Nearly two years have passed since the devastating incident on Oct 29, 2022. That night left 159 celebrators tragically deceased and families of the departed unexpectedly grief-stricken. Indeed, the mournful memory of the incident will never be forgotten; it will serve as a grave reminder of the latent dangers accompanying large festivals.

As the day of halloween approaches, many are left to wonder if the interim of mourning between the incident and the forthcoming halloween suffices the lamentable sufferings of the victims of the incident and their families.

Shortly after the Itaewon incident, our community—the Cornerstone community —prayed in expression of our sympathy towards the bereaved. On the first anniversary of the tragic incident, a set of memorials called “The Path of Memory and Safety” were installed in commemoration of the passed. Halloween in Itaewon following the incident was subdued, in respect of the deceased and in reflection of the perils last perceived.

Such tributes and remembrances provide some solace for the grieving and are a meaningful way of honoring those departed. They also serve as a warning aimed at preventing the repetition of this dreadful incident.

Halloween’s origin begins thousands of years ago with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The ancient Samhains believed in a “dark half of the year,” which started from October 31st and lasted until November 1st. On that day—the day of Halloween—it was believed that the souls of the dead returned to their homes as ghosts, marking the start of a delightful—and dark—part of a year.

*Photograph of the Itaewon incident commemoration site (Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images)