The Phoenix
What image, what myth, what spirit can lead us out of darkness towards renewal?
The catastrophic events of September 11 left us all suspended in a state of remorse, anger, and powerlessness. At the Village Halloween Parade, we understood that we had to rethink our plans, to envision a way to address the tragedy and turn our collective energies toward the healing of New York. We looked for guidance, as the Parade has always done, across the span of world cultures, and found one mythical creature who, since ancient times, has always endured destruction to rise again - the Phoenix.
Every 500 years, this magical and resplendant bird is consumed by fire, only to rise - reborn - from its own ashes. The firebird transcends culture. It has travelled through the wonder-tales of Egypt, China, Russia, and Central America. On october 31st, 2002, the Village Halloween Parade brought the Phoenix to where it was needed most - to the people of New York.
