as Halloween rolls around...

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

there's likely to be increased hysteria amongst many Christian groups...

 

"it's an evil holiday"

 

"witches will snatch your children"

 

"don't let your children participate in that pagan holiday!!"

 

etc

etc

etc

 

Actually, people, October 31 is a day.  Like any other day.  It assumes importance only to some (not all) pagan groups, and brings increased power to those who practice the Craft.

 

It's not, I repeat, NOT a day set aside for evil people to infiltrate or subvert Christianity.  It's a holiday brought to you by the candy makers, costume designers, and pumpkin patch gardeners.  It's a day for kids and adults alike to imagine "what-if's," and dress up in costumes to pretend they are their favorite real or fictional character.  It's a time for down home parties and innocent spooky stories, designed to delightfully enchant and hone the imagination.  It's actually a chance to turn a commercial day into one for a gathering of friends for a fun evening.  (Caveat:  there will ALWAYS be those who will use the day, as with any holiday, as an excuse to be stupid.)

 

Yes, All Hallow's Eve was originally a high Sabbat for witches and many other pagans.  But it's only a day.  If the Christians who preach against the modern day holiday of Halloween would stop and think, they would realize their children are not participating in Samhain rituals, brandishing their athames to invoke spells, or calling up the dead.  They are out trick-or-treating -- collecting candy that will give them stomachaches and a hyperactive "high"!

 

Halloween is not a day for which to be afraid.  Unless you happen to be a witch and have made the goddess angry...

 

 

 

[Woody]

Yes. Good post. Christians should not fear Halloween.

[JoeMo]

Great post, Pam.  And I think you speak as a subject matter expert (SME in business-speak).  It's a pagan holy day if you are a pagan who thinks it's a holy day; it's a reason for family, church, and neighborhood to have a get-together of you don't believe that.  Wouldn't that make it a matter of faith?

 

One should note that the following day - All Saint's Day - is or was a high holy day for Catholics for centuries.  It was like Sunday - you HAD to go to Mass unless you were sick or dead.   I don't know which came first - the pagan practice of Halloween or the Catholic practice of All Saints Day.