This practice also allows individuals to feel freer about themselves. They might be emboldened to petition the gods for a favor or proposition someone about whom they were interested but would never have the courage to approach without a mask due to social taboos or other differences.
Samhain was, and is, a night for freedom of expression, for the celebration of what we truly are and would like to be. In the spirit of self-expression, there are two Halloween celebrations of particular note here in the United States: the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade in New York City and the Exotic Erotic Ball in San Francisco, California.
The Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village started as an unofficial gathering of drag queens who chose Halloween as an appropriate time to put on their most outlandish outfits and strut down the street to a disco beat. But over the years it has grown in scope and size to include people of all backgrounds, marching for all reasons. The parade starts at 7:00 p.m. on October 31st at Sixth Avenue around Spring Street and continues north to 23rd Street. "Parade" is almost too tame a word for the mass of costumed humanity that takes to the streets.
There are no boundaries between spectator and participant here. From simple ghost sheets to the most elaborate floats this side of Mardi Gras, everything is here and everyone can join in. Some of my personal favorites in years that I've attended include: a Volkswagen Bug wrapped completely in Christmas lights; a group dressed as New York City (each one was a different building, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and two as the World Trade Center, complete with lights in their little glass windows); and Tippi Hedren's character from the Hitchcock film "The Birds", complete with little seagulls on wires dive bombing at her head.
The parade is held rain or shine, so be prepared and get there early. Crowds start lining the sidewalks at 4 in the afternoon, and forget about driving. Most streets in the immediate vicinity are closed and the rest are at a standstill for hours, excessive even for New York City.
The West Coast has its own celebration in the Exotic Erotic Ball, held at the Fashion Center, a huge warehouse at 8th Street and Townsend Avenue in downtown San Francisco. The Exotic Erotic is held on the Saturday night when the clocks are turned back (this year on October 25th) and it's more controlled than the New York event, being in a gargantuan enclosed space. And yet it's even more wild, as people lose all inhibitions with regard to dress, or undress. Many people choose S&M themes, with a great profusion of leather and chains. Nudity is not only allowed, it is encouraged, and quite a few individuals let everything hang out. But even more fun are the elaborate costumes that many people take all year to design.
When I attended two years ago, there was one person (or perhaps two people, it was hard to tell) in a glossy green dragon costume with a long tail, long neck and a mouth that every few minutes exhaled a jet of flame. Everyone present oohed and aahed and kept a safe distance. Costumes are requested, but not required, and many people choose to be voyeurs rather than exhibitionists. There's live music as well as a DJ, and vendors who offer everything from Jello shots to flavored whipped cream to whips. Being indoors has its price, and tickets to the Ball are not cheap at $42.50 each. But if you're going to be in the Bay area, the spectacle is well worth it, and you can save money if you purchase tickets over the Internet at the Exotic Erotic web site. This web site includes a photo gallery of past Exotic Erotic Balls, but be warned - you must be over 21 and purchase a password for $4.50. Go ahead, it's worth it.
Here in Seattle there are tons of costume events to choose from. For those who hold their personal rituals on October 31st, you can have an early start at "Things That Go Bump In The Night", a huge gathering on October 25th at the Seattle International Trade Center. One of the biggest Halloween events in the area, there is a costume contest with a $1,500 first prize. Admission is $22.00 in advance, $25.00 at the door and includes dancing and hors d'oeuvres. If your Samhain circle on the 31st ends early, you can choose from The Phantom Dance at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral or The Wraith Party at the Annex Theater.
The Phantom Dance started as a Halloween tradition of showing classic horror films to the accompaniment of the cathedral's massive pipe organ.
This year, however, the pews will be pulled back for dancing and music, both live and DJ'ed, will ring through the rafters. Admission is $20, plus a non-perishable food donation. Snacks and drinks are available, at extra cost, catered by the Broadway Grill.
For those who just can't imagine a wild Halloween ball at an Episcopalian church, there's the Wraith Party. It's cheaper ($10.00 with a costume, $15.00 without) and you get more, too, with beer, cider and soft drinks included in the price. Don't worry about getting there late either. They're going strong until 2:00 am, and a direct quote from their web site states, "At midnight, with the wall between the worlds at its thinnest, we invite the dead to join the party, and the masque kicks into high gear."
Happy haunting and, as always, happy traveling.
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