Haloween....

[imamartian]

Wikipedia says it's an annual holiday (firstly, i don't get a day off for it), to celebrate a holy evening (aka All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve).
But does anyone actually know what you're celebrating?

I believe it has becomes popular for 2 reasons... firstly for kids/youths to 'legally' extort sweets from people. And secondly for companies to hijack the publics desire for a party, to sell them millions of pounds worth of tat!

Forgive me, i am an atheist. Is halloween celebrated in churches?

 

[wotan]

Predominately an American tradition, one that we could well do without.

 

[noseall]

We live next to a churchyard/graveyard, so we do have a halloween party every year. The children run riot and the adults get mullered. It has developed into quite an event.

But the cynic in me does think it an excuse for a party.

Then again, look at any celebration, whether we actually believe in what we are celebrating or not, it does not stop many of us enjoying the holiday/party/ etc.

 

[masona]

Predominately an American tradition, one that we could well do without.

I haven't got a problem just for halloween party but trick or treats should be illegal on house calling

 

[BingoBongo]

 

[noseall]

Cynics and hypocrites sound from the same trumpet........

 

[conny]

The Feast of All Saints is a holy day of the Church honoring all saints, known and unknown. This is much like the American holidays Veterans Day and Presidents Day, where many people are honored on one day. While we have information about many saints, and we honor them on specific days, there are many unknown or unsung saints, who may have been forgotten, or never been specifically honored. On All Saints Day, we celebrate these saints of the Lord, and ask for their prayers and intercessions. The whole concept of All Saints Day is tied in with the concept of the Communion of Saints. This is the belief that all of God's people, on heaven, earth, and in the state of purification (called Purgatory in the West), are connected in a communion. In other words, Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that the saints of God are just as alive as you and I, and are constantly interceding on our behalf. Remember, our connection with the saints in heaven is one grounded in a tight-knit communion. The saints are not divine, nor omnipresent or omniscient. However, because of our common communion with and through Jesus Christ, our prayers are joined with the heavenly community of Christians. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 350) testifies to this belief:

 

[tim west]

so its not a night to go around killing a load of people then? oops

 

[imamartian]

Cynics and hypocrites sound from the same trumpet........

sadly i am a cynic and a hypocrite... for instance, i am an atheist who celebrates (albeit for my family) Christmas. And cynically, i see too much commercialism in all these events... cards (Xmas/Easter/birthday) costing £1.99 when you can buy a 3-piece suit from Asda for 43p.

But on the Halloween thing, i have two elderly neighbours, both just out of hospital and one rang us up on Friday asking if we were taking the kids trick or treating and offering the sweets to them the day before so we didn't knock and make them have to get up to answer the door.

I hate answering the door myself to random kids with The Scream masks on asking me to choose between trick or treat...
What happens if i say trick?

 

[Blasphemous]

What happens if i say trick?

It's a long shot I know but what about saying that when they call? You never know, you might find out!

 

[Steve]

It is very commercialised these days, I know this all too well. Even convenience stores sell a range of kids outfits and sweets for the event. We decorated the store too.

 

[Blasphemous]

Steve! You're slipping.... you forgot to mention the Coop in there!!!

 

[Steve]

removed

 

[olly_k]

Predominately an American tradition, one that we could well do without.

Samhain is very much a Celtic tradition, to celebrate the end of Harvest and a time where the the division between the living and dead is at it's thinnest. Carving vegetables (traditionally turnips) to ward off evil spirits from peoples homes is also a tradition from Celtic times something to do a with a mythological Irish figure call Jack, hence the name Jack 'o' lantern. I am sure Wiki will tell you more!

As just about every Pagen / Roman festival / holiday it was hijacked by Christianity and that includes December 25th!

 

[Homesafe]

it's the great american way of life , being bought by the wee us