Halloween [October 31]
October 24, 2007
Halloween: Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!
Aw yes, I remember the good old days growing up when everyone in my elementary school class would wear their costumes to school on Halloween… Oh, how times have changed!
It’s interesting to observe how the perception and concept of Halloween has evolved as people grow older. Specifically, the Halloween scene in college is definitely different from the innocent elementary ‘trick-or-treat‘ days.
Back in the day, it was a contest to see who could fill up their goody bags with the most candies or to see who had the scariest or most imaginative costume. As adults, it appears that it’s become a competition to see whose costume is the most scandalous or the sexiest.
Even one of the managers of Red Light, a vintage costume shop on the Ave, Drew Elliot joked, “now it seems that alcohol has replaced candy,” about how people associate Halloween with heavy partying in college.
Although it may seem that way for college students, not everyone has the intention to “party” on this spooky hallow-day. When asked about the best part of Halloween, Elliot elaborated on the excitement and surprises of seeing his co-workers’ costumes and just being able to hang out with close friends. One of the coolest costumes he’s seen in recent years was a life-sized Mariners bobble-head.
Who knows, both candy and alcohol will probably be consumed this Halloween but as long as everyone is safe and there isn’t pumpkin residue left on anyone’s porches, I think we’ll all be happy.
Columbus Day [October 12]
October 12, 2007
Columbus Day: Celebration of diversity or rememberance of genocide?
Columbus Day, commemorated on the second Monday of October, is a national holiday that celebrates the anniversary of Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the Americas back in 1492.
To satiate my curiosity about the celebration of when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, I decided to interview a UW professor that I thought might give some insight and perspective on his thoughts of this so-called holiday.
Columbus Day, also known as ‘El Dia de la Raza’ which means ‘The Day of the Race’ in Spanish, is also celebrated in other parts of the world such as Central and South American countries.
Fortunately, I was able to contact an individual who had some background in Italian history. When asked about the opposition of Columbus Day, professor Giuseppe Leporace of the UW Division of French & Italian Studies, believes that “this holiday should be dropped by our calendar because it perpetuates values which are against many people who suffer and continue to suffer the injustice of the past.” He also felt that Columbus Day helps create awareness about Italy and its people but the wrong side of its rich and relevant culture.
Many view this holiday as a celebration of cultural diversity but others believe it to be an annual reminder of the negative remnants of history.
What do you think?
