Halloween

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 191408

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Liz Clark" <liz.treky at ...> wrote:
>
> As the subject was kindly recently brought up, I got thinking...
> and a couple of nice discussion questions popped into my head 
> (sorry if it's been discussed before).
> 
> Why is Hallowe'en celebrated in the wizarding world? And what 
> type of celebrations do you think go on besides Hogwarts 
> Hallowe'en Feast?
> 
> Liz
>

Steve:

I think to some extent JKR is just playing on stereo types by associating witches and Halloween. 

The history of Halloween is complex, but Hallow in general means Holy or to show respect or reverence, as in 'Hallowed Ground'. Halloween is also know as All Hallow's Eve followed by All Hallow's Day  or All Saints Day, Day of the Dead, Hallowtide, Hallowmas, and a few others. 

The underlying belief is that on this day of the year the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest. So it is best to appease the dead by honoring them, lest they come back to haunt you because of your disrespect. So, when the 'dead' come to our door, we appease them with candy. If we don't have candy, then the creatures of the night will avenge the lack of respect with ill fortune.

Hence "Trick or Treat", honor us with a treat, or we will play a trick on you. 

Extending this further, since the veil is thinnest between the living and the dead, it is also thinnest between the upper world and the under world, so if we aren't respectful to the dead, we open the door to demons and monsters.

The alternate view is that to hide from the dead, we dress in costume so they dead won't recognize us and take their revenge. 

All that aside, again, I think JKR is simply playing on the stereotype that associates witches and Halloween. It seems like a celebration that would be especially significant to witches and wizards. 

It just seems a very natural match. More so in the wizard world than the muggle world. 

Steve/bboyminn