Morbid fears, anguished cries, threatening shadows: this is the perfect anxiety-inducing context that would typically make one want to distance themselves from such a situation. Yet, this is precisely the atmosphere sought after on Halloween night. But where does this contradiction and enthusiasm for this beloved holiday come from? I pose this question to you.
As the good teacher I was for 35 years, I couldn't help but do a little research on its origins. Wikipedia was quite helpful in this exploration.
" A folk festival originating from the Anglo-Celtic islands... it is celebrated on October 31st. Its name is a contraction of the English " All Hallows' Eve " which means " the eve of All Hallows' Day " in contemporary English and can be translated as " the eve of All Saints " or " All Saints' Eve ", a Catholic religious holiday during which we commemorate the death of all the faithful departed on November 1st. It's therefore only a small step to associate this eve with death and all its terrifying symbols (zombies, mummies, skeletons, werewolves, demons, etc.). "
Closer to home, " The Halloween celebration was introduced to the United States and Canada after the massive arrival of Irish and Scottish immigrants, notably following the Great Famine in Ireland (1845-1851)... The most well-known modern tradition involves children dressing up in scary costumes resembling ghosts, pirates, monsters, vampires, or wizards/witches and going door-to-door asking for treats with the phrase: Trick or treat! ".
Since its founding in 1994, the ARP has organized Halloween by encouraging its residents through its newspaper to decorate their homes as "haunted houses," surrounded by decorations of bats, owls, black cats, spiders weaving their webs, coffins... and to welcome children from the neighborhood. The celebration grew to such an extent that its reputation quickly spread beyond its territory, attracting children from neighboring areas and requiring the presence of police and firefighters to ensure safety. Some neighbors told me they had welcomed about 300 children.
30 years later, Halloween is still celebrated in the Plateau, and this year again, "little monsters" will come knocking on your door if the decorations invite them. Welcome them with "candy or treats, or they might cast a spell on you" .
Happy Halloween to all, and stay safe!
Marc Jacques Girard
Co-founding President of the ARP
Dive into the captivating history of the ARP! Click the button to explore the eighth article of our special series celebrating 30 years of history.
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