Halloween. No strings attached.
The pumpkin is bought, carved, photographed and thrown away. Huw looks at a ritual whose obligations have faded while its annual shopping list has flourished.
THE GIST ON HALLOWEEN
What does the supermarket sell?
A pumpkin, a candle and a few decorations turn into a recognisable celebration. The product is more than the vegetable: it is the short-lived experience of taking part, repeated in homes and photographs every year.
What happened to the meaning?
Huw traces a contrast between older customs of remembrance, prayers and cakes, and the modern retail ritual. Stripped of those obligations, the celebration is easier to join and easier to sell. No deeper commitment is required at the checkout.
Why does the purchase have to happen again?
The pumpkin rots, the decorations come down and the next October creates another occasion to buy. Huw's argument is that a tradition passed between generations and a product sold every year reward very different things.
Does this change how you see halloween?
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Quick answers
What does the supermarket sell?
A pumpkin, a candle and a few decorations turn into a recognisable celebration. The product is more than the vegetable: it is the short-lived experience of taking part, repeated in homes and photographs every year.
What happened to the meaning?
Huw traces a contrast between older customs of remembrance, prayers and cakes, and the modern retail ritual. Stripped of those obligations, the celebration is easier to join and easier to sell. No deeper commitment is required at the checkout.
See you on the next one.
What should the next one be? Suggest a topic for Huw to explain
The conversation
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