Rhi Axtell – Writer

What I love about this time of year is how a lot of things go through a process which I call spookification. It’s the need to make everything spooky. This blog is a good example of this.

And yes, I made up the word ‘spookification ‘. Feel free to use it. I’m very generous with my creations.

It’s similar to Christmasification, but easier to say, and takes place slightly earlier in the year.

Although the time between the two does seem to get smaller and smaller. I’ve definitely seen some Christmas displays going up in some of the larger shops.

Anyway, I was reflecting on why I prefer spookification to Christmasification (okay, maybe I need to think of some better words for those two, but not today) and I realised a lot of it came down to vibe. I’ve mentioned this earlier, but I’m going to say it again – Halloween feels a lot less judgemental than Christmas*. I would even go as far as to say that Halloween feels more fun and joyful than its end of the year equivalent. At least for me.

*I’m saying ‘Christmas’ here because it’s what capitalism has decided to push around the end of the year to everyone, never mind what faith or lifestyle they choose to follow.

I do think it’s kind of funny that the holiday which is based around fear, and death, and spooky skeletons, is more accepting and open (to me) than Christmas. You won’t find demands for expensive gifts at Halloween. You won’t have to sit down for a meal which has taken hours (maybe even days) to prepare. There are no weird family dynamics that can lead to arguments*.

You can engage with Halloween at whatever level you want. And that level can be not at all.

*obviously this isn’t the experience for everyone but you can’t deny that tensions are definitely higher around that time of year.

I’ve always felt there is an expectation around the Christmas holidays to engage. Feel the ‘Christmas Spirit‘ and all that. People even get upset if companies don’t engage to a level that they feel is appropriate – what’s up with that? Seems like a waste of energy to me.

Anyway, this post got a lot deeper than I expected. Halloween is better than Christmas. There I said it. Let’s go back to what kicked this whole thing off: spookification.

I saw this spooky packet of crisps in the supermarket the other day and it made me smile:

Firstly, they are made ghostly by the addition of ghost chilli peppers, which sounds like an awful idea (but this is coming from someone who has the stomach equivalent of a newborn). Also they have the words Trick or Treat on them. Are people planning on giving these to children dressed up in cute Halloween costumes? Don’t do that! Don’t do that at all!

So silly. What a silly holiday. I love it.

But let’s finish on a big, dramatic note. Here is a reminder that overall, capitalism is bad, it’s corrupted the holidays, and we should just focus on spending time together and supporting each other, not just mindlessly consuming*. Woohoo!

*Especially if consuming said thing will give you a stomach ache.

See you tomorrow.