WY Halloween! University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY October 27, 1994
The Student Voice Since 1903
Origins of historic celebration diverse, Students, faculty ponder past, present share deep meaning activities of bewitching holiday season
Halloween magic
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Stories by Matt Williamson Staff Writer
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rapes were cow eyeballs, lukewarm clumps of animal liver were passed around at parties, and dunking for apples was still in style... Halloween has changed. Dr. Kenny Brown, assistant professor at UCO, has seen a few spooky seasons in his 44 years. "I had a fairly typical 'trick or treat' routine. I always pieced together an outfit that would keep me from being recognized," said Brown. "There were no door to door problems then. No razor blades in apples, that sort of thing has ruined the fun tradition," said Brown. Bill Deering, director of teacher certification at UCO also remarked on the change. "It was a neighborhood affair back then. You could go through the backyards at will. And you didn't have to worry about being run over (on the street)," said Deering. Dr. Tom Turner remembers a slightly more, well, a different Halloween. "The last Halloween I went, I think I was about 12, I went in drag. Mom's dress and a big blue flowered hat," said Turner. "It has simply gotten to be a lot more dangerous," he said. Brown takes a tough stand on the issue.
Editorial 2 Letters 2 World Wrap 6 Around Campus 19 Sports 8-9 Comics 19
Staff Photo Illustration by Christopher Smith "Maybe we would be work, but after hours is for fun. better off without it," he said. "I'll go to a few Halloween parties. UCO students have differing atti- Maybe as a witch or black cat. tudes about how they handle the occa- Something like that," she said. sion, but they agree with the profesMichelle Casselman, freshman sors, things have changed. biology major, wants to recapture Kelli Robinson, freshman nursing childhood. major at UCO , wants her children to "I want to go 'trick or treating,' but be safe during Halloween. it's embarrassing to my husband. Of "When I was a kid it was no big course, it embarrasses him when I rent deal to 'trick or treat,' now, when I'm Snow White," she said. married, I won't let my kids go house Razi Siddiui, senior computer scito house. You can't just let your kids ence major from Pakistan, sees the fun go somewhere and trust those people," side of the night. she said. "Halloween is a great holiday to For Gina Boyington, junior sociol- have fun and scare people, which I ogy major, the night will be spent at love to do anyway," he said.
SPORTS
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UCO Broncho wrestlers prepare for another run of the title.
onday night, children across the nation will don costumes of goul and gore. Of course there will be the usual "Barbie and Barney" wannabe kids, but for most youngsters, the mummy, a vampire or the black cat are the mainstay. Halloween has its beginnings many centuries ago, in varied places around the globe. According to Compton's Online Encyclopedia, via America Online, Halloween originated in the British Isles. The Celtic festival of Samhain was observed by roving bands of Guisers, young people in fiendish masks. The groups walked from village to village carrying lanterns carved from turnips. Ancient Druids danced in the orange glow of giant bonfires to scare away the roaming dead. The last night of October was the time the dead could return to gain their vengeance. If these evil spirits were not frightened off by the fires and skyclad dance routine, they had to be appeased. Prayer and sacrifices were believed to be demanded by the apparitions. Sweet food worked best to quell the evil undead. During the same time of year the ancient Romans honored Pomona, the goddess of fruits and gardens. Roasting nuts and apples over open flames in honor of the winters food store. But, a more sinister side also existed. Ghosts, goblins and fairies (not all fairies are of the Tinkerbell variety) would come into the cities to cause mischief and mayhem. After the celebrations, the paranormal creatures were once again banished to the forests. Today, the pagan rituals have been overshadowed by the Christian rites. The last day of October is the Christian All Hallows Eve, hence we get the word "Halloween," and the day after is All Saints Day. The children of today perform many of the same rites, but hopefully for different reasons. The masks harken back to the Celtic Guisers, jacko'-lanterns are the mutated children of the carved turnips. The treats in the 'trick or treat' are the sweet food of the Druids. The sinister side of the occasion is kept in the shadows. The western Judeo-Christian attitude is that the darkness can be outshined. The Druids still dance, the guisers still walk, and perhaps the dead do roam. A
HERITAGE
MOVIES
UCO's First Americans Student Association held a powwow Saturday.
Staff Writer Paul Eddy previews two upcoming movie