Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Whether we’re talking about fall festivals or Halloween, this is the season that launches us — with glorious color — into winter.
This season brings with it some unique activities: from pumpkins popping up to trips to getting lost in corn mazes. Children and adults alike have been pondering and planning for their costume for the 31st of October.
The whole community participates: shops and malls are gearing up for an onslaught of dressed-up little creatures; churches and other entities clear parking lots to set up “trunk or treating” events. There’s “Boo at the Zoo,” and Halloween costume contests and events at all sorts of locations.
At schools, endless preparations have been made for all sorts of related seasonal celebrations; from fall festivals during the day or evening, with games and activities for kids and parents, usually tied into an educational focus; some schools have children dress up as a character from their favorite book; others have a range of math and reading games with a Halloween theme.
It is believed that Halloween’s earliest beginnings were from the Celts in their festival called, “Samhain.” Building large, sacred bonfires, the Celts believed at this time of the year, after harvest, when the season was changing, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred. They would dress up in costumes to ward off ghosts.
As the Romans conquered these lands, such celebrations were folded into some of their own, such as “Feralia” to mark the passing of the dead.
As the influence of Christianity grew, the Roman Catholic church incorporated the day to initially honor Christian martyrs, eventually honoring all saints; hence, “All Saints’ Day.”
The Irish even had a hand in, as a character, “Stingy Jack,” tricked the devil and was not allowed in heaven or hell, but was doomed to wander the land carrying a lantern, later known as “Jack of the Lantern.”
Dia de los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead,” has become increasing popular, a Latin holiday, reuniting families’ living and the dead.
Dressing up in costumes seems to have remained a popular element of Halloween for both adults and children. Although the holiday focus might seem a bit dark to some, it is somehow reassuring to note that, still, the most popular costumes children choose are princesses and superheroes.
So, stock up on plenty of candy corn and other treats so you don’t get tricked. Happy Halloween!
Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the instructional technology coordinator for Clovis Municipal Schools. She can be reached at: