The Academy Road

The Academy Road

The Academy Road

Recent Recent Stories Stories

Get to Know Jenn Fredrickson Hutchins

January 6, 2024

For the last 25 years, Jenn Fredrickson Hutchins has been an integral part of The Albany Academies. Her tenure started with a paper copy of her resume sent to the address...

The Road to Success of our Middle School Robotics Teams

January 5, 2024

  Both of our middle school robotics teams competed this weekend at the FLL Masterpiece Challenge at Shenendehowa High School. “The Coding Turtles” and “The...

Throwback Thursday

January 4, 2024

Adam Penrose '02, played baseball for The Albany Academies under esteemed Coach Dorwardlt. Now, he follows in his mentor's footsteps as the Varsity baseball head coach, marking...

Snack Shack is Back!

January 3, 2024

Visit the Snack Shack and support the 9th grade's fundraising. Ms. Marchetti's Room (AAG 50-06) E Block Lunch H Block 3:00-3:30

Albany Academy Cadets Suffer Narrow 2-3 Loss to Voorheesville

Albany Academy Cadets Suffer Narrow 2-3 Loss to Voorheesville

September 29, 2023

*Albany, NY* – The Albany Academy Cadets soccer team faced a tough challenge against Voorheesville, resulting in a narrow 2-3 loss. Despite the setback, the team showed...

The Culture of Halloween

The Culture of Halloween

For many, Halloween is a tradition that begins in infancy, involving elaborate costumes and Halloween parties that include haunted houses and “scary” treats. Trick-or-treating becomes an annual event that many engage in until their late teens, and at AAG, the holiday is associated with the glorified Halloween parade and the partial dress down day granted to Middle and Upper School students. The Halloween Dance, of course, is yet another example of the yearly traditions in which Academy students participate. Although this year’s dance, witness to several impressive costumes and what can only be described as an improved playlist, suffered from a lack of attendees, it was an otherwise enjoyable event.

Despite the many ways in which Americans celebrate Halloween each year, it is highly unlikely that many people could, when asked, actually describe the history of the holiday. Halloween, originally “All Hallows Eve,” used to be the event before the Pagan “All Hallows (Saints) Day.” Initially a holiday celebrated only by Pagans, in the 9th century it was declared a universal Christian holiday. Though trick-or-treating was not introduced until the mid-1900s, several other customs, including costumes, gifts, and apple bobbing, originated centuries earlier.

Just a few years ago, the American tradition as we know it reached an all-time high in popularity, and for several years was celebrated in European countries, including France. The idea, unfortunately, never caught on, and thus came the end of the Americanized-Halloween in Europe. However, Halloween does still exist in France — albeit in its own form called “Toussaint” — where it is marked by a two-week vacation for students. There are no costumes or candy in the French version, but Halloween has nonetheless made its mark internationally.

When I was asked to host a French student, I was perhaps just as excited as she was that she would arrive in time for Halloween, and would be able to experience the event in America. To begin the festivities, we embarked on a costume shopping adventure, during which, needless to say, she was a bit overwhelmed; as it turns out, the French do not often have an occasion to dress up in costumes. The venture was successful, however, and later that week we wore our costumes to the Halloween dance. Our next goal for the weekend was to attend some sort of event that represented the “scary” part of Halloween, and we settled on the haunted house in the New York State Museum. Though a haunted house in a Museum might not sound promising, it turned out to be extremely scary, and truly captured the essence of a traditional Halloween. Lastly, on Sunday night, we went trick or treating — the event that my guest was most excited for — and, I suspect, a reason for her October arrival. Despite the cold, we persevered for several hours and filled several pillowcases with candy.

All in all, the French student’s visit to the United States was a lesson in cultural differences, especially since she had the chance to experience an American Halloween. For one thing, I now have a greater appreciation for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, which don’t exist in France. Her visit also encouraged me to delve into our own American culture, certain aspects of which remain a mystery to the majority of citizens, including me. So while this Halloween may have been an enjoyable first experience for her, I can honestly say that it was an eye-opening weekend for me as well.