Celebrating death and evil for a month (Halloween)

[Nebulous]

What do you think the logic is behind celebrating death and evil for a month?
Do you think Halloween is a bad thing? Harmless?

 

[nolvorite]

I heard it was originally to celebrate dead people, kinda like how Mexicans have Dia de los Muertos or whatever you call it

 

[Tyler]

I think its fun to dress up for a day of the year and scare people or just dress up (doesn't have to be scary) And I like to watch Halloween movies & Cartoons (even though I'm older now) I enjoy seeing the little kids dress up and come to your door, I think its nice for the kids. I also just like to get into the holidays like Halloween and Christmas its fun.

 

[Sinon]

It's not celebrating death or evil. Halloween is a Christianized (seriously, look it up) event that is based on the Celtic Samhain, a festival that rings in the winter, and was also the time when farmers would select which of their herds would be slaughtered for food. Additionally, it was used to honour those who had passed away during the previous year. People would also leave food at their doorstep to appease the wandering spirits and faeries.

 

[Raven]

^ Correct.

I celebrate Samhain and it is a celebration of our ancestors, A time to honor loved ones that we've lost.

We all die so why is a celebration of death a bad thing.

 

[DrLeftover]

Point conceded. At one time, All Hallows Eve (Halloween) was a valid Holy Day (holiday).

It no longer is. Just as the modern Western holiday of Christmas has almost nothing to do with the Birth of Christ, and is on the wrong day. (that is a separate discussion)

And it is no longer one day.

The fact that Off Topix has a ghost logo up over three weeks from the day proves that point.

While the basic idea of "it is fun to be scared and to scare others" is harmless, the near obsession with death (ghosts, skulls, graves, and the violence that created them) even if in a 'cartoonish' way is not. For this I will cite howevermany reports of the effect of "violent programs and video games" on children, and a reference in the "trick or treating" thread to just going out 'tricking' people, which always has potential to go from fun to vandalism in short order, such as "Devil's Night" in Detroit.

While the basic idea of "it is fun to play with magic" is fun, to take it to the next step and dabble with something you do not understand (for instance, using an Ouija board) CAN open a portal through which something you cannot control can come into your life.

Yes, to many of the various Pagan traditions, it is a Holiday during which they have ceremonies, which is fine by me, and I even attended a "drawing down the moon" circle one time, which was interesting to say the least. What percentage of those 'celebrating' can say the same?

I will answer any and all serious questions and cite whatever references are needed at the time.

OK?

 

[Raven]

Not attended a drawing down the moon ritual, but have been part of many Samhain rituals and done many solitary ones.

 

[DrLeftover]

If it is done under a good solid tradition by somebody that knows their stuff, it is a remarkable event.

But again, many of those who wear the Pagan, Neo-Pagan, and so on T-shirt are, if you will pardon the expression, "playing church" and don't have a clue as to what they are doing.

Of course, the same can be said of every other religion (east and west) you can name.

(Or at least every one I can name, and I can go on for quite awhile before I get to things like Shinto and Jainism)

 

[Raven]

Yea, Thankfully, I've always been involved with people know know they're stuff and have been practising witches for many years.

 

[DrLeftover]

odd how nobody has raised a counter argument to my points

 

[Nebulous]

odd how nobody has raised a counter argument to my points

Feeling argumentative doc?

 

[DrLeftover]

me?

Never.

Excuse me, I think I see a Liberal over there by the "Meaning of Life" thread.

I'll sharpen up my quotes from Ecclesiastes and get right on it.

 

[Bjornar]

I did never really know what the heck i was celebrating for xD