A Pleasant Irony of Life in Europe
Growing up in the midwest, All Saint's Day, an old Christian holiday, had absolutely no meaning for me. It was akin to Columbus Day--a holiday in name, but devoid of anything distinguishing it from any other day. We didn't even get the day off from school.
Halloween, on the other hand, was a completely different story. My brother and I had it down to a science: Streets with bigger houses = better candy (i.e. Snickers & Reese's Peanut Butter Cups). It was a day that involved anticipation, preparation, and pay-off in the form of tupperware containers holding all the surplus candy bars in the freezer, separated out by type. On a good year, Halloween could supply my candy bar needs for the next six months.
This year, things were pretty different. All Saint's Day is still an important holiday here in Europe. Beginning the weekend before and continuing until the weekend after, everyone visits the graves of their deceased relatives, bringing flowers or lighting candles. In fact, it is such a significant holiday, people even get the day off from work/school.
Halloween, on the other hand, passed almost without notice. Granted, I was in bed sick with a fever yesterday, but if it wouldn't have been for two small groups of 3-4 kids who came to the door asking for money/chocolate and singing a song in return, I would never have even realized it was Halloween. No decorations, no costumes, no parties, no jokes, and sadly definitely not any Reese's PBCs...
It is interesting though, that the culture in which Christianity has become little more than a footnote, still retains and celebrates the Christian holiday, yet almost completely ignores the pagan. On the other hand, the culture in which Christianity still plays a major role celebrates the pagan holiday, yet almost completely ignores the Christian.
Halloween, on the other hand, was a completely different story. My brother and I had it down to a science: Streets with bigger houses = better candy (i.e. Snickers & Reese's Peanut Butter Cups). It was a day that involved anticipation, preparation, and pay-off in the form of tupperware containers holding all the surplus candy bars in the freezer, separated out by type. On a good year, Halloween could supply my candy bar needs for the next six months.
This year, things were pretty different. All Saint's Day is still an important holiday here in Europe. Beginning the weekend before and continuing until the weekend after, everyone visits the graves of their deceased relatives, bringing flowers or lighting candles. In fact, it is such a significant holiday, people even get the day off from work/school.
Halloween, on the other hand, passed almost without notice. Granted, I was in bed sick with a fever yesterday, but if it wouldn't have been for two small groups of 3-4 kids who came to the door asking for money/chocolate and singing a song in return, I would never have even realized it was Halloween. No decorations, no costumes, no parties, no jokes, and sadly definitely not any Reese's PBCs...
It is interesting though, that the culture in which Christianity has become little more than a footnote, still retains and celebrates the Christian holiday, yet almost completely ignores the pagan. On the other hand, the culture in which Christianity still plays a major role celebrates the pagan holiday, yet almost completely ignores the Christian.
posted by John at Thursday, November 01, 2007
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