To be perfectly honest, I was going to title this "Christmas Gets Four Months, Hallowe’en Needs to Be a Lot Longer!" because it reflects the marketing world and that unfortunately is innately connected with the socio-psychological collective-perception realm...But I'll just go with the official story this once.
Okay, if the title wasn’t a dead give away, I don’t think Hallowe’en (Haloween, Samhain, etc., whathaveyou) isn’t long enough, in comparison to Christmas. Many people the world over celebrate it hence it is quite possibly the biggest Holiday Celebrated West of the Ural and North of the Caucasus (even East and South respectively).
Not me though. I don't celebrate it. And to be perfectly honest, what is there to celebrate? It's a shopping season, is really what it is. I'm not breaking any new ground or revealing any earth-shattering hidden info when I say that there's nothing 'Christian' about Christmas. Basically all of the Pre-Christian European (in my opinion mostly Celtic) Holidays were 'Christianised' and incorporated into the then still unfinished Christian-faith. Follow their (the Celtic) Calendar if you can and I think you'll agree.
The problem is, I've noticed we tend to grant Christmas a much longer stay than any other holiday. Again, what's so ‘holy’ about it? (Contrary to the December 25th belief) Jesus was born on September the 11th - if you follow the Biblical Astrology and compare it against naval spatial observational records, Mother-Mary's trip back to Bethlehem (following Jupiter) came during September, and the birth logically on the 11th; but I'm just rutting-hairs here - it's quite the complex and fascinating study.
Now granted, there are 12 Days of Christmas, 12 Disciples, 12 Zodiacal Constellations, 12 Hours in the Day, 12 Months in the Year, 12 years before a Jewess becomes a Woman (13 for Boys, also a similar tradition for Muslims) 12 Musical Keys (7 White + 5 Black) in the Register...A lot of reason for ‘12’ to keep popping up, which despite what the above may apply, still doesn't quite make sense to me.
Okay, but why do we promote it (Christmas) four fucking months in advance?!
Really (depending on where you live) you can start seeing ads for it, very subtly beginning in July but slightly more noticeably in September.
Since most/all of the Christian holidays have little in connection with Christianity. Perhaps even 'Anti-Christian' in nature: Hallowe’en for Little Devils post-Harvest; Christmas is for the re-birthing of the Ægyptian Sun-God; Beaster/påsk/Palm is a torture death-cult celebration; St. Valentines Day is milked up by marketers of Cards, Chocolate and Condoms (the 3 C’s!) and no mention is made of the Martyred Saints themselves (as more than one was killed unnecessarily) perhaps we could give Hallowe’en a well deserved boost? No?
Christian or not, Christians as well as secularized non-Christians (and followers of other religions) still celebrate them.
Now I'm hugely into everything Magickal, Occult, Esoteric, Spiritual, Religious, Hell - even outright Satanic stuff, and they are all woven with and interconnected to two H-Terms: 'Heavy-Metal' and 'Hallowe’en.'
All of the above-mentioned things can be related to either ‘-Metal’ or ‘O'Ween’ (or both) and done so to such an extant in fact that there is a Heavy-Power-Metal Band from Deutschland (a personal favourite of mine too!) by the name of “Helloween!”
(Their 1998 record "Better than Raw")Now so far, I haven't said much about Hallowe’en/alla helgons dag/allhelgonaafton either.
Rather than prattle on-and-on about the 'History and True (almost always 'Celtic') Origins of Hallowe’en' which you find on most sites ranging from encyclopaedias to blogs like this one; I figure I'll break tradition and talk instead about what Hallowe’en is/means to me (which is also something I generally despise doing) subjective opinions as opposed to cold hard facts (actually 'lukewarm-mushy facts' as is most of the study we call 'History' despite which, is still reasonably reliable depending on who you ask of it).
Hallowe’en IMHO, is the time for those usually of an overly-skeptical outlook on life (such as myself between 8AM-6PM, and again between 8PM-2AM) to suspend their disbelief. But for what Masonry regards as the ‘profane’ aside, those in both familiarity and harmony with a more esoteric understanding of the period, know that it is the time where the ‘Veil’ (the ‘Ghayb’ for followers of Arab/Muslim Sufi-Mysticism) is thinnest between our world and the spirit realm (sometimes I feel as if the nightmare realm and the living one mesh, but that’s usually during day to day life ;) and while some exoteric understandings simply interpret this as a time for nature to prepare us for what is coming ahead, I take it to be the time when the impossible becomes more readily possible.
But I’ve noticed, I get that feeling slightly less than a season, and considerably more than just one day out of the year. I get the whole ‘Hallowe’en tingly sensation’ as early as the last week of September to about the first week of November (about 6 weeks and 6 days – I hate the number 7 so I’ll refrain from saying 7 weeks, especially if I did, it could become quite ‘obsessional’ and I could round it up to 8 or even 9 weeks).
So what to people do during this grand sacred time?
Depending on where you live - it could be as mundane as ‘raking the leaves,’ reaping the toil of your labour (if somehow you are lucky enough to have your own farm) in the form of a harvest which in today’s world barely pays your bills, even if you make Millions of (Dollars, Pounds, Euros, Kroner - take your pick).
It could be little more exciting for children, as they once again re-enact the rituals of the Druids, demanding Virgins from any household they desire: They knock, you trick them into pretending your not home, or you treat their entreats by offering up your daughter (if she’s good looking) and they take her back, probably have their way with her, than sacrifice her to some vague Devil even the Gorsedd (and other Illuminati inclusionary Svbcvlts) probably only has a still vaguer idea about.
Oh right, that’s what children mean by trick-or-treat.
Well, it goes further than that, as those guys were a bunch of thugs back in the ancient world, if you didn’t have the man power, they’d just bust down your door. If you did, they’d curse you with a ‘Hex’ not too unlike the Seal of Solomon or the Start of David (except this is ancient Ireland, Scotland and Wales we’re talking about, not some dusty shithole in modern-day Israel).
Again, for those who are familiar with the occult, Samhain (Hallowe’en) can be just as wonderful time to conjure up some friendly, benign, harmless…fire-breathing Demonic-Djinn from the bowels of Hell (or some other more vacationable spot in the after-life) or here on Earth.
(The Seal of Solomon.)
And if by some quirk of idiocy you end up as a Wiccan (the feminist variety being the worst) this can be a good time to honour your beloved mother godless…er, goddess; who is so wise and powerful in her understanding and infinite strength that she needs your help to stay alive and will die with the earth, should this trash-heap of a planet were to be enveloped by a supernovaec-expansion like that prophesieth by our priesthood of today (the holier-than-thou cloth of the white-lab-coaters with test-tubes) of our blasted star, the Sun.
The metaphysics of Wicca, I have little problem with; seeing as much of it seems to have descended from Hermeticism not too different than Crowley’s version, only it has more male-bashing and female-worship at its core. The philosophy however, and it’s apparent degeneration and subjugation of the male-sex as a cornerstone seems a bit, shall we say un-fairly obvious?! Be it the cornerstone or the puss-covered, rotten, hate-filled core I’m sorry, I got a bit truthful there! I’ve noticed Wiccans do not give Crowley the respect he deserves whilst bastardizing his maxims - ‘Do what thou Wilt’ the Law of Thelema is usually not good enough for Wiccans as they have to add ‘but harm none’ to it; because somebody has to point out the obvious.
But yes, another thing short of conjuring or channelling inhuman sprits would be to conduct a séance of some relative since-passed, or a famous someone. Haunted houses, graveyards, prisons and fields known to host famous battles should be tackled in the daytime, even for those more skeptical who do not believe they can be harmed by such things (I see no need in visiting such a place) but for those who wish to risk harm from realms-unknown, the thrills may be worth it (just don’t say you heard it from me).
And again, for people into more mundane practices than the fullest festive merriment of the period; you can always start (build) a fire and tell spooky stories.
Speaking of which, one in particular, I read time and time again: Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu” (I'd post a link, but I'd much rather post it here in entirety tomorrow) is one that always sends a chill, despite the fact it’s far more modern, than say something by Horace Walpole (Whoops! Gave away the 2-year old contest; still no one's guessed).
Yet another activity to engage in during ‘All Souls and Saints Day’…Ironic, it’s immediately after the 30th of October, usually regarded as ‘Devil’s Night’ I suppose to equalize by polarizing.
But there is so much to do, in such a short span of time.
Therefore, I suggest we, in a not too distant future ensure that Hallowe’en gets at least 1 if not 3 weeks off; from about the last two weeks of October to the first week of November, buy turning it into a civic holiday, so you can stay at home, or attend a party, instead of having to suffer miserably at work or school.
Having it last longer, or more often would be nice, and better since we don't have to wait a year, or even half if you count skärtorsdagen, but I don't really give a fuck about that as it's more 'Easter-trick' than 'Hallowe’en-treat' Valborga here is more tolerable -Walpurgisnacht- but that might just be me because it's quite close to my birthday (hintitty hint-hint).
Well, I best not extend it beyond that.
Perhaps I can tell you about the legal discovery of ‘The Two Americas’ that happened on October 31st 1997. The Father/Founder of the Church of Satan, Anton Szandor LaVey is also said to have died on or about this time. There was also the leak of the ‘Hallowe’en Documents’ that Microsoft so sorely dreads (while Linuxites hold as a shining example of MS’s underhandedness as if they were ‘the Protocols’ scribed by an Illuminatus) and Jim Allchin in very much the category of MS (He is quite good at playing lead guitar, I must admit!) but that I suppose I can save for later.
Bottom line, I’m sick and tired of seeing Christmas goods being advertised before Hallowe’en is even round the corner (at one point I’ve seen adverts sporting the Christmas sale the day before Hallowe’en, other times at about September and in one instant a number of years ago, as early as July…I’m not kidding).
If it’s all about advertisement, sales and goods, then Hallowe’en should be the #1 sales-bonanza worldwide; since if you compare the two: While Christmas is the #1 yearly money-making period clocking in at a healthy 3 weeks [actually 12 days + a few; for the Americans it’s 12-25 and for many Europeans it tends to be 01-07, although if the twelve days continue after 12-25 then we should allow until 01-19, so to round it from December 12th to January 7th; for the sake of encompassing both sides of the pond] you have to temper that with the understanding it is for about 2-3 weeks whereas Hallowe’en is just one day/night.
So what Christmas does in two weeks, Hallowe’en does almost as much for the span of a day. Hallowe’en is the better holiday to monetise, because only Satan (Santa) and a few of his Devils (Elves) are going to be purchasing costumes then, whereas a lot more will be sold just during Hallowe’en.
The marketers who invented Valentines day, should get together and try to get Hallowe’en recognized as a ‘day-off’ so people can go shopping yet again…
After that, to a few Hallowe’en parties, and then a coconut-teaser!
So until next time (tomorrow?) just remember,
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.Happy Hallowe’en!
~Azzan~
