A Nose For Every Occasion

There’s something to be said ‘bout our sense of smell. Like music, it highlights certain moments in ones life. Freeze-framing a captured scene suspended in time, in our memories, prompt to remind us somehow when that certain scent comes whiffing through our path once again.

It’s the fall season and undeniably a time when the cool, brisk air combined with the scent of weathered leaves and branches fill the air as well as our hearts with memories of harvest, lanterns, sweets and merrymaking.

For kids and young people alike here in Canada, Halloween is the second happiest if not the happiest occasion for some, next to Christmas. Most homes and front yards will be decorated with grinning pumpkins, flying ghouls, thirsty vampires, sweaty Frankensteins and shrieking bats. The night’s eerie disposition will only be interrupted every once in while by screams of excitement and delight as ones loot container has nearly reached its fill.

The warm glow of the lantern lights will cast enchanting rays to the cutest little fairies you will ever set your eyes on adorned with silver wings and diamond tiaras. The most vibrant colored lady bugs in the company of Batman, Spidy and the displaced Arab sheikh will come rushing like waves. House after house, street after street on this the busiest night of the year. And then they are gone as fast as they came with only the contented sound of innocent laughter trailing in the air.

As I sit tonight in front of the house handing out goodies to all deserving sweet tooth, I am reminded of a different time. The smell of candles from the lantern also brings me to this other place. Warm and humid, with less exuberance but a more reverent occasion. It happens exactly a day after Halloween. All Souls Day. El Dia de los Muertos.

The mélange of scents from literally hundreds of fresh flowers of different varieties will permeate the air and slowly swirl with candle wax fumes and hang above like a shroud at this most illuminated area of every town and city in the Philippines, the cemetery.

This is the day we remember our loved ones who have gone ahead. Just like Halloween this could be the second most festive occasion in the country next to Christmas. There will be food and drinks served for well-wishers, friends and relatives who after a while of absence will regale each other with new events in their lives, reminisce the good old times with loved ones who have touched their lives in some big or small way. The bounty of course for every kid on this ambient night will not be how big his loot bag will be but how big a ball of wax he will make from the collection of melted candles he can get his hands on.

Ah, it’s getting late and it has gotten a bit nippy. Beer is not the beverage of preference for cool nights like this. I’ve started a sniffle. Happy Halloween everyone! Keep those candles burning! They light up our journeys!