What’s so scary about Halloween? Let’s dig a little deeper in the grave and
find out, shall we?
Halloween is actually All Hallows Eve, the night before All Hallows (or Saints) Day, so it’s like turning the night before Thanksgiving into a special celebration (which, by the way, is now the biggest bar night of the year). Originally the day was known as Samhain (pronounced “sow-in,” which rhymes with “cow-in”), courtesy of our dear party-hearty ancestors the Celts. Then, as happens so often in history, the conquerors came in and changed things. First the Romans added their two denarii’s worth, then the Roman Catholics invented the silly All Saints Day hoopla.
Thank goodness some fun-loving party animals like us kept the fires burning and made a shindig of the night before the officially sanctioned holidays. So we amuse ourselves on Halloween to avoid the clean-cut holiday given to us by the authorities. Doesn’t it feel good to be a rebel?
Because Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, much of the celebrating this year starts on the eve of the eve of All Hallows Day.
How’s that for scary?
Now, what does this have to do with a music column? I was hoping you’d ask.
Leading the party on Saturday at the Brewhaus is Elvis Himselvis. He’s way ahead of the rest of you, for Mr. Himselvis never has to fret about who he’s going to be for Halloween. At the Alamo, also on Saturday, F5 will be helping give away St. Louis Rams tickets (they can’t give ’em away!) and cold, hard cash for costumed revelers.
Our only Halloween music tradition in Springfield is the Hobgoblinspookadelic, a NIL8-sponsored affair. This year it’s for all-ages-only on Sunday at Viele’s Planet with a slew of bands on the bill.
Somehow jazz and Halloween just don’t seem to go together, but the Jazz Society of Greater Springfield is sponsoring a Jack O’ Lantern Jam on Sunday with unheavenly hosts Bobcat and the Missing Lynx.
How many times, I wonder, will the lyrics of “Monster Mash” flash on the screens at the numerous Halloween-karaoke nights haunting the bars and taverns?
I take that back — I’d rather not wonder about it at all.
This article appears in Oct 28 – Nov 3, 2004.
