Dialogue: Festivities chance to catch up with family and friends

Last week, as I was driving, some pubescent little prats threw a firecracker over a fence at my car, which missed my new wheels by centimetres.

I felt like stopping the car and teaching the little buggers a lesson but, of course, I couldn't be bothered. Instead, I imagined climbing the fence and reprimanding them in a scary manner instead.

Like most mothers, when my world is interrupted by an unexpected wayward firecracker, I groan "Oh no, it's that time of year again."

(Why is it that simultaneously our male counterparts are exclaiming, "Great, it's that time of year again"?)

And now, come early November, not only do we have Guy Fawkes to contend with but also, shoehorned into the same week, is Hallowe'en.

It seems only yesterday that we assumed Hallowe'en would never take off. When the first signs of trick or treating started creeping into the neighbourhood a few years back, we thought it would be unnatural for us to adopt what we thought was a very American tradition.

But now that the kids, in cahoots with a powerhouse retailer, have embraced Hallowe'en with gusto, many parents follow sheepishly.

Of course there are some who steadfastly refuse to play the game. The classic argument against Hallowe'en is that the kids don't understand the significance of it. Neither do most parents. Not only does Hallowe'en remain a mystery to them but they write it off as a commercial scam designed to create a positive retail blip post Father's Day and before the school holidays.

But, since when did we really have to understand the true cultural significance of a calendar event?

How many people can explain to the kids why we celebrate Guy Fawkes Day without it sounding like an approval to blow up the Beehive and inhabitants. Few take time to muse on the failure of Guy Fawkes' cunning plan while lighting another Roman candle. And since we can't burn a Guy effigy on a suburban bonfire these days, many kids probably assume Guy Fawkes Day is some sort of ancient Chinese firework festival.

Sure we need to explain to the kids (particularly those who go trick or treating in their school uniforms) that Hallowe'en is not just about knocking on people's doors and asking for lollies. But there are other benefits to these calendar events. Aside from pondering their historic roots, such festivities allow us time to step out of the ordinary routine, to do something creative, interesting and fun and to connect with our extended family and community.

And that's why I enjoy Hallowe'en. It is the only time I have much to do with the kids of the neighbourhood apart from when they are selling raffle tickets. This round at my doorstep I also caught up with an old friend who has lived up the road for two years, yet we hadn't found the time or opportunity to catch up.

Our cultural celebrations are changing. For many years the majority of the population made do with rituals at Easter and Christmas and a somewhat begrudging acknowledgment of Father's Day and Mother's Day.

Meanwhile, our increasing ethnic population has been celebrating many festivals and events that help to bring to families and communities together and to keep cultures alive. No doubt some of these will eventually seep into the mainstream, making life in New Zealand more diverse and colourful.

And in this vein, in about one generation's time, trick or treating is bound to be a permanent fixture in our calendar year. Do we believe in it? Possibly not, yet how many non-Pagans or non-Christians give eggs at Easter and presents at Christmas? For those who think Hallowe'en is irrelevant to New Zealand, like it or not our kids live in a global culture which is heavily Americanised.

Every Guy Fawkes Day I am always on edge, shouting "be careful" reminders at regular intervals like a mad woman. However, it is a family and national ritual, and it would feel odd to ignore despite its true significance being overlooked and despite the irony of teaching children to play with fire.

As for those pubescent firecracker pranksters, I would have had to go easy on them anyway because I had just been informed that morning that it was the first national Children's Day.