'In with the Old' this Halloween - Emma Coonan's monthly column

As the wind and rain circled our chimneys and battered our windows this week, it is a sure sign that October is drawing to a close. Our old friend (or foe) the clock change made its inevitable appearance, and with it an ‘extra’ hour to decorate our doors, guiding the way for any goblins, ghosts, or ghouls who may pay us a visit this weekend.

As this is our first Halloween with our little one, we found ourselves thinking about how we will prepare. Traditions of Halloweens’ past have gotten somewhat lost over time, precipitated by living in an area with few trick or treaters for the past few years.

This year we expect there will be quite a few goblins, ghosts and ghouls calling, and so I found myself in the sweets isle in Lidl musing over how old traditions can be resurrected as new and old visitors come into our lives.

In with the Old

One of the many text alerts I seem to be signed up to these days is for water disruptions. I got one of these texts earlier in the week to let me know there may be disruptions on 31st October. When I mentioned this at home, our collective first response was “what a day to do it - what about bobbing for apples?!” Not only does this response clearly show our age, it also got me thinking about Halloween traditions, and how these still shape our idea of Halloween today.

When I think about Halloween as a child, I immediately think about sticking my face in the bowl of water, cutting the pile of flour, and getting my front teeth clobbered trying to bite the apple hanging from a string on the ceiling, finishing the evening watching The Fog or Halloween (films which still scare me today). I'm sure Halloweens have since become much more advanced, but I am smiling as I write this, remembering hours of enjoyment from these simple games.

Having a new addition to the family, whether it’s a child, grandchild, cousin, niece, nephew, neighbour or friend, can be a great excuse to revisit some of the games of our youth. Acts of nostalgia can give us a boost of endorphins, which can elevate our mood and lift our spirits. Whether we reminisce about them or recreate them, events like Halloween can be a great opportunity to bring back in the old.

Making Room for the New

As energy boosting as revisiting old traditions can be, it can be equally uplifting to learn about and partake in new traditions. Little ones may bring home new ideas from creche or school to add to our repertoire of Halloween activities, or we may learn from friends or family. Trying these out may give us the same enjoyment as the first time we bobbed for that apple.

Variety and new experiences are as important for our wellbeing as returning to traditions which comfort us. Often it is when new visitors or new ideas enter our lives that we find the opportunity to experience new takes on old traditions.

This Halloween, why not consider how you can make room for the new. This may mean visiting a household where new games are afoot, trick or treating with a host of new characters (even though the traditional white bed sheet and kitchen brush has stood the test of time in my opinion!), or perhaps just adding a decoration to your door if you haven’t been inclined to for the last while. In this way we can make room for the new in our own way.

Bringing Balance for Wellbeing

Like every celebration, Halloween is not for everyone, and some may not feel up for or excited to partake in decorating or trick or treating. Again, like any celebration, there can be pressure to partake when this may not be in your comfort zone.
Whether you choose to turn the lights on or off this year, reflecting on the old and the new in our lives can help us to reset and rebalance. As it is harvest time, October can be a great time for this kind of reflection, as we gather in what we need ahead of winter, and leave behind that which may only weigh us down.

READ NEXT: Lack of Garda manpower in Roscrea raised with Taoiseach

This weekend, why not take a little time out to consider what your Halloween Harvest might consist of, and bring in the wellbeing balance you need ahead of the winter months ahead.

A final thought

Halloween can be a great time to revisit old traditions, or make new ones. Whether you find yourself trick or treating, or enjoying a quite night in, taking some time to reflect on ‘your’ Halloween can help to guide you into the next season.

Emma Coonan (pictured above) is an Accredited Psychotherapist with IAHIP and ICP, Lectures in Psychotherapy, and is a qualified Adult Education Trainer. After leaving Coláiste Phobal Roscrea, Emma studied English and Media in Maynooth University, before combining her Psychotherapy training with experience in the corporate world. Emma focuses on applying Psychotherapy practices for everyday living, through developing resilience, stress response, and mindfulness practice.