Around this time I nearly won a prize for best Halloween costume at my local haunt in Abu Dhabi. The thing was, I left early because I had to work the next day, so they gave the prize to someone else.
Maybe I should have seen that as reminder that, as an Australian, I really have no right to celebrate Halloween?
Or do I?
While the Americans have made Halloween their own, with lots of add-ons to the original, it essentially is a Christian celebration, albeit a fairly minor one that had its roots in pre-Christian Celtic traditions. That was until somebody saw its commercial potential.
The costumes, the cards, the chocolates and candies all keep the cash-registers ringing until it’s time to start thinking about Christmas (or Thanksgiving, if you’re from North America).
I suppose it’s all harmless fun — but whose harmless fun is it?
As somebody who has travelled a lot, and lived outside of my home country for a fair amount of my life, I’ve seen people of all cultures embrace each other’s traditions.
What’s the harm in Buddhists giving Christmas presents, or Hindus joining in Eid celebrations? As long as they are welcome to do so where they are, and they are respectful, it all adds to mutual understanding. And that’s something we have far too little of.
