Friday, November 1, 2013 | The Torch [trick-or-treat] 9 Halloween traditions explored Columnist discusses historical development of October holiday the Celtics’ pagan celebration Samhain on Oct. 31. he Celtics believed that during Samhain the spirits of the dead would return and roam the earth. he History Channel’s article explains, “To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they let their homes ater dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.” From these roots we ind our travictoria dition of dressing up in costume. BRUICK Torch Staff Writer Since spirits were roaming the earth during Samhain, the Celtics Quick. What’s the irst thing also believed that divining the futhat comes to mind when you ture was easier during the holiday. think of Halloween traditions? he tradition of bobbing for apples Commonly, people associate cos- grew out of these divination practume parties, bobbing for apples, tices, and through the 1800s young jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treat- single adults would play variations ing with this spooky holiday, but of a bobbing game to foretell who where did these customs originate? would marry next. Another apple According to the History Chan- superstition had girls using a knife nel website, Halloween grew out to peel an apple and then throwing of a myriad of Celtic, Roman the peel over their shoulder. he letter that formed and Christian from the apple traditions that In the end Stingy peel would be the morphed into the irst initial of the holiday we recJack was left to man she would ognize today in wander the earth marry. America. In the he jack-oChristian church, with a coal from hell lantern originatAll Saints Day, that he kept in a ed from the Irish otherwise called hollowed out gourd legend of Stingy All Hallows Day, Jack. One version was established in to light his way. of the story goes 1000 A.D. comthat Stingy Jack memorating the lives of the dead on Nov. 1. All invited the Devil to go to a bar, but Hallows Eve, then, fell on Oct. 31, in the end Jack didn’t want to pay, from where the term Halloween so he convinced the Devil, who originates. Many speculate that the could change form, to turn himself holiday was placed on the calendar into a coin. Jack didn’t end up paywhere it is in order to discourage ing the tab and instead put the coin Rachel Rockey / The Torch Members of Valpo’s MSEED Club enjoy a Halloween Party last week. in his pocket next to a silver cross so that the Devil couldn’t change back. Jack bargained with the Devil that he would take him out of his pocket if the Devil wouldn’t take his soul. Time passed and Jack died. God wouldn’t let a swindler like Jack into heaven, but the Devil had promised not take Jack’s soul to hell. In the end Stingy Jack was let to wander the earth with a coal from hell that he kept in a hollowed out gourd to light his way. he idea of trick-or-treating has its roots in the celebration of All Saints Day in England and the passing out of “soul cakes” to the poor. he term itself developed much later in American tradition. According to history.com, “Families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats.” Halloween has its roots in traditions thousands of years old, and provides us with one day a year on which it’s completely acceptable to dress up in ridiculous costumes and expect complete strangers to give children candy. To learn more about Halloween traditions check out: www.history. com/topics/halloween. he views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of he Torch. Contact Victoria Bruick at torch@valpo.edu. Halloween movies or horror? Writer goes against the gore for the more fun side of holiday season peter CRAPITTO Torch Staff Writer Halloween is coming, a time of candy, costumes and celebra- tions. Zombies will walk the earth, “Monster Mash” will be played, and pumpkins and cobwebs will decorate everything. It is time of ghosts, goblins and spooks, so what better way to get into the season by sitting down with your friends and enjoying a good horror lick right? Wrong. A good horror movie is an oxymoron, and I’ll tell you why. I don’t think very many people would actually argue that horror movies are truly good pieces of cinema. hey tend to be poorly written. Characters and motivations are undeveloped, dialogue is cheesy and the plots, while oten intriguing and suspenseful, tend to have zero Photo Provided depth and usually end without any satisfying payof. hese stories are made all the more frustrating by the fact that most of the bad stuf that happens in horror ilms could be completely avoided if any of the characters actually acted with an ounce of sense in their heads. How many times do we have to yell at our TV screens telling that character NOT TO GO IN THE CLOSET?!?!? (Note: Closet may be substituted with attic, basement, creepy backroom, the trunk of a big white van… etc.) What is the reason, then, that people watch horror movies? It’s to feel fear, and I just don’t get it. Fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat of danger. In a sense, by watching horror ilms we are threatening ourselves, and we do this because we like the feel of the rush of adrenaline it causes. Why do we do this to ourselves voluntarily? Because people are crazy. Even the scares, if you really are into that kind of thing, hardly seem worth it. he majority of scares in these movies rely are either shock value from tasteless gruesome or else from psychological, situational scares based around atmosphere, heavy music, and the terrifyingly placed jump scares that you almost always expect. Both kinds of scares are highly predictable, so what’s the point? So what’s the alternative then, for the sane people who do not like scaring themselves out of their wits? Well, there happen to be lots of good Halloween movies out there that are not horror ilms, and many of these are ageless movies entire ilm, and to this day I cannot put families can enjoy, so we don’t have my inger on which holiday this to exclude our younger siblings and ilm belongs too, perhaps it belongs the easily scared out of our movie to both Christmas and Halloween? nights. Who doesn’t enjoy classics “he Nightmare Before Christmas” like “he Adis an unforgettable dams Family” and tale of worlds col“Ghostbusters”? liding; it’s about The problem is the Everyone enjoys a hope, love, fear, horror genre takes good comedy, and and good old itself too seriously to fashioned holiday these ilms are smart, funny and fun. Even having be taken seriously, cleverly written. been made in 1993 while there are many the stop motion At times they can be a bit cheesy, but animation still good down-to-earth in a charming sort looks beautiful Halloween ilms we of way, and notoday, the music can enjoy instead. where near as bad is astounding, and as most horror the characters are ilms. he probcharming, deep, lem is the horror genre takes itself and fun to watch. his is doubtless too seriously to be taken seriously, one of the best movies you could while there are many good down to choose to get into the holiday spirit earth Halloween ilms we can enjoy with, and probably the only one you instead. And come on, who doesn’t can enjoy again come December. love Bill Murray? Whatever your preference, be it Other good options include Halloween family movies or horror, children’s’ ilms like “Casper”, a it’s a great idea to grab your favorheartwarming tale about a friendly ite blockbuster, some friends, and ghost, and my personal favorite as maybe some popcorn and cider and a child that I doubt many know, sit down together to celebrate Hal“Boo to you Too! Winnie the Pooh”. loween and this time of year with its If you’re looking for something that chilly transition to winter. I neither isn’t so kid focused there’s always a like, nor understand the point of classic Charlie Brown ilm for every horror ilms, but for those that do, season, and Halloween is no excep- a movie, no matter what kind it is, tion. “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Char- is one of the best ways for friends to lie Brown” is a nostalgic classic to be come together and have fun on the enjoyed by all ages. Its story is sim- holidays. ple, yet heartwarming, and would he views expressed are those of be a lot of fun to enjoy around the the writer and not necessarily those holiday season. hen of course of he Torch. Contact Peter Crapitto there’s the ever classic Tim Burton at torch@valpo.edu