Have you Wrestled with Whether or Not to Celebrate Halloween?

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   Maria Antoniaposted 9 years ago

   I think every parent has thought about this.  What issues did you consider and what was your final decision?

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      psycheskinnerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I think "every" parent would certainly be overstating it.  My family has never been uncomfortable with celebrating Halloween as a community activity without literal religious meaning.

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         Maria Antoniaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Did you think about whether or not to participate in Halloween? That is what I meant when I said every parent has thought about it.  BTW, I'm just judging or suggesting anything is wrong with celebrating Halloween.  Someone else raised the issue so I was curious about what other people thought.  Personally I make it a practice not to judge, or tell other people what they should or shouldn't do with their lives, unless they ask me for advice.  Even then I tell them what I think, but I try hard not to do it in a way that makes them feel judged or shamed.

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      Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      What is scaring you about this celebration? What issues are you wrestling with exactly?

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      Dale Hydeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      As a Wiccan High Priest, pagan and witch, it is our New Year.  Nothing sinister about it.   We celebrate the beginning of our New Year, Samhain, on this date.

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         Maria Antoniaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Dale, have you written on this topic? I'd very much like to learn more.  I didn't know this, thanks so much for sharing.  It is good to get a different perspective.  Don't feel compelled to answer my questions and I hope that I don't ask anything offensive in my ignorance.  I'm curious, is Wicca a philosophy like Buddhism or a religion like Judaism? In the 21st Century what makes one a Pagan? Is it because your religious beliefs are outside of the widely held world religions? I'm sure that I understand what you mean when you say that you're a Pagan.  Happy New Year by the Way.

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            Dale Hydeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Hello Maria,
            
            Feel free to message me with your questions as I do not want to post the URL (link) to where I have written about this in the forum.

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               Maria Antoniaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks I will.

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      Morgarenposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I'm sorry, I know there is an episode of "King of the Hill" where they stop celebrating Halloween all over town cause this lady turns it into a satanic thing. I didn't think this was something that was actually discussed. Every year I take my little girl trick or treating, and every year though, I see less and less participation. It is so sad, really, we have gotten to where we don't trust each other, and so disconnected as communities that we rob our kids of just good old fashioned honest fun. Whether people don't make time for their kids, they have a religious reason, a trust reason, kids are the ones missing out.

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   wildernessposted 9 years ago

   Psyche is right - few people concern themselves with the religious aspects of the origin of Halloween.
   
   But even if they do, what is the concern with a holiday that was created to honor the saints of the church that have died?  That the holiday eventually mixed with the customs of the older celebration of Samhain that also referenced and revered the dead relatives?

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      Maria Antoniaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I personally don't think there is any issue with the holiday.  I just wanted to know what other people think.  For example, I have attended churches where they told worshipers not to celebrate Halloween, but I make it a practice to use my own discernment and don't have a problem with the holiday.

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      Maria Antoniaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Good point Wilderness.  It seems odd to me when I hear people say that they don't celebrate  Halloween but they do celebrate Christmas with a Santa Claus and their celebration has nothing to do with for example the birth of Jesus Christ.

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   Maria Antoniaposted 9 years ago

   None, I'm just curious about what other people think.  I read an article where a Christian mom said that she was wrestling with the decision so I was curious to see what other people thought.

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   Jeanette Mughalposted 9 years ago

   I don't celebrate Halloween, but I am not adverse in "distributing" candy.  My version of "distribution" is to leave a small bucket of candy outside the door for the little ones (and teenagers) to get themselves.

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      Maria Antoniaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Jeanette, can I ask if you don't celebrate because of a religious conviction, and if so  how does this holiday conflict with your religious beliefs? It's okay if you'd rather not comment.  I know that in order to answer you'd have to feel like other Hubbers will not attack you personally for your religious traditions.

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   Aime Fposted 9 years ago

   Can't say I did give it much thought. I loved trick or treating when I was little and was happy to take my toddler this year. She had a blast.

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      Maria Antoniaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I enjoyed celebrating Halloween as a child.  As an adult, it's one of the few times that you can put on a costume, go out of the house to a public place, and not be considered crazy.  I like dressing up in a costume--my favorite is wonder woman.  This year my friends and I kayaked the San Juan river in costume.  Nothing like facing raging whitewater dressed like a superhero!

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   shopanytimeposted 9 years ago

   I get confused about halloween when my 10 year old daughter ask me to make an outfit for her for this occassion.

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      Maria Antoniaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Shopanytime, do you mean that you are not sure if it is the right thing to do when your daughter asks you to make a Halloween costume for her?

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