Culturally, here in America, Halloween is a time for costumes, parties and massive consumption of candy.
It’s also All Hallow’s Eve, the day before All Saints Day: which is tomorrow, November 1.
Maybe folks in Seol’s Itaewon area were having Halloween festivities on October 29 because it was a Saturday. I figure they were looking forward to enjoying one of the first post-COVID-mask opportunities for a big Saturday night get-together.
At any rate, at about 10:25 p.m. a great many teens and young adults had been in a pedestrian passage near Itaewon station’s first exit. Some survived. More than 150 didn’t.
Seoul Halloween crowd crush (article title may be changed to Itaewon Halloween crowd crush (October 31, 2022))
Wikipedia
“On the night of 29 October 2022, a crowd crush occurred during Halloween festivities in Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea. At least 155 people died, and at least 149 others were injured….”“South Korea: How the Halloween tragedy unfolded“
Oliver Slow, BBC News (October 30, 2022)
“After more than 150 people died in a deadly crush in Seoul on Saturday night, the BBC looks at how the tragedy unfolded.
“By early evening on Saturday, thousands of mainly young people had converged in Itaewon in the centre of the South Korean capital, a lively party spot whose warren-like streets and alleys are filled with bars and restaurants….”“Itaewon crush: Shock and anger as Seoul grieves for its young“
Tessa Wong, Youmi Kim; BBC News (October 31, 2022)
“..Solemnly, they queued up — families with young children, office workers, housewives and retirees. Organisers handed out stalks of white chrysanthemums, a symbol of grief in South Korea, which the mourners laid at the altar with deep bows….”
A great many folks lost family and friends Saturday night. No pressure, but prayer for survivors — and non-survivors — couldn’t hurt.
Instead of talking about All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and why — barring another SNAFU with the household’s vehicle — I’ll be at Mass tomorrow, here are links to resources that may answer some questions. Then again, maybe not.
- USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
- Saints
Public Affairs Office - “For All Saints Day And The Year Of Faith: ‘Ten Saints Who Were Great Evangelizers’“
Public Affairs Office (October 22, 2012)
- Saints
- “All Saints and All Souls Day: A Time of Mercy, Forgiveness and Reflection“
Antonio Gaspari, ZENIT, Vatican City (October 30, 2014) via EWTN.com
Then there’s the matter of why I care about folks who live — lived — someplace that’s across Earth’s largest ocean from my home. And that’s a topic for another day.
Basically, it’s because I’m a Catholic. My faith is as local as the parish church. But it’s a ‘big picture’ thing, too:
“After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.”
(Revelation 7:9)
And Now for Something (Almost) Completely Different.
It’s been a while since I made ‘holiday’ artwork. And that 2019 “Happy Halloween” thing could have been a great deal lighter.
Maybe this year I’ll think of something for Thanksgiving. Or Christmas.
Meanwhile — shameless self-promotion follows — you can check out my gallery on DeviantArt:
Or click on either of those two images. They link to that picture’s page in my gallery.
Maybe showing pictures isn’t appropriate, after that horrific news from Korea. On the other hand, I can hope that sharing something non-depressing may be okay.
That’s it for today, apart from a short list of sort-of-Halloween posts:
- “Halloween, COVID-19, Wolfgang’s Axe and Apple Bobbing“
(October 31, 2020) - “Waiting on a Dead World: Science and Being Human“
(October 28, 2020) - “On the Halloween Express“
(October 30, 2017) - “Happy Halloween!“
(October 31, 2016)
