European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Sid Schapiro listen up All you ghosts gremlins goblins and assorted ghouls wednesday is halloween the night when you and the spirits Are licensed to roam the town. Supernatural horror is one of the most durable Staples in our popular culture. Why is it according to one researcher Quot we May understand it better if we turn to the origins of horror literature in the Western world. That takes us Back to the gothic novels and chilling shockers of the late 18th Century Quot from which we inherit our modern repertory of gho sties and beauties and things that go bump in the night. Quot to be sure there is a folklore of evil spirits As old As human religion. But the gothic novel set itself up in business As a strictly secular entertainment that stood outside any orthodox religious teaching. It surely had nothing to do with moral instruction or purification. They were hoped up from any materials found lying about a Christian Pagan heretical or invented out of whole cloth. They were simply out to Shock and scare in any Way they could a to make the skin crawl and the blood  literally the word halloween Means Quot eve of All saints Quot a Quot Hallow Quot being the old Saxon word for Quot holy Quot and Quot Een Quot a Short Way of saying evening. The name however is of Christian origin and refers to the evening of oct. 31 a All hallows eve or All saints Day referring to nov. 1. One of the creatures most associated with halloween Are witches and with Good reason. Halloween is a High holy Day for witches the beginning of the new year and the Celebration of the Quot tide of destruction Quot that is the coming of Winter. In Salem mass., a place closely linked to witches organizers Aren t Adverse to making the most of the connection. Quot relive the famous Witch hysteria of 1692,&Quot reads the Letterhead of the original Salem Witch museum accompanying news of haunted happenings 1990, an assortment of events calculated to Appeal to devotees of halloween. Salem was the site of Witch trials that sent 300 allegedly spell muttering locals to the Slammer 20 were eventually hanged and one the unfortunate Giles Cory was pressed to death with Large rocks. In addition two dogs suspected of being their friends were hanged. The world has never forgotten this demonic housecleaning and the words Quot Salem Quot and Quot Witch Hung Quot will forever conjure the image of a tranquil new England town gone mad. As it happens the history of american Witch Hunting a at the least the Pursuit of satanic representatives a not Only began but ended in Massachusetts since the Salem Witch Hunt was the last time in the civilized world that people were put to death for sympathizing with the Devil. Economics not trials has threatened to end the witches covens. As one wag put it in a study of regional customs Quot there was a time when Evey town Village and Hamlet in new England had its haunted residence but most of them have vanished perhaps because Yankees dislike tenants who do not pay  today witches get a Little More respect. Laurie Cabot who has Raven Black hair and wears a billowing Black caftan is the official Witch of Salem. She was so designated by gov. Michael Dukakis. The Honor was Given to her largely because of her work with handicapped children a Little known aspect of Cabot s career As a Witch. Cabot who proudly wears her Gold five pointed Star and witches rings inevitably spends much of her time explaining that a Witch is simply a Follower of the wicca religion or movement and is never a cackling Hook nosed Crone casting wicked spells and dropping eyes of newts into cauldrons of smelly stuff. More Well known Are Cabot s travels through the world of the occult which she simply defines As that which is Quot hidden from  Quot everything i do is scientific Quot she says. Quot psychic readings finding lost objects casting spells. It s natural not  the word Witch by the Way comes originally from the same Root As Quot wicked Quot and Quot Wicker Quot the brooms basketry and furniture made from the plaited twigs of the Willow tree. As for the Broom a Witch rides a it was for her As it was for everyone else an instrument for cleaning a working Witch s Broom or Besom is traditionally Macie of an Ash stake Birch twigs and a Willow binding with the Ash stake a Protection against drowning. Witches Are made harmless if detached from their Broom and thrown into running water a which is Why accused witches were dunked if you remember. Nowadays the Broomstick brigade is More interested in commercialism than evil spells with a big emphasis on costumes. Costumers say there Are several reasons for one baby Boomers Are translating their childhood trick or treating experiences into grown up costume parties. While fancy dress for adults used to be the province of the elite As one costumer said Quot now every bar every skating rink every disco has a  another reason is that poisoned Candy scares have spurred parents to make the trick or treat Holiday a family or Community event with greater stress on indoor dress up parties for children. And the widening hispanic influence in american culture has popularized springtime Quot carnivale Quot celebrations and made masquerade More acceptable year round. Several places Are getting ready for big parties. New York s Greenwich Village goes wild with its annual halloween Parade a recognized As perhaps the nation s Audiest. More than 250,000 people from the Tri state Are including Connecticut and new Jersey and beyond Are expected to pour into the Village area of downtown Manhattan a marking the 17th year for the outrageous March of crazed costumed revellers. And toward the stroke of Midnight on halloween a crowd will gather in the monumental shades of the graveyard in Baltimore where the famous author and poet Edgar Allan Poe lies buried. Poe lives and summons a crowd every halloween. He is the master of the macabre and truly the Man who owns halloween Midnight. Sid Schapiro a stars and stripes new York Bureau Retiree finds the old haunts just Aren t the same. Ghosts ghouls and goblins Are Back Laune Cabot official Witch of Salem mass., says everything she does As an occultist is scientific. At left a halloween celebrant gets into the spirit. A amps Dave Didio 4 stripes Magazine october 25, 1990