Halloween fun!
A spooktacular update just in time for All Hallows' Eve!
Autumn is my favorite time of year. Something about the atmosphere—the blazing color in the branches and the cool breeze, thick with scent of fallen leaves—invigorates my senses and lifts my spirits. I just thought I’d share my latest Hallowtide doings with you before the month is out.
Thanks so much for all of the wonderful feedback I received after my recent post “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts!” My thoughts on Halloween’s Catholic origins really seem to have struck a chord with people!
Raynham Hall Ghost Walk
Raynham Hall Museum, a historic colonial home on Long Island where I work as a tour guide, has a reputation as a “haunted house.” Having worked there for a little over four months now, I have yet to experience anything “spooky” but I can’t discount the vivid experiences of some of my colleagues. In fact, at this time of year, the museum offers “ghostly” experiences such as the Historic Spirits Tour.
The museum also organizes an annual Ghost Walk—a Halloween parade through the center of the historic Oyster Bay hamlet. Kids love it—and adults too! I managed to take some photos of the spooktacular event!
Horror and the Catholic Imagination
Gary Jansen is an executive editor at Loyola Press and the author of Holy Ghosts: Or, How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night, a memoir about his family’s unexpected encounter with the paranormal. He is also the author of Meditations at Midnight: Poetry and Prose, a collection of essays and verses that touch on the mysterious and uncanny side of life through the lens of literature.
It was my pleasure to collaborate with Gary on an interview for Word on Fire’s Evangelization & Culture blog all about hauntings, ghost stories, and the enduring battle of good vs. evil in both the “seen” and “unseen” worlds.
Horror and the Catholic Imagination with Gary Jansen
I think horror is compatible with the Catholic imagination because much, if not all, horror pits the forces of good and evil against each other. The horror I like best has a clear moral structure. We know who the good guys are, we know who the bad guys are—it’s that struggle between light and dark that resonates with me and is such a significant part of our Catholic faith.
. . . . However, when horror strays too far from this moral framework. . . where the lines between good and evil are blurred—it loses its power to offer catharsis. The focus shifts away from a clear spiritual battle. For me, that’s when it becomes less satisfying, because it undermines the heroism of faith. Call me naive, but I love it when the good guys win.
Gary has graciously sent me a copy of his latest book, Saints, Angels & Demons: An A-to-Z Guide to the Holy and the Damned. I can already report that it’s a beautiful book packed ith information alongside gorgeous illustrations. I can’t wait to review it!
Happy Halloween!
I wish all of you a Happy Halloween and a joyous Solemnity of All Saints. Please share this post with anyone who’d be interested in following my creative adventures here at Pageturning! I’m happy to report that this little newsletter is closing in on 350 subscribers! Thank you so much—from the bottom of my heart—for reading my stuff. There’s lots of exciting announcements to come in the months ahead. I’m so glad to have you along for the journey.
Do you have any exciting plans for Halloween this year? Let me know in the comments below! One of my favorite things about being a writer is the opportunity to connect with so many friendly readers from across the country and around the world. Let’s start a conversation!
Until next time, take care, God bless, and happy reading!