IN THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN

Why do we dress up in costumes on Halloween? And why are these costumes typically intended to be scary?

The most common theory is the tradition originated with the ancient Celts. They believed that on one particular night of the year the spirits of the dead returned to earth to haunt and harass anyone who left their home. So, if they wanted to go out, they would wear scary costumes to frighten away these roaming ghosts. This night was called the festival of Samhain. During the Middle Ages Christians adopted this tradition during the Christian observance of Allhallowtide.

The Christian tradition of performing the allegorical danse macabre has also been suggested as the origin of dressing up on Halloween. This “dance of death” demonstrated the inevitable, ultimate and equalizing power of death.

Halloween is not the only day of the year we wear costumes. On a daily basis most of us wear them, but we call them other things, such as uniforms, gear, or simply our business attire or work clothes. This “dressing up” is the primary way in which we differentiate ourselves from one another. It enables us to learn about each other and identify our roles without communicating verbally. We instantly know those of us responsible for law enforcement, delivering packages, flying a plane, or preparing a gourmet meal.

 

At certain times in history, such as the times of the Spanish Inquisition and Nazi Germany, costumes were used to intimidate and spread fear. A costume can sometimes let us know if someone is friendly or up to no good.

How will the use of costumes evolve in future society?  George Orwell and Aldous Huxley suggested costumes would be imposed by totalitarian governments to differentiate people by class or function. Others, such as George Lucas and James Cameron, have created costumes merging the sciences of medicine and robotics, creating bionic, part organic, part machine characters.

In the science fiction series "VENERABLE," costumes also have unique purposes. Uniforms identify those in power, dividing them by purpose and ranking them in authority, primarily through the use of color.  What other, more sinister, purposes might these costumes have? And could they be used against those who wear them? We will soon know.

The fourth and final book of the series, “VIGILANT: The Enigma of Acceptance,” will be released October 30th, just in time for Halloween. The first three books are always available for Free on Kindle Unlimited. Get ready for the finale by ordering them today.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Venerable-Price-Paradise-Samuel-Freedman-ebook/dp/B08HHTJJSW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Venerable%3A+The+Price&qid=1626658858&s=books&sr=1-1