Halloweenies -- The ghouls of political correctness take the fun out of being a kid

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Saturday, November 01, 2003 | Francine E. Rose

[Willie Green]

Halloween is over, but I can still see beaming ghosts and goblins, witches and sorcerers, monsters and hip-hop stars parading around outside my local elementary school yesterday. They were the lucky kids; many schools offered only "harvest celebrations" yesterday.

The harvest celebrators saw Halloween as someone else's holiday. When my children were in preschool, both Jewish and Christian schools objected to Halloween. The Jewish preschool teachers explained to me, a Christian, that Halloween celebrated a Christian holiday, All Saint's Day. Though I grew up Catholic, this was news to me, but OK, no Halloween party in Jewish preschool. One year later, in a Christian preschool: no Halloween party because Halloween was a devil-worshipping, Satanic holiday.

[Willie Green]

Luckily, the area has some events for the children. On Thursday I took my seven-year-old grandson to the Halloween Festival at Silver Springs Nature Park
Last night we went to the local mall which has a special Halloween event each year.

I think it's wonderful that more rural communities make such arrangements for the children to enjoy. Out in the country, the homes are spaced way too far apart for the little tykes to go door-to-door.

[Merdoug]

I don't consider Halloween a "Christian" holiday just like I don't consider Christmas a totally Christian holiday. Both were stolen from older celebrations by the Christians, who bullied, pressured and beat-in-the-head older groups into believing the "true" religion. It's pretty ironic that Christians feel that "their" holidays have been taken over by commericalism when it isn't "their" holidays to start with. On the plus side, Christianity has given us nifty stuff like witches and devils, not to mention talking manger animals and lit-up plastic angels to sit on top of the roof. :)

[moodymare]

The Halloween PC police haven't hit our town yet. The schools still had Halloween parties and we had over 100 kids haunt our door last night.
mm

[nmh]

I'm glad my daughter doesn't celebrate Halloween at school. We prefer "harvest celebrations". Outside of school she goest to a party, dressed up and they then celebrate Reformation Day in honor of Luther.

Ever check the roots of Halloween? It's an import from Catholicism that's been twisted.

[Willie Green]

Ever check the roots of Halloween? It's an import from Catholicism that's been twisted.

No it isn't. See my reply #12.

[BOOTSTICK]

I also grew up on Long Island, {Massapequa Park}, in the good old days kids could go trick or treating without their parents along. It was great fun seeing the expressions on the 6-12 year olds faces, as they scurried home with full bags of candy, only to have us older kids slam water ballons into their trick or treat bags of candy. It is one of the fond memories of my youth.

[nmh]

"I was channel-surfin' through the History Channel a couple days ago and caught a brief explanation that the actual origin has something to do with the ancient Druids in England. Late in the Fall, they apparently carried offerings of sweets and such to the outskirts of the village to keep the dead from rising up out of their graves and causing a big ruckus in the town. Something like that, anyway..."

You need to look into the roots of this ... what you stated is far from digging into the roots of this holiday. Like I said, it is a Catholic import that has been twisted. I'm surprised you rely on the "History Channel" or what you can "catch" on it as factual and accurate.

[Willie Green]

I don't consider Halloween a "Christian" holiday just like I don't consider Christmas a totally Christian holiday. Both were stolen from older celebrations by the Christians, who bullied, pressured and beat-in-the-head older groups into believing the "true" religion.

Hmmmmm... I prefer the "melting pot" theory of cultural evolution and adaptation. Judgemental demonization of disfavored demographic groups is a hallmark of liberal multicultural hypocrisy.

[kittymyrib]

Thank goodness the panhandling for the UN has gone out of favor on Halloween. Our grandsons who are 10, 8, and 4 have never had much interest in trick-or-treating. They'd rather stay at home and hand out the candy. What is very strange is to see the devotion that adults have to Halloween...obviously arrested development that is difficult to explain.

[csvset]

It was a very weak turnout, one of the lowest in the 20 years we've been here. We had perhaps 40 kids max, mostly toddlers.

[mountaineer]

I'll admit, we never stay home to hand out candy, but it didn't look very busy as we were heading out the door. Of course, now we live in a tiny little W.Va. town with not that many children. Back in my Upper St. Clair childhood, we hit what seemed like hundreds of houses on Halloween. Everyone in my subdivision wanted to know what Terry Hanratty was handing out. There was one house where the folks had the kids come in for cider. I tried it once, but it seemed unnaturally fizzy for a non-alcoholic drink - maybe they were trying to poison us! Yikes! (Who wants cider anyway - give me some of those Zagnuts!).

[mountaineer]

the devotion that adults have to Halloween...obviously arrested development

Halloween now surpasses New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day with regard to alcohol intake - go figure.

[Kaslin]

The harvest celebrators saw Halloween as someone else's holiday. When my children were in preschool, both Jewish and Christian schools objected to Halloween. The Jewish preschool teachers explained to me, a Christian, that Halloween celebrated a Christian holiday, All Saint's Day. Though I grew up Catholic, this was news to me, but OK, no Halloween party in Jewish preschool. One year later, in a Christian preschool: no Halloween party because Halloween was a devil-worshipping, Satanic holiday

Actually October 31 is All Souls Day. All Saints Day is today November 1

[AppyPappy]

trick or treating for UNICEF was the only way to go

Trick or Treat to kill unborn children

[Willie Green]

You need to look into the roots of this ... what you stated is far from digging into the roots of this holiday. Like I said, it is a Catholic import that has been twisted

The History and Customs of Halloween is a blending of several ancient beliefs and customs, some of which predate Roman Catholicism. If you want to discuss "roots" or "origins", you must refer to the earliest influences. Thus, your description of Halloween as a "twisted Catholic import" is incorrect.

[GOPrincess]

All Souls Day is November 2nd... Halloween is All Hallows Eve, a Holy Eve, as it is the eve of All Saints Day...
Best wishes --

[martin_fierro]

Did yinzes have many halloweenies show up at yinz's hauses n'at???

We barricaded the doors and had boiling oil awaiting at the parapets. 'N'at.

Strangely, no one showed up. <|:)~

[AppyPappy]

Both were stolen from older celebrations by the Christians, who bullied, pressured and beat-in-the-head older groups into believing the "true" religion.

Wrong. They were assimilated into Christian practices to placate the locals.

[nmh]

What is practiced in THIS country, the U.S. is a twisted Catholic import. IN the early years of this country nonCatholic were aghast at celebrating Halloween because of its roots and worship of the dead. Try reading early U.S. history instead of silly websites.

[Lazamataz]

Wrong. They were assimilated into Christian practices to placate the locals.

I have a commemorative plate of Elvis wearing the Dale Ernhart #3 and holding a racing helmet.