Halloween Countdown 2017, Day 11
We can all agree that death sucks. But I think we can also agree that if we’re going to die, we may as well eat a lot of candy before we go.
Halloween is one of many "memento mori" traditions designed to make death just a little bit more fun—and provide an age-appropriate hint to children about an inescapable fact of life, which is that life ends.
This has emotional benefits. As Oliver Burkemen notes in his essay “The Positive Power of Negative Thinking,” one study found that walking through a graveyard made people 40 percent more likely to help a stranger than walking down an ordinary block; another found that visualizing death can lead us to become more grateful for the things we have in life.
- “Five Reasons Why Humans Need Halloween“ by Jeremy Adam Smith
As one of the “naturally cantankerous and gloomy,” I also recommend the related/linked (and Halloween-relevant) article “The Positive Power of Negative Thinking.”
The artwork is october/ and october// by the very talented Ogvi.
Halloween is one of many "memento mori" traditions designed to make death just a little bit more fun—and provide an age-appropriate hint to children about an inescapable fact of life, which is that life ends.
This has emotional benefits. As Oliver Burkemen notes in his essay “The Positive Power of Negative Thinking,” one study found that walking through a graveyard made people 40 percent more likely to help a stranger than walking down an ordinary block; another found that visualizing death can lead us to become more grateful for the things we have in life.
- “Five Reasons Why Humans Need Halloween“ by Jeremy Adam Smith
As one of the “naturally cantankerous and gloomy,” I also recommend the related/linked (and Halloween-relevant) article “The Positive Power of Negative Thinking.”
And speaking of visualizing death, I found this list to be helpful: “Here’s how to get your Halloween TV fix this year.”
Here’s another great link for the season: “8 Chilling Reads from Around the World.”
The artwork is october/ and october// by the very talented Ogvi.