DUNSTABLE, Bedforshire, England – October 31st is always an interesting day in Britain. A lot of the time, you forget what it means, and then, on the train home, you take a glance over to the person next to you, and realize it’s a ghost, Grim Reaper or Devil. It’s definitely a thought-provoking moment.
Quirkiness aside, it is one of the best holidays, not only because everyone can enjoy it, but it draws attention to the other beings who, some say, walked, and continue to walk, this earthly realm.
For a paranormal fiend like me, Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is a highlight, and a chance to turn the usual order of things around. I’ve seen dozens of kids out trick-or-treating, loads of stands in shops with costumes and props and mountains of Halloween-themed food.
Like most Halloween lovers around the world, I was looking forward to costume-watching, a slasher movie and carving a pumpkin this year. Substitute the last activity for carving an orange, and ending up wearing most of it, and you have the very unique way I’ve celebrated this year.
My final efforts are documented for all to see. To be fair, it could have been a lot worse, but for all those thinking an orange can substitute for a pumpkin – it really can’t. The British ‘make-do and carry on attitude’ didn’t work out this time.
In some ways, it would be nice to have a more American, all-out take on this holiday, because it’s so fantastically bizarre and unique. Having more haunted houses, or even a bank holiday, would definitely go down well.
Add to that the fact that we’ve had the warmest Halloween on record this year, with temperatures reaching around 20 degrees Celsius – or 68 degrees Fahrenheit – in in most places, Halloween 2014 seems to have been one of the best ones yet. Now for Bonfire Night.
Myah Guild is a Senior Reporter Youth Journalism International.
