Halloween road racing: A run from the devil in Salem, MA
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If you head out the door for a run tomorrow morning, I hope you at least wear a cape and some faux fangs with your spandex. For the road racers in Salem, MA, there’s a new “celebration” that’s meant to combine macabre with mileage this year.
The “Runnin’ from the Devil” road race, co-sponsored by Salem’s municipal government, will debut tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for speed and costumes – with a specific honor doled out for “Best Devil” ensemble. And then there’s the distance: a clever 6.66 miles, starting and ending at the Salem Willows.
Not to be the Halloween Grinch or anything, but really? I know that nobody’s been hanged or burned at the stake in Salem for a few hundred years. But still, this seems like another bizarre example of the City exploiting their “witch-killing” history and somehow turning it into Halloween fodder. If you were wondering, other recent Salem innovations include fireworks at 10 p.m. on Halloween night and “Haunted Passports” with coupons for tourists.
I understand that Halloween and “witches” go together. But what does that have to do with religious extremism and the death of nineteen – likely innocent – people? Anyone?
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Good point.
Yet again, it’s not about principles it’s about $$$$.
I bet they don’t even think of the horrible things that happened to innocent people. It’s just a gimmick to them.
Littlebirdblue: I guess the “gimmick” is the entire problem. I mean, Halloween has nothing to do with witch trials. Nothing. Which makes it even worse, more warped, and more confusing. Not a road race I’ll be partaking in.
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ahh… let them do whatever they want. they’re not hurting anyone. i don’t need a bigger purpose to start drinking.