Halloween in New York City
Halloween. It is a festival, a holiday, a celebration that throughout history, has crossed the boundaries of cultural traditions, and has served to link generations together with the spooky nature of it all, handed down by our grandfathers. Grandfathers do tell the most spooky of stories after all. It is about all that in life that catches one, unaware. It causes one to perhaps question their beliefs, or maybe just to question who may be hiding along the trash bins in the alley. It conjures up images of ghouls, ghosts and monsters and witches.
The word “hallow” means sanctify. Sanctify is such a heavenly word, so why the ghosts and the witches? It is because it is truly a celebration for the dead. For ancestors or for relatives that have passed into the other world, the other realm of existence. It is a holiday meant to honor them. It has now become more, or less than, a religious holiday, and has transpired into what has become one of the most favorite festivals around the world.
Regardless of most religious beliefs, people celebrate in grand style, with costumes and merriment and a bit of innocently intentioned, wicked behavior. Should one find themselves lucky enough to be staying in one of the five star New York hotels such as the Tribeca Grand Hotel on this night, be prepared for the celebration of the Extravaganza & the Procession of Ghouls. This is one of the most celebrated of traditions in New York, a procession, in which everyone is invited to participate, that begins at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.
This annual event begins with the screening of a silent horror film, complete with the creepy organ accompaniment, and all in attendance is decked out in the most outrageous of ghoulish and ghastly costumes. The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari was shown in 2004, and the Phantom of the Opera-the 1928 version of the film was shown in ’05. Ralph Lee is the organist who accompanies the silent films, and also happens to be the man who staged the original Procession of Souls. The feeling is creepy, and ghostly, and fun. Definitely one the best times to visit the city of Manhattan.