I have been asked this question. So how do you explain (Heldwing) Halloween to a Khmer ?

My explanation was that a long time ago people believed that the dead came out on the night of Oct 31 and so they would dress up all scary to frighten them away...

This is not my part of my culture, so what would you say ? Keeping it simple please.

Next question: what makes a Halloween Party ? - again, keeping it simple and realistic for Cambodia.

Cheers all

Give me some candy or I'll vandalize your house/car

Anchor Moy wrote:I have been asked this question. So how do you explain (Heldwing) Halloween to a Khmer ?

My explanation was that a long time ago people believed that the dead came out on the night of Oct 31 and so they would dress up all scary to frighten them away...

This is not my part of my culture, so what would you say ? Keeping it simple please.

Next question: what makes a Halloween Party ? - again, keeping it simple and realistic for Cambodia.

Cheers all

Just tell them its a Barang equivalent of Pcum Ben but focusses on saints and the dead in general rather than ancestors in particular.

Kuroneko wrote:Just tell them its a Barang equivalent of Pcum Ben but focusses on saints and the dead in general rather than ancestors in particular.

Perfect description that they'll be able to understand, well done Kuroneko

Thx for the replies.

Kuroneko wrote:

Anchor Moy wrote:I have been asked this question. So how do you explain (Heldwing) Halloween to a Khmer ?

My explanation was that a long time ago people believed that the dead came out on the night of Oct 31 and so they would dress up all scary to frighten them away...

This is not my part of my culture, so what would you say ? Keeping it simple please.

Next question: what makes a Halloween Party ? - again, keeping it simple and realistic for Cambodia.

Cheers all

Just tell them its a Barang equivalent of Pcum Ben but focusses on saints and the dead in general rather than ancestors in particular.[/quote]

My personal musings:
I thought about the link to Pcum Ben, but it seemed to me that whereas this is all about connecting to and remembering the dead, Halloween derives from the wish to keep the dead in their place ? One culture accepts their presence as part of the community and the other has a ritual to keep them away ? Aren't Halloween and Pcum Ben coming from opposite attitudes to the same subject ?
(Posed as questions, coz I don't know much about this.)

But, otherwise, as a simple description : "Halloween is like Pcum Ben for Barangs where they dress up in weird costumes and party." Sound ok ? ( I really don't want to get into explaining saints to Khmers - not sure I understand myself )

The origins of Halloween are actually pretty evil, linked to druidic child sacrifice - the "trick" part of trick or treat was "if we don't like your 'treat' (voluntary contribution to our order) enough we're going to abduct and murder one of your children."

No, this is not a religious PSA.

Anchor Moy wrote:My personal musings:
I thought about the link to Pcum Ben, but it seemed to me that whereas this is all about connecting to and remembering the dead, Halloween derives from the wish to keep the dead in their place ? One culture accepts their presence as part of the community and the other has a ritual to keep them away ? Aren't Halloween and Pcum Ben coming from opposite attitudes to the same subject ?
(Posed as questions, coz I don't know much about this.)

But, otherwise, as a simple description : "Halloween is like Pcum Ben for Barangs where they dress up in weird costumes and party." Sound ok ? ( I really don't want to get into explaining saints to Khmers - not sure I understand myself )

Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain, The Celts used the day to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, and also believed that this transition between the seasons was a bridge to the world of the dead.

At this time the " cattle were brought back down from the summer pastures and when livestock were slaughtered for the winter. As at Beltane, special bonfires were lit. These were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers and there were rituals involving them. Samhain (like Beltane) was seen as a liminal time, when the spirits or fairies (the Aos Sí) could more easily come into our world.

Most scholars see the Aos Sí as remnants of the pagan gods and nature spirits. It was believed that the Aos Sí needed to be propitiated to ensure that the people and their livestock survived the winter. Offerings of food and drink were left for them. The souls of the dead were also thought to revisit their homes. Feasts were had, at which the souls of dead kin were beckoned to attend and a place set at the table for them.

In the 9th century, the Roman Catholic Church shifted the date of All Saints' Day to 1 November, while 2 November later became All Souls' Day. Over time, Samhain and All Saints'/All Souls' merged and helped to create the modern Halloween." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain

StroppyChops wrote:The origins of Halloween are actually pretty evil, linked to druidic child sacrifice

Could you please reference some reliable contemporaneous sources for this shocking druidophobic attack on my ancestors!