the border between the living and dead is the thinnest on October 31. It’s on this day that both harmless and harmful spirits can pass through into our world; ancestors are honored and harmful spirits are warded off with costumes, masks, fires, and so on.
How this tradition of ghoulish outfits transformed into costumes for aging boxers and French maids is anyone’s guess. What is clear is that, like any other holiday, Halloween has long since gone very commercial. Selling costumes and decorations is big business!
The Scariest Man-Beast Hybrid
I’m using a fairly loose definition of a man-beast hybrid, referring to just about any humanoid-like “monster” with some animal-like features. I’d include blood-sucking vampires as part of this mix, as well as werewolves and Spider-man.
After some thought, I’d have to agree with Elisa in saying that the scariest man-beast hybrid is the minotaur. He’s just so menacing! What do you think? What do you think is the most frightening man-beast hybrid? My friend Harry thinks it’s the man-bear-pig. Do you know the reference? 🙂
Your Greatest Fear
Horror movies are a lot of fun, because they give us an opportunity to address the worst case scenario without actually putting ourselves in any physical harm. We can watch as people get slaughtered by Jason Voorhees while admonishing the characters’ poor survival skills.
These movies are also an interesting way to live out our greatest fears vicariously. GeekRevolution says that his greatest fear is “death by avalanche or cave-in.” What’s your greatest fear? What would be your ultimate horror movie?
As I’ve spoken on this before in posts and twitter, I agree that Halloween has gone beyond anything that resembles All Hallows Eve. It is just for the candy stores, the costume stores and anyone trying to make a buck.
This is the holiday I despise the most and if I had the ability I would outlaw.
You should see Christmas in China!
I think my worst nightmare has to be doing something of which the world takes note (good or bad) and being swept down on by press/Paparazzi. As a relatively self-effacing person (I sometimes toot my own horn, but not often) it would be horrifying for me to be cast into the public spotlight. I don’t understand how some celebrities can survive and even flourish under the microscope. Of course, some don’t.
even halloween is not popular in my country but i still love when watch the real tv about this “scary” even
I’m going as someone awesome.
Oh wait…that’s EVERYday.
Don’t oversleep and show up late… 😛
I used to spend a lot of time on Halloween. I’d start putting things together in the summer to improve upon the previous year’s display. We would set it up the day of Halloween and take it all down at the end of Trick or Treating hours.
Haven’t done that in years. It’s largely not worth the effort for the half dozen kids that come to the house.