Global Halloween: Torch-Toting Scots, Beetlejuice Dogs, Pennywise Children

We have Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, from the church, which celebrations began in the Middle Ages around All Saint’s Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2) as a way of honoring the saints and grew to celebrate the dead. In western Christendom the festivities slid to October 31 sometime in the 9th century, and embraces, in Mexico, the famous Day of the Dead. Braided into that puree of medieval tradition over the centuries in England, Scotland, and Ireland are also the older Gaelic and Celtic (read: pagan) harvest festivals harking the advent of what Europe calls the “dark months.”

In Scotland and Ireland, there’s an understandably heavier Celtic influence upon it all, rooted in Samhain, the pre-Christian Gaelic festival between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice marking the harvest. The Scots still hollow out their giant head-sized turnips to make “neep lanterns” which, in Scotland anyway, serve to “keep the evil spirits at bay.” Pictured top, the Beltane Fire Society in Edinburgh, on the annual march in 2023’s Samhain. They’ll be out in force in Edinburgh this evening.

There are plenty of Scots and Irish in Toronto, but the proceedings are somewhat more civilized, if not a bit Hollywood-twee, what with lapdogs decked out as Michael Keaton’s famous character. We love Michael Keaton. Not sure about the pug as Michael Keaton’s character; what with their overbred breathing problems, pugs are terrifying enough beings without all the costumery. But never mind that: What’s with the doggie cooking mitt?

It’s amazing what level of ominous-ness a headset and some sunglasses can achieve, in Istanbul or anywhere else. Let’s remind ourselves that Istanbul was, once, Constantinople, a seat of the eastern church — hence the Hagia Sophia — so it does entirely make sense that All Hallows’ Eve would be celebrated. The rather delicate little glass and saucer is the traditional tea service for that delightfully dark, strong, sweet black tea bustled out on huge spillproof trays down the streets of Istanbul’s amazing Kapalıçarşı, or Grand Bazaar. Unexplained is how the lady-ghost pictured above is actually going to down a sip without mussing her costume, or even see, or breath much. But that’s her Halloween problem, not ours.

We’re unsure how Pennywise actually fits, thematically or philosophically, into Mexico City’s Day of the Dead, but Halloween is nothing if not about wild juxtaposition, so why not. Pictured here in the “Zombie March” on October 19, this tremendously elegant girl is, first, loving her cream tulle dress, and the balloon appliques on it are worthy of Banksy at his best. Kudos to the loving motherly and/or grandmotherly custom couture, the fine maquillage, and not least, to her own ferocious, unwavering pride.