Death and Halloween
A 2018 Washington Post article entitled “How Death Disappeared from Halloween” recently captivated my attention. Written by Vittoria Elliott and Kevin McDonald, this article explores why Americans tend to avoid the topic of death and how the celebration of Halloween has evolved over time.
Halloween has its origins in Samhain, a Celtic Irish holiday. Author Lisa Morton writes that “Samhain was a New Year’s celebration held in the fall, a sort of seasonal acknowledgment of the annual change from a season of life to one of death.” Celebrations such as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day also morphed into existence. But, over time, American Halloween celebrations lost connection to the honoring of deceased ancestors and shifted to trick-or-treating.
Sarah Chavez, executive director of the Order of the Good Death, says that Halloween in the United States “mirrors our experience with death directly. We used to take care of our dead in our homes — people used to die at home. We took care of our loved ones, dug their graves. We were there through the entire process. We have no idea what death looks like anymore.”
Many people die in hospitals or nursing homes. Anita Hannig, professor at Brandeis University, notes that “The responsibilities of death have been outsourced,” adding that hospitals and morticians allow ordinary people to avoid directly engaging with death. “When someone dies in a hospital, oftentimes the body will be whisked away almost immediately and family and friends won’t see it again until after it’s been embalmed.” Hannig’s research also shows that memorial services are becoming less common. This is a concerning trend, as I believe society has a moral responsibility to honor and respect its dead.
As we feel a change in the seasons this October, may we all pause to remember our deceased loved ones and the impact they had on the world they left behind.
Serenity Funeral Home is located just off Riverside Drive at 1316 S. 400 E., St. George, UT, (435) 986-2085, www.SerenityStG.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SerenityFuneralStG.
Submitted by Larry L. Hansen, Licensed Funeral Director/Owner
Image by Adobe Stock
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/10/31/how-death-disappeared-halloween/
