Mountain Home uncovers the 'ghosts' of Halloween's past

Published Oct. 31, 2013
By Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The hands of the old clock stand vertical as tiny ghoulish creatures pass to and fro', their heads measuring eye to eye with the ghostly fog, snaking around the buildings, houses and yards of Gunfighter Manor. The base housing streets, which were once the pride of Mountain Home Air Force Base, now resemble a graveyard scene.

You've just entered the Gunfighter underworld, and you're about to embark on a ghastly journey through Halloween's history.

Though the festivities of the occasion are well known to most Americans, the history of Halloween is vague.

Halloween is a holiday customarily celebrated the night of Oct. 31. Traditionally, Airmen and their families partake in activities such as trick-or-treating, costume parties, Halloween festivals, visiting 'haunted houses,' watching horror films and other autumn activities such as corn mazes, haunted woods and hayrides.

Halloween - the Gunfighter Way! (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton/RELEASED)

History of Halloween
According to ireland-information.com, the day originated with the Celts of Ireland and Scotland, and was called Samhain. Traditions of the Pagan festival were carried by Irish and Scotsmen when they migrated to the U.S. in the 19th century. By the 20th century, most of the western world embraced the day as a holiday.

The term Halloween is shortened from All-hallows-eve, as it is the evening before All Hallows' Day or All Saints' Day.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, All Saints' Day is celebrated on Nov. 1. It is instituted to honor all the saints, and to supply any deficiencies in the church's celebration of saints' feasts during the year.

Jack duels the Devil
According to Irish legend, carving pumpkins dates back to the 18th Century and to an Irish blacksmith named Jack, who colluded with the Devil and was denied entry to Heaven.

Jack, a damned soul, was condemned to wander the earth but asked the Devil for some light. He was given a glowing coal which he placed inside a turnip that he hollowed out.

When the Irish immigrated to America, there was not a great supply of turnips so pumpkins were used instead.

Out of this legend, the tradition of Jack O' Lanterns was born.

Dawning costumes
Jack O' Lanterns are not the only Halloween tradition rooted in the Emerald Isle. Legend would have it, dating back to Celtic times, on Halloween night, when the living and the dead were at their closest, Celtic Druids would dress up in elaborate costumes to disguise themselves as spirits and devils in case they encountered other spirits and devils during the night.

With a nod to that history, today's children dress up in scary costumes and go house to house crying 'Trick or Treat' at each door. Although children today do not disguise themselves to avoid being carried away at the end of the night, those roots explain why witches, goblins and ghosts remain the most popular choices for costumes today.

A night of fun
For a large number of Americans, Halloween is a night for children to trick or treat for candy and for other fall festivities and does not carry a religious meaning at all.

For most, the night is exciting and fun.

Familiar sounds begin to fill the air.

"Darkness falls across the land. The midnight hour is close at hand ... ," the sounds of Michael Jackson spin on an old record player and flow from a Desert Skies resident's window. "... And though you fight to stay alive, your body starts to shiver. For no mere mortal can resist, the evil of the thriller."

Could the days of Pagan Druids be upon this remote base?

Surely, not.

Still, this Halloween, a look around the bases will reveal children and adults, clothed in creepy, chilling costumes, in much the same fashion the Irish and Scottish have dressed for this holiday for many years.

RELATED STORY:
Halloween safety tips

Commentary by Staff Sgt. Travis Scott
366th Fighter Wing ground safety office

Halloween is an exciting time for our youth. It's a time when imaginations run wild, allowing us to celebrate the onset of fall.

This Halloween, as with any, kids will run up and down the streets with their primary focus being candy and not safety.

Children lose their situational awareness as they're overwhelmed by the excitement of costumes and candy, leading to a staggering fact. On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween as on any other day of the year.

While unnerving to most parents, there are many safety precautions that you can take before bringing your children out trick-or-treating. Some of these precautions are as follows:

When selecting a costume make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and if possible, choose light colors. Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child's vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup whenever possible.

Have kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.

Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Following these simple but effective safety steps will greatly reduce your child's risk of succumbing to a vehicle mishap. On the same note, as you find yourself driving on the roads Halloween night, pay extra attention to your surroundings.

Whether you are passing out candy or taking the kids trick-or-treating, be sure to enjoy the festivities and have a safe and happy Halloween.

(U.S. Air Force photos by Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton)

USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)

News Search

Halloween - the Gunfighter Way