On Halloween, Do Demons Really Come out to Play?

Halloween, when ghosts, demons, and (judging from my neighborhood anyway) a lot of pirates walk the streets unrestrained and with an insatiable sweet tooth. All Hallows Eve (Halloween) inaugurates the celebration of All Saints' Day (Nov. 1), which commemorates the especially righteous dead who are privileged in heaven to behold God immediately (an idea developed out of biblical texts including 1 Corinthians 13:12). Right after All Saints' Day comes All Souls' Day, which is more inclusive -- commemorating all those who died and went to heaven. This year, All Souls' Day will end with a full moon, which many find particularly auspicious. On Halloween, what separates this world from others becomes barely discernible. So the forces of evil that want to prevent the Saints from interceding for humans take shape and work their mischief on earth... or that's what some believe, anyway. Wandering Richmond last night with fellow revelers, I can attest to lots of "demons" -- little and big, alike -- having a whee of a time. As for the forces of evil, I suspect they may not take quite the shapes we imagine on that night.