By K. A. Laity
A disgruntled Guardian reader (is there really any other kind?) derided Halloween as a “ghastly American import” and moaned about the need to herd children around on their forays for candy. Considering the dire nature of most American imports (McDonald’s, baseball caps, L. Ron Hubbard), I think Halloween is a reason to celebrate.
Think of it: Pumpkins! Free candy! An excuse for parties! Dressing up!
The latter alone should be worth it. Once a year you get a fancy dress requirement that forces you to examine the darker recesses of your soul and put them to practical use. Dig into that psyche and see what lurks waiting to be free. Maybe you have to let out your hidden psycho killer just for a little wander so that Monday morning you can go back to work without giving in to that urge to kill your boss or co-worker.
What about that job you never pursued: ballerina or fireman? For a day you can live your dream job and find out that it would have been a royal pain in the ass anyone, so once a year is enough and that lingering doubt and resentment is forever put to rest — and for much less than years of therapy cost.
There can be drawbacks to loosening that id. The last few years have given a little too much license to folks freeing their inner vamp or pimp. Let’s see a Regency revival! What I wouldn’t give to see crowds of men wandering around in their hose and cravats, waving lacy handkerchiefs at one another and discussing the relative merits of different tailors’ “inexpressibles” over club chairs. We could see women come nigh on to blows over the relative merits of the pelisse versus the spencer with a third group militantly in favour of shawls.
Think how lively the punch bowl conversations would be then!
Away with discussions of unemployment, strikes and bankruptcies; instead people could comment on the relative tightness of corsets, the figure one cuts in tight breeches and the quality of muslin these days. How much less gloomy our Halloween gatherings would be! Or perhaps I’ve been dipping into the Georgette Heyer novels again. But the point remains: Halloween is a rare opportunity for adults to play like kids. We ought to make the most of it, as there aren’t nearly enough of those occasions.
Besides, you can dress up kids and pets and they can’t say a thing about it—and that’s the other half of the fun.
Image via Hemmy.net