Halloween - Just an American Holiday?

I recently read a blog post by Jim Birmingham on Halloween in Australia. I really appreciate his defense of the holiday and especially his defense of the "big, bad American culture." But what I love more about this article is not Jim's witty writing or well thought out points, but the comments (which often he replies to). Many of the comments I find insulting, proving there is a large anti-American sentiment in Australia (but I already knew that as I have spent a long time on the receiving end of those comments from strangers, co-workers and even friends and family).

One commenter wrote: "It's all typical American BS like Santa in his red costume and tupper ware parties etc...It's about boycotting American cultural imperialism."

To which Jim replied: "the US embassy just called and they want us to take back Russ and Nicole and Hugh and the Wiggles and Mel (oh man, they really to give him back) and uncle Rupe and... oh well, they're all coming home cos America is sick of our cultural imperialism."

And other comments that have been left are: "The brain dead Austericans (nothing to do with austere) should stay amongst peers and not drag the rest down with them." I don't know who he is, but I'd never let my kids knock on his door, not even to sell him good ol' Aussie Girl Guide biscuits. I am also sure that might be a racist attitude isn't helping me believe Australians are so wonderful and Americans are bad. Nicholas Negroponte said "Nationalism is a disease." And Americans aren't the only ones afflicted with it. Perhaps there is also an 'Ugly Australian' to mix with the 'Ugly American'?

"I, for one, welcome our new Seppo cultural overlords. Australia could use more guns. Especially assault rifles. Would LOVE an M4." Not everyone in America owns a gun or even likes them, so this joke, at the best of times, is an over-generalisation. I for one don't and I don't like them nor have a use for one under my pillow or in my closet or attached to my hip.

"The Seppos have just done what they do best, taken it over and commercialised the crap out of it for the rest of us." To be fair, Australia puts out KILOS of Christmas decorations in September. And for Australia Day every store sells anything and everything with an Australian flag on it, down to underwear and stubbie holders. But no, Americans are the only ones that commercialise things.) Also, 'Seppo' is a lovely phrase for an American national, derived from septic tank. Thanks.

All this anti-American sentiment is interesting. I get that most Australians hate how much of our businesses and TV shows have crept into their society. And yet I see so many people with McDonald's bags and coke in their hands. There is clearly a love/hate relationship going on here.

There is also a tendency to lump every single American into them mix for causing either the Iraq of Afghanistan war (believe me, I cried when we invaded Iraq. And they were not tears of joy). I don't like to be judged by my former dimwitted President anymore than Australians want to judged as being like Steve Irwin or Paul Hogan.

I don't think my culture is superior in any way. There are plenty of things I choose actively to avoid. And there are things that I love. The point is, my culture and traditions are more a reflection of my family and the way I grew up than just what country I grew up in. The things I will carry with me and share with my children are the things that shaped my life in a positive and wonderful way. Friday family dinners, homemade Halloween costumes, baking Christmas cookies, pumpkin pies and apple pies (made the same way my Grandmother made them and then my mother and now me), decorating two Christmas trees (the big one and the kids one full of homemade ornaments from class and scouts), a stuffed bunny and a book in every Easter basket and red hots with homemade potato salad for every summer celebratory picnic). These are the traditions that make me...me. Not American or a Seppo or a converted Australian. ME. And I get to define that.

But back to the debate at hand. My final favourite comment from Jim's blog: "You hammer us but give no good cohesive reason for it other than the kids love the sugar rush and its a good excuse to get drunk. So i suppose in a way that is an Aussie pastime. But you can apply that to just about anything can't you.

So are you going to celebrate Thanksgiving too?" I have to agree with that getting drunk for every holiday seems like an Aussie pastime.

As for Thanksgiving, I'd prefer Australians don't celebrate it. Now that's a holiday that I can proudly say has roots that are truly American (unlike Halloween, though I guess television has confused most Australians a bit about reality). Thanksgiving was celebrated by the pilgrims in 1621 after their first successful and plentiful harvest. They invited the Native Americans to share the feast with them (back before the incoming white people turned on them). It wasn't a true national holiday until 1863 in the midst of the Civil War--thank you, Lincoln.

So no, I don't want Australians celebrating that holiday. But to put up a big fuss about Halloween, whose origins are much much much older than America is a bit silly. I resent being told by Australians that as an American I must be a gun-loving, SUV driving, war-loving, ignorant individual who wants to impose my culture on everyone else. You and you alone can decide what traditions you want to make for yourself and your family.

And me? I'm keeping Halloween.