Anyway, the aesthetic division of sacred=solemn=silent=orderly vs. profane=noisy=chaotic appears unmistakably European.

For example, it seems that only in the Philippines will one see images of Catholic saints being rocked “violently” back and forth to the sound of a brass band. (Images in Latin American countries, as far as I know, are paraded in a more “orderly” fashion.) This “rocking” is quite reminiscent of the treatment of Japanese “mikoshi” (palanquins for divine figures) and Balinese cremation towers. Perhaps these are signs of a pan-Asian treatment of religious rites? I don’t really know.

But, of course, in many parts of the world, being “sacred” does not always equate with being “solemn” and “silent”. This is what I find refreshing about Day of the Dead celebrations – death is seen as simply a natural process, rather than something to be hushed over. The aesthetic division of sacred=solemn=silent=orderly >

Having said that… I like Halloween, too! I never decorate, though, so trick-or-treaters hardly ever come to my door. Nevertheless, I still buy a lot of candy just in case kids come a-knocking. They usually don’t, but that’s okay because it just means more candy for me!!!