Oct

19

Changing Traditions

Posted by maureen

October 19, 2007 |

Halloween is almost here again and it got me thinking about the globalization of everything. When we arrived in the US just over 29 years ago one of the first American traditions that we encountered was Halloween. It was completely new and strange to us and although none of our children had ever dressed up as little goblins and ghosts and gone door to door begging for candy, they soon got into the swing of things. And how! Funny enough Halloween originated from an ancient pagan festival celebrated by Celtic people over 2,000 years ago the United Kingdom, but it took the Americans to show us how to celebrate it in style. Things have changed though and Halloween is not just for Americans anymore. Like so many things you can now you can see the event mirrored on foreign shores.

Of course these weren’t the only “differences” we found in our adopted country. We had never enjoyed the taste of hamburgers cooked on a grill, drank cold beer, had more than two television stations to choose from or eaten out on a regular basis. I had also never seen so many white teeth and perfect smiles or such large portions of food served in restaurants. People didn’t walk to the store and there was an endless stream of yellow buses to get our children to and fro school. But that was then.

Now when I visit I am just as likely to be invited to a grill out and offered a glass of wine (the influence of their French neighbors) than the traditional fish and chips and warm pint of beer. Walking is practiced less often and more people drive cars than ride buses. They even wear shorts out (previously, only wore in your own back yard or at the beach) Even the items in the grocery stores are sold in larger quantities. (Yes, they have been super- sized!) I remember the first time I went back all the packages looked like miniatures.

Of course it’s easy to feel nostalgic for the way things were; to cross that great expanse of ocean and find a different place with people who have their own foods, habits and traditions. How exciting to be able to indulge yourself for a while in something new and foreign. But the truth is change is inevitable and it changes because most people want it to change. Inevitably we will become less different and share more of the same things.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. wedding supplies on October 21, 2007 9:04 pm

    I think Halloween is actually more fun for adults. It’s so fun to see your own kids reactions at they hit the mother load

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