Halloween Weekend

What a beautiful afternoon! Spent sometime exploring the blog features. Halloween is here and I am excited about seeing people in different costumes. When I went to Burger King yesterday, the staff was dressed as vampires and koala bears. Some combination!
I probably would like to be dressed as Mrs Adams (from Adam's family) She does have an air of weird sophistication about her. Thought I would record some trivia, coz by next year I would have forgotten what all the fuss is about!

Origin Of Halloween: "Halloween or All Hallows Eve means summers end.This spirit connotation originated as the ancient Celtic druids paid tribute with gifts and food (and sometimes it was rumored sacrifices) to the spirit world to insure that next year’s crop would be bountiful. It was a time for communicating with the dead and receiving wisdom from past ancestors to insure prosperity"

I wonder if we have something similar in our culture. I remember my mother would try to get us to eat / sleep by spinning tales about "boochandi" who was supposed to come and take us away if we did not do her bidding.

I think the closest we get to Halloween is Pongal which is not a festival to appease the spirits, but a celebration of the harvest. This happens in Spring. It is interesting to note that one culture begins the cycle with hopeful foresight and the other with reserved gratitude.

Trick or Treat: We bought a bag of candies, just in case some kid turned up. Apparently, if you don't give them a treat, you would have to spend some time washing off "egged" remains on your door. The origin behind this is very different. Originally peasant children, dressed in rags like prisoners, would beg for coins or treats as a token of remembrance of a man, Guy Fawkes, who was drawn and quartered after attempting to blow up the British government offices.
I always believed it to be a completely American tradition!! It was not celebrated here until the 20th century. Well, I guess Hallmark is the only one worried about getting some tradition instilled here. So, apart from July 4th is there any other truly American holiday?

-Subbu