“Daniels asserts that far from being harmless fun, Halloween is a veritable doorway to hell, full of literal monsters.”
To be blunt, Halloween is the Celtic “New Year’s Eve” celebration.
Nothing more, nothing less.
That night is when the “veil between the worlds” is thought be its thinnest and the Celts put out food for wandering dead ancestors to placate them and much later, costumes were adopted to keep disgruntled ‘dearly departeds’ from identifying and harming the living.
*Much* later it was popularized with trick or treat stuff.
99% of the time, people aren’t even celebrating Halloween on the “real” day, any way.
Pat’s off the beam [or on Jim Beam] with this one.
Having said all that, -animals- are in far more danger than humans because of wanna-be “Satanists” and “left hand path magickal practioners”.
The local SPCAs places a moratorium on adopting specific breeds/colors of dogs and cats during late September/October because of this.
Words to the wise...whether you own a “Germanic” breed of dog or simply a black dog or cat, [or any black animal, really] do NOT leave it outside unattended EVER during the period leading up to Halloween, which may stretch from the full moon/dark moon in October clear up until the 8th of November.
[different “traditions” observe different “real Halloween” dates]
*Astronomically* speaking, the “true day” of Halloween is whatever day the sun is in 15° Scorpio.
That will occur on November 7, 2009.
This is NOT a “joke” or paranoid flight of fancy.
The “cleanup” by the SPCA after Halloween is gruesome and we’re not exactly an area known for being heavily infested by animal sacrificers.
Those people come here for the isolation and mythological/magickal history afforded by the Appalachian mountains.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Historically speaking, it's not.
Only goofy "neo-pagans," some gullible (or careless) Protestants, and those who read the 19th century literature uncritically make the connection between Samhain and All Hallows Eve.
And there's no such thing as a pan-Celtic "New Year's Eve" celebration.
.
Halloween to me is a chance to empty out the scrap bag making costumes, gorge myself on the kid’s loot, and de-brain pumpkins. Nothing more.
And if you disagree with me, then you, sir, are worse than Hitler. /Gutfeld.