Americans love their holidays - they present the perfect opportunity to go out shopping, decorate the house, give presents and eat and drink. One of America’s favourite holidays is just around the corner: Halloween.
Halloween (which derives from the Scottish “All Hallows' Eve”) has been a pagan festival for centuries. By the 12th century, the Catholic Church had added its touches to this pagan holiday and it evolved to become a day on which people remembered and mourned the dead. Back then, children and poor people would go round peoples’ houses and offer to pray for the dead in exchange for “soul cakes”. The tradition to dress up for Halloween also dates back to these times when people believed that souls would wander the Earth until All Saints’ Day (1st November) and All Hallows' Eve was the last chance for the dead to get revenge on their living enemies before leaving this world for good. To escape the vengeance of the dead, people would dress up to disguise themselves. Even modern-day pumpkins originate from these days: According to an Irish folk tale, Jack, a drunkard par-excellence, is denied entry into both heaven and hell and ends up the world with a hollowed-out turnip lit up by a piece of coal from the Devil’s fire.
Jumping back to modern day New York, the old believes have been forgotten and the traditions have evolved, but the old signs are still everywhere: Pumpkins and Jack-o-lanterns in front of every door, dressed up kids roam the streets but demand sweets to avoid tricks, instead of offering prayers for cakes. Even though the Trick ‘n Treaters don’t look as scary anymore as they used to, it’s good to keep company when they are going around and what better company is there than men’s best friend?
New Yorkers are crazy about dogs and it’s mind-boggling how many people have dogs – large dogs, not these small yappy ones – in a city with so little space.
If you believe the old saying that dog owners and dogs start to resemble each other over time, then it’s not hard to believe that dog owners start to look after their pets just the same way they look after themselves: organic dogfood, dog hair salons and spas, new clothes for dogs followed by photo sessions and, when it all gets too much, dog counselling (I have sat in restaurants with a special menu for dogs, where the dog’s food cost as much as the owner’s food).
Of course, to afford all of this, you need a full-time job. And if you're out working, you’re not there to walk your dog and need someone else to do it for you. A quick 20min walk around the block will set you back about USD 20 in New York, multiply that by two pees per day and you’re already looking at USD 40 per day (realistically USD 50 as you’d need to and want to tip the dog walker).
And while a dog guarantees that you won’t get lonely in this big city, how are you gonna make sure that your dog won’t get lonely? If panic already set in, don’t despair, New York has the answer: A super-fun Dog Halloween Party, including paw-dicures, a dog psychic, treats and of course a dress up and best costume competition!
Here’s some inspiration for costumes:
And if for some reason your dog doesn’t love this day after all, there’s always therapy…
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