Ghosts here and there

In the latter half of October, the New England countryside transforms into a haunting landscape as autumn paints it in vivid hues. The tranquil neighbourhood starts to resemble a forgotten graveyard, with crumbling tombstones scattered among the lawns and scattered bones emerging from the earth. As the country prepares for Halloween, the roots of this eerie celebration trace back to Samhain, the Celtic harvest festival that marked the end of October and the turning of the year.

It was believed to be a threshold between the worlds of the living and the dead, a night when spirits roamed the earth, departed souls returned home, and those who had passed away set out for the afterlife.

In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day to honor saints and martyrs, and the night before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which evolved into Halloween. When Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in North America in the 19th century, they brought these customs with them, leading to the modern-day traditions of trick-or-treating, carved pumpkins, and costume parties. By the late 20th century, America's influence had spread these practices worldwide.

Today, Halloween is a significant commercial industry in the United States, generating approximately $13.5 billion in consumer spending on costumes, decorations, and most notably, candy. Americans refer to these confectioneries as "sweets" or "candy," which are given out in abundance to children dressed in costumes, who approach houses for treats while threatening mischief if not rewarded.

The origins of trick-or-treating can be traced back to the practice of offering soul cakes in Britain and Ireland during All Hallows’ Eve. During this time, the poor would visit houses, trading prayers for the dead for small, spiced loaves. In Scotland and Ireland, children disguised themselves with masks to ward off restless spirits and would sing songs or recite verses in exchange for a modest reward. This tradition of lantern-lit rounds gave rise to our modern-day trick-or-treating.

Costumes remain the most appealing aspect of the tradition for both children and adults. Initially, traditional spooky choices like ghosts, skeletons, witches, vampires, werewolves, zombies, mummies, and devils dominated the scene. However, modern themes have gained popularity over time, encompassing pop culture characters, occupations, parodies of public figures, and even pets.

This year, my five-year-old granddaughter expressed her desire to dress as a ghost, which highlights the continued fascination with these supernatural entities.

In Sri Lanka, ghosts were not an amusement; they were terrifyingly real. The restless spirits of the dead, known as "prethayo" or "hungry ghosts," lingered among the living, haunting lonely roads, old trees, wells, and cemeteries after dark. To protect themselves, families used protective charms, chants, and, when necessary, exorcism ceremonies called "thovil."

Children were taught to avoid whistling at night or walking alone near graveyards, as encounters with these entities were considered commonplace. Some individuals were more susceptible to the presence of these spirits, such as my maternal uncle, who experienced firsthand the terrifying reality of these supernatural beings.