For my fellow Khmer students, especially those new to American culture, you might be asking, "What in the world is Halloween?"
When is this strange holiday? It happens every year on October 31st. Why do Americans celebrate it? Its origins are ancient and complex—stemming from an old Celtic festival called Samhain, where people believed the boundary between the living and the dead was thin, similar to our traditions like Pchum Ben but focused on scaring away bad spirits, not feeding them!
What do we do? In the evening is all about fun. Children—and sometimes adults—dress up in costumes. Who do they dress as? Anything! Superheroes, movie characters, or traditional scary monsters like ghosts and witches. The most famous activity is "Trick-or-Treating," where kids walk from house to house. How does this work? They ring the doorbell and shout "Trick or treat!" The homeowner (if they participate) gives them candy. If you don't give a "treat" (candy), the children might play a "trick" (a harmless prank), the "treats" are the main event!
Why We Celebrate Halloween: More Than Just Candy!
For our Cambodian students, what exactly is the point of dressing up as a monster just to ask strangers for candy? While it seems silly, the modern celebration of Halloween—when it falls on October 31st—is actually important for American culture.
Why is it celebrated? On one level, it's a social ritual. It's one of the few days where an entire neighborhood comes together, and it's particularly vital for newcomers like many of us. How does it help? By participating in Trick-or-Treating, families meet their neighbors in a fun, relaxed way. This builds community, making newcomers and their children feel like they belong—it’s assimilation by sugar!
What else does it represent? It’s a huge celebration of creativity. Who is celebrated? Everyone! Students get to show off their clever costumes, adults decorate their homes as wildly as possible, and the atmosphere lets people enjoy being playful and a little mischievous. This tradition also reminds us of the holiday's ancient roots, where people dealt with the mysteries of the dead and the change of seasons—something we can relate to with traditions like Pchum Ben.
So, when you see a zombie, remember why we do it: to build community, celebrate creativity, and have a good laugh at the darker side of life!
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