Horror House: Why Celebrate Halloween in Australia?
Because it's fun might be the obvious answer for some people. While others think it's consumerism gone mad
Liz Durnan
23 October 2014
Houzz Australia Contributor. Previously a freelance writer and editor at a variety of magazines and websites in London, New York and Sydney. Now I live in the Blue Mountains bush in a strawbale house that we built from scratch. I write about my passions – mainly books and sustainable housing – while writing a book and attempting a permaculture garden.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Previously a freelance writer and editor at a variety... More
In the lead-up to Halloween there’s always much debate in the press and on social media on the rightness (or wrongness, depending on your point of view) of celebrating Halloween in Australia. “It’s an American holiday,” some people say. “We shouldn’t be flying in pumpkins at this time of year.” Yes, what is an autumnal holiday in one hemisphere may not make sense in the springtime of another, but by that logic, should we even be celebrating Christmas and Easter, except for religious reasons?
I personally love Halloween, but even I was shocked when I recently noticed the colossal amount of Halloween-themed lollies and paraphernalia at my local supermarket, and this only adds weight to the argument that it’s just an excuse for stores to sell stuff. But, as with any other holiday, we have choices. We can always ignore the ever-expanding Halloween sections at the stores and still get in the ‘spirit’ by decorating our homes and dressing up in fun and crafty ways.
One thing is for sure, love it or hate it, it’s here to stay in Australia, so why not make the most of Halloween? It doesn’t have to involve pumpkins and lollies…
I personally love Halloween, but even I was shocked when I recently noticed the colossal amount of Halloween-themed lollies and paraphernalia at my local supermarket, and this only adds weight to the argument that it’s just an excuse for stores to sell stuff. But, as with any other holiday, we have choices. We can always ignore the ever-expanding Halloween sections at the stores and still get in the ‘spirit’ by decorating our homes and dressing up in fun and crafty ways.
One thing is for sure, love it or hate it, it’s here to stay in Australia, so why not make the most of Halloween? It doesn’t have to involve pumpkins and lollies…
Celebrate your dead
In a multicultural society, such as Australia, many different traditions have been imported. Growing up in the North of England, I always celebrated Halloween – which made sense given its Celtic roots. I also loved celebrating it when I spent time in the US in my twenties. But, despite assumptions, it didn’t originate there.
In a multicultural society, such as Australia, many different traditions have been imported. Growing up in the North of England, I always celebrated Halloween – which made sense given its Celtic roots. I also loved celebrating it when I spent time in the US in my twenties. But, despite assumptions, it didn’t originate there.
Remembering and celebrating dead souls is a universal idea – Halloween is so-named because it’s All Hallows’ Eve, preceding as it does All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day in Christian tradition. It also reflects earlier pagan traditions, as well as other dead-honouring festivals in many cultures around the world including the Japanese Bon Festival, the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival, and Day of the Dead in Mexico, which uses skulls as a common symbol. This is essentially what Halloween is really about and, sure, it’s not for everyone, but I like the idea of a festival that celebrates our departed ones.
Get with the supernatural
The supernatural and horror as a popular theme isn’t new, but the recent popularity of books and films, such as the Twilight and Harry Potter series, show that many people love the idea of ghosts, vampires, wizards and the like, so look to popular culture for inspiration when decorating your home Halloween-style.
The supernatural and horror as a popular theme isn’t new, but the recent popularity of books and films, such as the Twilight and Harry Potter series, show that many people love the idea of ghosts, vampires, wizards and the like, so look to popular culture for inspiration when decorating your home Halloween-style.
Perhaps, keep it classic
You don’t have to go full throttle with the decorations, or be garish and tacky; in fact it can even be grown-up and sophisticated. This discreetly decorated home would look good all year around.
You don’t have to go full throttle with the decorations, or be garish and tacky; in fact it can even be grown-up and sophisticated. This discreetly decorated home would look good all year around.
Simply having lots of candles in chandeliers or antique candelabras is a classic way to set a subtly scary mood.
Trick or treat?
I let my Australian kids get involved with the celebrations because I remember how much I loved Halloween dress-ups, parties and innocent games such as Duck Apple, which involves bobbing for apples in a tub of water using only your mouth.
Dressing up in Halloween costume can be great fun for kids and adults, it can foster community spirit and it doesn’t have to be involve rampant consumerism. Costumes can be saved from one year to the next, and kids can be encouraged to get creative and make their own costumes or construct something from things they already have in their dress-up box or wardrobe.
I let my Australian kids get involved with the celebrations because I remember how much I loved Halloween dress-ups, parties and innocent games such as Duck Apple, which involves bobbing for apples in a tub of water using only your mouth.
Dressing up in Halloween costume can be great fun for kids and adults, it can foster community spirit and it doesn’t have to be involve rampant consumerism. Costumes can be saved from one year to the next, and kids can be encouraged to get creative and make their own costumes or construct something from things they already have in their dress-up box or wardrobe.
But, remember, it’s reasonable that not everyone wants kids rocking up to their door demanding lollies, so a little staging of the event at your front door might be necessary if you want to join in. This skeleton wreath is sure signal to treat gatherers and tricksters that you’re indulging in Halloween.
To respect those who don’t want to get involved, some people also warn their neighbours in advance with a door-knock or leaflet drop with something to put out on the night signalling they don’t mind being visited (a sticker or a black or orange balloon, for example). Some people even give the lollies in advance without expecting to be treated or tricked, though I think leaving it to chance is more fun.
To respect those who don’t want to get involved, some people also warn their neighbours in advance with a door-knock or leaflet drop with something to put out on the night signalling they don’t mind being visited (a sticker or a black or orange balloon, for example). Some people even give the lollies in advance without expecting to be treated or tricked, though I think leaving it to chance is more fun.
Feature skulls and skeletons
Skulls are a universal symbol of death, and I’ve noticed that there’s been a trend towards Mexican-themed homewares some of which include skulls.
It’s a Halloween motif that perhaps works better than the pumpkin for Australia, because the pumpkin symbolises the harvest and so doesn’t make sense in springtime in Australia. However, they do make good lanterns (in the UK we used turnips), even if it’s not dark enough due to Daylight Saving to use them. So, if you really want pumpkins, go for it. I’ve seen ones being sold in supermarkets especially for Halloween.
Skulls are a universal symbol of death, and I’ve noticed that there’s been a trend towards Mexican-themed homewares some of which include skulls.
It’s a Halloween motif that perhaps works better than the pumpkin for Australia, because the pumpkin symbolises the harvest and so doesn’t make sense in springtime in Australia. However, they do make good lanterns (in the UK we used turnips), even if it’s not dark enough due to Daylight Saving to use them. So, if you really want pumpkins, go for it. I’ve seen ones being sold in supermarkets especially for Halloween.
Get witchy
Witches have long been a symbol of the occult and all things scary. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a dramatically sweeping staircase like this one, but if you do…
Witches have long been a symbol of the occult and all things scary. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a dramatically sweeping staircase like this one, but if you do…
Or if you happen to have any scary artwork, now’s the time to make it front and centre in your home.
Keep it simple
With a little creativity, decorations and costumes can be easy and inexpensive. The old white sheet was a big Halloween staple when I was growing up – you know the costume that’s made by putting an old white sheet over your head and cutting out out the eyes. Hey, presto! You’re a ghost.
With a little creativity, decorations and costumes can be easy and inexpensive. The old white sheet was a big Halloween staple when I was growing up – you know the costume that’s made by putting an old white sheet over your head and cutting out out the eyes. Hey, presto! You’re a ghost.
Go creepy all year round
Gothic fans can go all out and incorporate a permanent scary feature into their decor, which saves bothering with the Halloween decorations. This spider web is worked into the custom-made balustrade with great effect.
Gothic fans can go all out and incorporate a permanent scary feature into their decor, which saves bothering with the Halloween decorations. This spider web is worked into the custom-made balustrade with great effect.
Get crafty
You could make some Halloween decorations for the house yourself, and there are lots of websites to show you how. With just a few simple items including black paper, string, glue and the usual crafty bits and pieces, you can make things such as Halloween mice, spiders, bats and birds, and many other scary decorations.
You could make some Halloween decorations for the house yourself, and there are lots of websites to show you how. With just a few simple items including black paper, string, glue and the usual crafty bits and pieces, you can make things such as Halloween mice, spiders, bats and birds, and many other scary decorations.
The Locker
Or decorate a feature of your house with something subtly Halloween, such as decal mice that can be removed after the event.
Re-use and recycle
If you think decorating your home for Halloween is going to become an annual thing in your house, bag up your homemade or bought Halloween stuff, just as you would Christmas decorations, and save them for next year.
If you think decorating your home for Halloween is going to become an annual thing in your house, bag up your homemade or bought Halloween stuff, just as you would Christmas decorations, and save them for next year.
Keep it sweet
Ok, Halloween wouldn’t be complete without some lollies, so style them in your Halloween theme. Put orange and black lollies, for example, in attractive (re-usable) jars and arrange them on a table at home for a quick and easy Halloween-themed corner.
TELL US
Do you celebrate Halloween? Or do you think it’s consumerist, pumpkin-filled nonsense? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE
Halloween Quiz: What’s Haunting Your House?
Playing Dress-Ups: Costume Enthusiasts Invite You Into Their Homes
Ok, Halloween wouldn’t be complete without some lollies, so style them in your Halloween theme. Put orange and black lollies, for example, in attractive (re-usable) jars and arrange them on a table at home for a quick and easy Halloween-themed corner.
TELL US
Do you celebrate Halloween? Or do you think it’s consumerist, pumpkin-filled nonsense? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
MORE
Halloween Quiz: What’s Haunting Your House?
Playing Dress-Ups: Costume Enthusiasts Invite You Into Their Homes
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Gee vandalism, accidents, assaults, robberies, happen everyday not just on Halloween or other holidays. As for commercialism look what happened to Xmas, Easter, even Australia Day!! Its what people call making a living by selling things no matter what the reason. If you dont want to get involved dont, its your choice. Its just another bit of fun that many people, kids & adults enjoy. Aussies love an excuse to party & if its somebody else's tradition does it really matter. We dont have any old traditions, we are still too young a country. So I dont see any harm in adopting others. Unless there is a Dreamtime tradition we could start celebrating. But we might need permission for that one from the Elders. Somebody might be able to help there. Happy Halloween everyone, boo!!!
Kim - you miss the point, you say it is my choice whether I get involved or not but where is 'MY CHOICE' if I refuse to participate in Trick or Treating and then have Vaseline smeared all over my front door or eggs smashed on my car windows? What kids don't understand is that MY CHOICE is whether I play the trick or I give the treat - it is not 'you give us lollies or we play a trick'.
Yes, we are a young country, but America, where Trick or Treating is observed in many States (not all of them) is not an old country either, this custom was taken there - particularly to California where it is very big - by the Irish settlers. However, Trick or Treating as it is observed today, did not actually take off in the US till the 1950s when the sugar rationing imposed during World War II was lifted. It is perfectly normal for settlers to take their customs to new countries, but when Halloween was observed in the UK for centuries before America or Australia were even colonised and we were settled by the British why did they not bring this custom with them?? There has to be a reason for it.
Halloween is about remembering those souls who have passed, I will be lighting candles tonight in remembrance of my loved ones. However in saying that I will also be decorating my house in skulls and web, I choose to do that because its something fun to do. I have made Day of the Dead masks and will be handing out candy with one on. Its one day of the year where we can do something different and have some fun doing it.