Halloween

[Hgrove]

I have a friend who does not allow her daughter to go to Halloween parties because she is a Christian. I would like to ask ABers, both Christian and not, what they think. Is it wrong for someone who is a Christian to go to a Halloween party? Is this person overreacting? I am interested to know everybody's views.

[~admarlow~]

Personally I do think it is a bit of an overreaction (when I was small my Piano teacher wouldn't let me play a halloween song from my lesson book!) but we should respect her choice. BTW isnt haloween something to do with the Church anyway?

[Octavius]

Well I am a christian and I have been to many haloween parties, dressed as dracula nonetheless.

Maybe her daughter is too young and the mum is worried that she might be preyed upon by a ghoul.

[devilwoman]

i am a non practicing christian so i understand your friends concern and where she is coming from, but why not let her daughter have a different themed party, it doesnt even have to be on the same night, they could hold it ethrer the day before or day after. dont know the age of the girl but how about something like a karoke night, or some girly party with 2 -3 friends and have a sleepover, they could listen to music,do each others hair and make up, pl;ay twister and pig out on pizza, crisps/hotdogs, coke and stuff. i'm sure they could get lots of ideas on girly themes, enjoy.

[jake-the-peg]

Well although it's 'all souls eve' from a Christian perspective it has strong elements of the earlier pagan festival
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain

But then Christmas has strong elements of the Roman festival of Sol Invictus and other pagan mid-winter festivals - After all Holly and Ivy and Chrismas trees aren't particularly Christian!

I guess it's up to them what to observe and what not to - if they believe it'll somehow imperil their immortal souls to celebrate Halloween I guess you have to respect that however daft you may think it otherwise you start down the slippery slope of deciding what is and what is not OK for people to think

[Ethel]

Depends on the Church - Christianity is a huge umbrella covering many denominations.

The Guide Association always had parties for Halloween and is or was closely affiliated to the Church.

[missjef]

one of my friends wasn't allowed to go to halloween parties for this reason, i think its a bit stupid, she wasn't allowed to read harry potter either.

[samuel23]

Halloween is traditionally the time when the percieved barrier between the material world and the spirit world is at its most breechable. It is supposed to be the one time of the year when the evil of the world is at its strongest and the spirits that wreak havoc can pass into this world and force normally good people into vile and despicable acts.
However, most rational people now see it as a time when the little horrors of the world run up your garden path and demand payment for not egging your front door and are allowed to extort goods and money with little fear of police intervention. Maybe its the concept of putting the wind up the elderly and infirm that she objects to? As a Christian she would doubtless also not like the idea of 'celebrating' evil.
Purely a personal view point I wouldn't stop my children from participating (they may well become isolated or excluded from other activities by their peers) but is it more or less Christian to allow your children to participate in what can sometimes be very scarey for some?

[redcrx]

im my opinion perhaps an overreaction but thats her choice as a parent and should be respected.
Halloween is a commercialised day rather than a pagan or christian day nowadays.

what does your friend say is her reason for her reluctance to go to a halloween party?

[Octavius]

I am a semi-practising roman catholic (still not achieved perfection) and I don't get this. Personally for me it's a great excuse for a party at what is potentially a boring/depressing time of year. If there's music, dancing and alcohol then I am up for a boogey(man) like the rest. Don't put us all in the same pigeon hole.

[noxlumos]

Most Christians are quite sensible and don't have a fit about things such as this, but there are always the odd ones that have read too many Dennis Weatley books and think the Devil gets about a bit, in a slightly more literal sense than he probably can be bothered to.
I was brought up Roman Catholic and my wife is Jewish, but we both have dealings with paganism and it's a great belief system.
The Christian church has always felt threatened by Pagan beliefs and celebrations so some people will overeact, as I personally think your friend has.It's her right to parent as she sees fit, but in my experience parents who ram their own religious beliefs down their kids throats generally live to regret it.

[jake-the-peg]

Do you bring muslims into everything?

[Hgrove]

Thank you for the replies. I am having a very small halloween parfty on the day - the average age is 7 1/2 - 8, and as all the children are doing some after school activity, all we are going to do is have a sandwich tea, followed by a "spooky walk" in the local park. We will to some trick or treating, but only in houses of friends who are happy for us to call, or who display the carved pumpkin meaning you are welcome to call. But each time (this is the third year) I have invited this child, the mother replies "sorry, we don't celebrate halloween" in a manner that suggests she thinks I am some sort of devil worshipper - whereas I think you should not take halloween too seriously, it is only an excuse for a get together, not devil worshipping. I get on very well with this lady in all other respects but I find the religious aspect a bit too much. (BTW I am non practising RC). I am certainly not intending to discuss the matter further with her, I just wanted to know what people think! Thank you!

[jake-the-peg]

So what is the relevance to a question on Haloween?

Hari-Krishna's don't interact with mainstream society nor Amish yet you imidiately brought muslims into it.

I actually had for some years a pretty devout muslim working for me for a number of years. We spent 2 weeks on a project in the States together and he and I and everyone else integrated very well.

I think you may be letting this whole muslim thing get to you a bit!

[RATTER15]

Wardy!!! You are about as much a christian as I am Donald Duck, you should read some of your postings and then ask yourself if they are the words of a christian!!

You are the most selfish unkind vile man I have ever come across!!

Definitely not a Christian!!!

[RATTER15]

Wardy, what is a flid? I imagine that is a derogatory remark about my Daughter being epileptic, as you so love to throw that around, but it means nothing coming from you!!

You see Wardy, I just feel sorry for people like you and less fortunate than myself, A very Christian attitude I know, especially coming from an atheist like myself.

I do remember one of your posts saying that your wife died leaving you with a disabled son, you obviously forgot about him all of a sudden.

Yes Wardy a true Christian LOL

[WendyS]

Seems a little harsh to me. All her daughter will be thinking about is being denied a treat for a reason she can't understand. I think these days Halloween is just an excuse to celebrate some kind of seasonal festival and very few people these days bother too much about its pagan origins. Maybe you should have dressed it up as a "Harvest Festival Pumpkin Party to the mother concerned. Presumably her Christian origins would have allowed her to accept that. (a rose by any other name !!)

[RATTER15]

Ive just found out what a flid is Wardy, it comes from thalidomide, isn't it amusing that you think being offensive to a thalidomide is humorous, you may like to know that my daughter is perfectly formed and is currently a model. I could give a link to her portfolio but Wardy I think you are a perverse, dangerous and sick man.