The Haunted History of Halloween
Halloween is my favourite time of year. At no other time of the year can you completely alter your ego, and be encouraged to do so. In addition to the identity shifting fun that can be had by kids and adults alike, the natural world is also shifting. Gone are the hot humid days of summer- replaced by the slow fall into winter’s slumber. We watch as the landscape transforms in dramatic ways – sometimes from a cornucopia of colour to a stark white overnight. Visually, at least in my part of the world, it’s the season of dramatic transformation. As if nature is making a grand statement before the long sleep of winter – lest we forget her majesty. It seems rather appropriate that we engage in this rite of transformation called Halloween. Why exactly do we shift our identities and parade door to door looking for sweet treats? The History Channel’s “Haunted History of Halloween” has your primer for this ghoulish night of transformation. The video is approximately 45 minutes long, so bookmark this page and put it on while you’re handing out treats to the ghostly revelers. Happy Halloween!
It’s the start of the Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada. What makes Canada’s Thanksgiving holiday differ from the American holiday of the same name? Aside from falling on different dates, the historical underpinnings of this celebrated occasion is markedly different too.