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| 明日はハロウィンですね。 / Tomorrow is Halloween. |
日本での最初のハロウィン仮装は、1937年、第34代内閣総理大臣近衛文麿の「永田町の近衛邸での仮装パーティ」でハロウィンを模した集会で行われた。Wikipedia ハロウィンより
This year, I bought all my Halloween decorations at TEMU.
Apparently, it's common to start decorating your room a month before Halloween.
Traditionally, Halloween decorations are supposed to be finished by October 15th.
It seems to have originated as a harvest festival and a celebration wishing for a bountiful harvest, but for some reason, I mistakenly thought it was held on the winter solstice.
While preparing for Halloween this year, I suddenly thought, “Wait a minute...?” Since it's October now, it definitely has nothing to do with the winter solstice.
Looking up Halloween on Wikipedia, I got the feeling it might be a remnant of ancient festivals from around the world that predate Christianity.
Since I'd have to research it endlessly, I chose to focus on changing my wardrobe instead. The concept of “spirits” isn't familiar to Japanese people, and I suspect there probably weren't any beings called spirits in Japan.
I like Halloween because it's a lighthearted, slightly amusing, and heartwarming event.
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| Halloween cake in Braga, Portugal : Joseolgon |
The first Halloween costume event in Japan took place in 1937 at a gathering modeled after Halloween held at the Konoe residence in Nagatacho, organized by the 34th Prime Minister of Japan, Fumimaro Konoe.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
So, given that, I think it's a bit mean to ask the leaders of various Christian denominations for their official views on Halloween, especially since wonderful young people started celebrating it in Tokyo, right in their backyard, in recent years. They probably knew this history, didn't they?
Looking at the Halloween page on Wikipedia,
Halloween back then had a bit of a spicy joke element to it. And since people dress up as fairies, ghosts, villains, and other beings considered bad or not quite orthodox on Halloween, I wonder what they really think about that? asking the heads of various Christian denominations for their official stance on this seems a bit mean-spirited.
It's easy to imagine that even those holding such strict official views would squint their eyes and say, “Well, today is private,” when small children, wanting to dress up, visit homes and safely say “Trick or treat!”
I've seen it happen before: a genuinely fun, heartwarming tradition suddenly ruined by strange people who arrive all hyped up, just to make noise, cause chaos, and break things.
Actually, in the town where I live, a beloved summer event that everyone enjoyed was ruined forever because people trampled the plantings and climbed the street trees, wrecking everything.
In summer, each town puts its own unique spin on things, quietly enjoying the thought of “this year again.” It was actually a wonderful day when townspeople dressed up stylishly, but on the event day itself, people suddenly appeared acting violently, shouting loudly and aggressively at quiet shop fronts—things they'd never do normally—mocking the shopkeepers' responses. I've even helped restore the shopfront atmosphere, only to be met with a relieved smile from the shopkeeper.
I've always wondered where these people come from, why they come knowing they'll ruin things, but I still don't understand.
One person mentioned how a wonderful Halloween celebration, created and enjoyed by lovely young people in their town, was ruined. They said, “If I'd known where those people came from, I would have done everything to stop them from coming back.”
As of 2025, what I do understand is that feeling.
It's different from just getting excited and having fun.
If you see at least three people in that state of excitement, shouting excessively loudly to intimidate those around them, quietly leave the area.
If there's no audience, they won't make a scene.
Don't even glance at them.
I'm not entirely sure why, but they get even more excited and revel in the chaos when they feel they're getting attention.
Create an atmosphere.
A warm, lively, healthy vibe—using the power of positive energy to suppress them is one approach.
Getting excited is different from screaming threats, acting like violence and destruction are okay just for that day, and running amok.
We all know this. So, if we're having a lively, cheerful, warm, and fun time, and they try to hijack it just to get attention, let's smoothly sidestep them.
That's all. Tomorrow is Halloween, right?




