The American celebration of Halloween is spreading all over the Western world, it seems. At least in the Netherlands, where I live, it has reached mainstream culture. Last month, stores sold creepy decoration and many a Halloween party could be visited in your favourite spooky outfit.

Halloween as American import

I’ve noticed there are two sides, where one side loves Halloween (*raises hands*) and the other hates it. The critique is mostly that it is ‘American import’ and mindless consumerism. When it comes to the first point, there is much to say for the counter-argument that American Halloween is actually a mixture from different cultural backgrounds, including European. Most people who read this blog will know about the Celtic celebration of Samhain: the veneration of the dead ancestors, the thinning of the veil between the worlds so that spirits roam our mortal coil. But in mainstream culture almost no one knows this, of course. Which brings us to the second argument of mindless consumerism.

Mindless consumerism

When you look to many Western mainstream celebrations with a religious slant, there seems to be a pattern. Halloween, Christmas and Easter are popular christian feasts that seem to revolve mostly around food and presents. Most people will still know that Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, but I dare say that when you ask an average person what is celebrated during Easter or Halloween, chances you’ll get a blank stare. What do chocolate eggs have to do with Christianity anyway?

A Dutch example may be Carnaval, during which many folks in the southern Netherlands dress up and party hard for several days. However, almost no one will hold a fasting period of roughly forty days, which is connected with Carnaval. People have forgotten why they are celebrating, but they are celebrating anyway – by eating, drinking and general consuming, but without much meaning behind it.

Disenchantment

Why is this? I think that this way of celebrating has much to do with what sociologist Max Weber called “Disenchantment”. In the last few centuries, industrialisation and capitalism became important parts of our society, partly to the detriment of a sense of spirituality and a direct connection with the natural world around us. Materialism trumped spirituality, without trying to find a balance.

The need for Re-enchantment

This loss can be seen in people’s need for ritual and celebration, but not knowing how to really do it. It seems we have lots our cause. No, we should not get back to priests telling us what to believe in and what to do. It is up to ourselves to develop rituals and celebrations in which the main goal is not the buy and eat as much as you can. There is a need for re-enchantment.

Many people have already written about this, and I am glad to see that the pagan and witch communities are actually very good at this. It was Morris Berman who first wrote about it in 1984, in The reenchantment of the world. Just to be clear, let’s take a quick look at what re-enchantment is not and what it really is.

What it’s not

• Escapism. Re-enchantment is not locking yourself out from the real world and dreaming away in your favourite realm of fantasy. This way, you are actually shutting yourself off from the world around you, which is the exact opposite of what re-enchantment stands for. Of course, fantasy can be a great inspiration for re-enchanting the world! But it should never be an excuse for turning yourself away.
• Superstition. Re-enchanting does not mean that you reject science or other modern ways of viewing the world that are actually good and helpful. It also does not mean surrounding yourself with tarot cards, crystals and fancy clothing just to create a certain feel or look – that way you will fall into the trap of consumerism again.

What it is

• Reconnecting with the world. Re-enchanting means connecting with and being part of the world again. It means not seeing the earth as a separate thing to be used or exploited, but as an entity on which we live together with billions of other beings; human and non-human. Each has their own place, none is more important than the other.
• Sense of wonder. There is a place for rationalism, materialism. I’d say there can be even a place for cynicism. But our society seems to have almost completely lost it’s sense of wonder and joy about our place in this mysterious universe. To feel joy and wonder can be an almost radical thing in a world where time is money and the only certainties are death and taxes.

In re-enchantment, there is place again for new spiritualities in which people can connect with the world around them.

Trick or treating re-enchantment style

Let’s take a look at trick or treating, re-enchantment-style. Superficially it consists of buying a scary costume and trying to get as much candy as possible. The idea of children dressing up and asking for treats in the neighbourhood can be traced back many centuries. Historically but also spiritually speaking this ritual shows a connection with the thinning of the veil between the worlds. There are several theories as to why people dress up and go ask for candy during Halloween. Some think it is to impersonate the spirits of the dead and other otherworldly beings, who visit the living to receive offerings.

Apart from that, trick or treating creates a sense of community. You get to know the people in your neighbourhood better. People who know each other generally also look out for each other, which is a nice thought if your children wander around during the night. And also think about the creativity that goes with the making of your own costume, instead of buying one ready made. These ideas can be used to go back to meaningful contemporary celebrations. I dare say that in the Netherlands we can even look back to old folkloric ideas to use instead of the Americanized version.

In my opinion the idea of re-enchantment is essential. We can do this through ritual and celebration, by connecting with each other and with the land we live in, and being mindful consumers and creative, spiritual beings.