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HALLOWEEN: Ignorance Is Bliss
What are we really celebrating?
By Antoine Prins
On October 31, as we were driving back to France from the Netherlands, we passed through numerous towns and villages where excited children dressed as monsters, demons, and blood-covered horror characters were running through the streets in search of candy. Meanwhile, proud parents were flooding Facebook and Instagram with pictures of their little monsters, or of themselves dressed as serial killers, as though it were the most wonderful celebration in the world.
Ignorance is bliss.
When I was a child, this commercial spectacle barely existed in the form we see today. Now, it seems as though half the world has fallen under its spell. Children are loaded with sugar, excessive consumption of which is harmful to their health, while death, fear, blood, and horror are presented as harmless entertainment. As if these disturbing images couldn’t influence their dreams, thoughts, and emotional well-being.
But do we ever stop to consider what we are actually celebrating? What kind of symbolism are we normalizing, and where are we directing our attention and energy?
The Epstein scandal exposed how underage girls were sexually exploited for years, and how wealth, power, and influence can help shield such abuse. Then there are the deeply disturbing testimonies of people such as Anneke Lucas and Teal Swan, who have spoken publicly about their experiences of organized and ritualistic child abuse, including accounts of dark rituals and sacrifices.
They are far from alone. Many people have come forward with their experiences, often at enormous personal cost. Their stories deserve to be heard and taken seriously, especially when they touch on subjects that society would rather avoid discussing.
How much more needs to come to light before we are truly willing to look? Why can influential individuals evade accountability for so long? And why do we collectively turn a blind eye to the suffering taking place behind closed doors?
Meanwhile, the celebrations continue. Blood-soaked children’s costumes, demon masks, and bags overflowing with candy. Social media is full of it.
Perhaps it is all meant to be innocent fun, but I find it deeply disturbing how casually we embrace this symbolism when, for some children, reality has been more horrifying than anything Hollywood could ever imagine.
Whatever we feed with our attention and energy grows stronger. Is this really the reality we want to nurture for future generations?
Halloween as we know it today was largely shaped by twentieth-century American consumer culture. What once had connections to spiritual traditions, remembrance, and the changing seasons has evolved into a global spectacle of horror, consumption, and superficial entertainment.
But what have we forgotten along the way?
Among the ancient Celts, Samhain was celebrated around the end of October and the beginning of November, marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year. According to tradition, the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds was believed to grow thinner during this time. Fires were lit, ritual offerings were made, and the ancestors were honored. It was a time for reflection and connection with nature and the unseen world.
The ancient Norse also observed rituals around the beginning of winter, including Álfablót, when offerings were made to spiritual beings possibly associated with ancestral spirits.
With the spread of Christianity, these days took on new religious meanings. The word Halloween comes from All Hallows’ Eve, literally the evening before All Saints’ Day. On November 1, Christians honor the saints, while November 2, All Souls’ Day, is traditionally dedicated to remembering and praying for the departed. Families visit graves, light candles, and remember those who came before them.
In Mexico, we find Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead, rooted in Indigenous traditions and later intertwined with Christianity. Families create beautiful altars decorated with flowers, candles, food, and personal belongings to welcome the spirits of their departed loved ones. Not out of fear, but out of love, remembrance, and connection.
And this awareness extends across the world. In Japan, during Obon, usually celebrated in July or August, ancestral spirits are welcomed and honored. In China, Qingming, held in early April, is a time to tend graves and pay respect to ancestors. And in Madagascar, families gather for Famadihana, traditionally held during the dry season, to honor their departed relatives through deeply meaningful ceremonies.
Different cultures, different times of the year, yet a shared understanding that we are part of something far greater than our individual existence. That our ancestors are not simply forgotten, and that the connection between generations carries profound spiritual significance.
Perhaps this is the true richness we have gradually lost sight of.
As nature begins to withdraw, the leaves fall, and winter approaches, we too are invited to turn inward. To become still, honor our ancestors, and open ourselves to the wisdom of generations who walked this Earth before us.
A time to meditate, to pray, to remember our departed loved ones with love, and to reconnect with the relationship between the visible and invisible worlds.
Halloween 2026 has passed. But why shouldn’t we reclaim these special days and give them a deeper meaning?
Let our children dress up! But why not as our ancestors, angels, saints, or spiritual teachers who came before us? Let them walk through their communities together, sharing stories, singing, and enjoying the pure abundance that Mother Earth provides. Mandarins, apples, dried fruits, nuts, and wholesome treats, preferably organic and locally produced.
In doing so, we could transform this occasion into a genuine celebration of connection. One that supports local farmers, artisans, and small businesses instead of multinational corporations that continually push us toward unhealthy consumer habits through advertising and social pressure.
And perhaps it is time to question some of the other traditions we collectively continue to uphold.
Take Christmas, for example, or Sinterklaas, a traditional Dutch celebration held on December 5, centered around Saint Nicholas, the historical figure who also helped inspire the modern image of Santa Claus. In the Netherlands, children are often raised to believe that Sinterklaas personally delivers their presents, just as children elsewhere are told that Santa Claus comes down the chimney. Eventually, they discover that the gifts actually came from their parents all along.
Why have we normalized presenting these stories as literal truth to our children, while the original values behind these celebrations, love, generosity, community, and spirituality, are increasingly overshadowed by commercial interests?
Imagination and wonder are beautiful, but we don’t need to deceive our children to inspire them. We can share the real stories, symbolism, and deeper meaning behind our traditions while preserving all the magic of celebration.
Surely, we can create something far more beautiful than this!
Let us teach our children to respect life, nature, our ancestors, and the spiritual richness that exists throughout this planet.
And above all, let us stop remaining silent about the suffering others have endured. By supporting one another, creating space for people to share their experiences, and consciously choosing where we direct our attention and energy, we can begin shaping a different future together.
A world that is pure, honest, loving, and healthy. A world rooted in truth, compassion, respect for nature, and genuine human connection. Not simply the world we leave behind, but the world we consciously create together, through the choices we make every single day.
Ignorance is bliss. Until we choose to see.
I’ll leave you with this music video to watch: Avicii – For A Better Day 🎶
About the Author
Antoine Prins is a forester and co-founder of the Le Rêve de Gaïa Foundation & Academy. Through nature restoration, education, and community building, he works to reconnect humanity with Mother Earth, inspiring a more conscious, sustainable, and spiritually connected way of life.
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