Op-Ed: Halloween’s Celtic roots are a lot spookier than witches and candy bars
Halloween, the holiday that has inspired countless horror movies and books as well as the practice of decorating houses to resemble their haunted appearances, is a time when many Americans are filled with the energy of a big, scary day.
The day is filled with good cheer and celebration, but we also know that life’s celebrations can be a bit too much. A few studies have suggested that, ironically, the spookier a day is, the more likely you are to experience negative emotions and negative thinking, suggesting that we all need to get a little more scary in our Halloween celebrations.
And if you’re having any trouble sleeping, a little spookiness might be the answer to your woes. When asked about the source of their Halloween energy, most people said something like this: “It’s just a holiday. It’s not a bad thing. Don’t try to change it.” It’s worth thinking about the reasons why your heart may be skittering, but it’s not necessary to be a witch to feel the spookiness of Halloween.
Here’s a quick look at some of the spooky, creepy, and downright spooky things out there for Halloween. I’ve also included a few tips on how to enjoy this holiday a little more in the spirit of its spirit.
More than 300 million people celebrate Halloween each year
You might think of Halloween as one of the few holidays about which Americans are especially cheerful. You’d be wrong.
According to the U.S. Census, approximately 300 million people around the world, mostly in Europe, Mexico, South America, and Central America, celebrate Halloween. And one reason this is the case: Halloween has spread to many non-Western cultures far more than any other day of the year.
“It’s a global holiday,” says David Lewis, the author of The Weirdest Halloween Ever: A Year in the World’s Most Spooky Holiday. “It’s not a holiday in the U.S. that