Do we wear masks only for Halloween? No, I am not referring to any tangible covering we use to enclose our buccal cavities or any of our facial muscles. As a part of the Homo sapiens species, most of us tend to create a façade. We put on a fake face while we hide the real ones on a constant daily basis. Life is a costume party where only the best dressed would win or rather, survive.

It is a defense mechanism; like how a turtle hides its soft, fleshy exterior within its hard, stony shell when it feels threatened. Showing our real face means exposing ourselves, outing ourselves to possible threats by revealing our most vulnerable state. So is Halloween any different from how we operate on a regular day?

I beg to differ. We often fabricate our true nature as a means to get by every day. On Halloween, we wear costumes often symbolizing our genuine perception of self-evaluation. It is the day where it is somewhat acceptable to actively expose our inner desires; to get rid of the metaphorical mask and start donning our actual one.

Maybe we’re all scary monsters or men who wear their undergarments on the outside. Who am I to judge? Am I any better? Are we any better?

The Conflict Within

Well, the answer to that would create a self-conflict. The devil and the angel on our shoulders would try to tip the scale of yin and yang to whichever side they heavily favor. But in the end, we are humans. We love to dress up and play. Maybe even the Halloween costumes were distractions from a much more sinister and bigger picture. Another fabricated façade?

Honestly, it’s not that deep, guys. I’m just trying to distract everyone as well; maybe from this so-called bigger picture.

Origins of Halloween

Halloween was established on the basis of the simple acts of “trick or treat.” Humans do trick and treat one another; maybe this was the subliminal message we were all yearning for. Anyways, Halloween originated in Ireland from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. It was believed that the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest during Samhain.

Trick-or-treaters usually go from house to house saying “trick or treat,” meaning “Give me a treat or I’ll play a trick on you.” This is usually done by kids, but trust me; you’re never too old for a couple of pieces of candy.

To ward off ghosts and evil spirits, villagers would wear costumes and leave food outside as offerings; an earlier version of trick or treating.

A popular symbol associated with Halloween is the jack-o’-lantern, a hollowed-out pumpkin with a face carved into it and a candle lit inside. The practice originated in the British Isles, where people used large turnips or other vegetables rather than pumpkins.

In Irish folklore, the jack-o’-lantern is associated with the tale of Stingy Jack, a man who tricked the Devil for monetary gain. When Jack dies, neither heaven nor hell accepts him. Condemned to wander in darkness, he is given a glowing coal to light his way, which he places inside a hollowed-out turnip. His wandering spirit came to be known as Jack of the Lantern, or Jack O’ Lantern.

The Sin of Stingy Jack

That is the price of dancing with the devil, for the dance with the devil might last you forever. He paid with his freedom; no salvation. His greed consumed him to the point where even eternal damnation would seem humane.

This story perfectly encapsulates how humans are a culmination of the Seven Deadly Sins. Once those sins tip over the scale, you fall into a pit of despair and torment. It is, in fact, human nature to sin and be sinners. But sinning comes with repercussions; Stingy Jack learned that the hard way.

Reflections Beneath the Mask

So, if we look at the entire origin story and true meaning behind the holiday of Halloween, doesn’t it truly reflect upon the fickle nature of human beings? Humans who tend to swindle others for their own gain; the same as Stingy Jack did, and the same way we trick each other on a regular basis.

Halloween could be a perfect allegory for that. But let’s disregard the negatives and dress up once in a while, for as Franz Kafka said:

“I was ashamed of myself when I realized life was a costume party and I attended with my real face.”

Maybe even we don’t know our true face; everything is so pseudo nowadays. Till then, wear your costumes, play pranks and tricks, and live life the way you want to.

Written by: Yeran Fernando

References: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween

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