Posted by momus (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I could understand why Christians may be upset with the original holiday of Samhain (the Celtic holiday), but Pope Boniface IV designated November 1st All Saints Day, or All-hallows (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and is widely credited with the creation of the current Halloween (the eve of All Saints Day). This Christianized holiday resembles little from the original Celtic Samhain, or the Roman versions of the holiday that followed (although we do still bob for apples, homage to the Roman goddess Pomona). So, why would Christians be upset over the celebration of a Christianized holiday, other than the fact that corporations and movie execs try and make money off of the supposed "evil" of this holiday...?

Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I really do not see how Halloween is tied to religion. It is more akin to Thanksgiving than the holidays you mentioned. There are no ties to any figure of worship that I can see, ghost stories are told in all faiths, cultures and denominations in some form or another. They are not a belief, they are just what you said, a STORY. i think you are just upset about Christmas and Easter and want to see a blanket policy instituted to be spiteful.

Posted by trainrech (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's not stop just there, let's just remove anything from our society that could possibly offend anyone at anytime...

I'm envisioning bland walls on bland houses with bland cars in the yard. People wearing bland clothes, telling bland stories, and having wonderfully bland times.

That is, unless bland offends you.

Posted by Cliffy (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

GET A LIFE! For the love of (insert name here) cut out the (insert poop here) and let the kids have Halloween. If you don't like it, move to Afghanistan! I agree Bland, Blah Blah Blah! Whine Whine Oh My!

Posted by Deepthoughts (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That is where our society is going. Heaven forbid we offend anyone. Although I have to say, she makes a good point about the fact that people want to use the argument when it works for them. If you are going to take away certain things because it might offend someone then you can't just stop at Christmas!

I feel so sorry for the children growing up in today's world.

Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think we should celebrate all of the Celtic holidays. I like May Day and Halloween.

Posted by Newsie (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dang!! I lost the office pool. I thought the annual Seasonal Celebration discussion would not start until next week..

Posted by MelissaE (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"I'm envisioning bland walls on bland houses with bland cars in the yard. People wearing bland clothes, telling bland stories, and having wonderfully bland times."

Don't forget bumper stickers!

Unless you order the one that says "No More Halloween!"

Then it's okay.

**rolling my eyes and moving on--especially when I dress my boys for Halloween**

Melissa

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Folks, I think that we may need to be a little more gentle on this one. This mother has a point. Personally, I think that our Christmas Program should still be a Christmas Program, but she correctly pointed out that it was watered down into a "Seasonal Celebration" (and what season would that be?) because non-Christians objected. As a practicing Christian, I have no problem with Halloween, but if some do, then what's good for the goose is good for the gander. When we started down the slippery slope some years ago, this is what you get. If we are going to avoid offense to non-Christians, then it only seems right and fitting to avoid offense to Christians.

Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have written about the "slippery slope" on other threads. By that, I mean when we adopt a practice or law which is contrary to our cultural traditions, there is no end to it. The first departure will be used to justify the second, and so on. When we chose to abandon a 50 year plus tradition of our beautiful Christmas Program in 1992, in order to avoid offending non-Christians, we took a turn down the slippery slope. Now, we have a particular Christian belief that apparently objects to certain aspects of the schools' Halloween observance. Frankly, I think that the lady has a point, a point that would not be valid but for our decision to change an entire tradition in order to appease a small group back in 1992. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Some states, by Judicial fiat, have adjudged same sex marriage to enjoy equal recognition with traditional marriage. Those states are likewise headed down a slippery slope, to the end that there will be those, claiming their own equal protections under the law, who practice polygamy, etc., and their arguments will have merit. I am afraid that we have outsmarted ourselves.

Posted by hogan77 (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How about if we all celebrate our own holidays in our homes and churches, and leave everything else bland and depressing? Why don't we decorate with simple fare such as colored eggs, rabbits with baskets in hand, a small display of NON decorated pumpkins in the front yards, some corn stalks and hay bales, and just basic colored lights? OH WAIT! That's what Emporia is coming down to! Stupid me, I forgot. Too many dang people whining and complaining there to make ANYTHING festive! Get a life people. Lord knows it is short enough as it is. Oh crap, I probably just offended someone by using His name...

Signed,

Methodist Momma

Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just fail to see the religious implications of Halloween and how it would offend Christians, its a reach in my book. Christmas and Easter are overtly Christian so I can see the point there. But lets remember one thing, schools are not just schools. They are places of work teachers and work environments are MUCH more intolerable of this than the local schools. A better question in this would be why do we promote anything in schools that is not promoted in a work environment?

Posted by Happiness08 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have never understood the logic behind changing the Christmas program to the Seasonal Celebration. I have been to it more then once, and the music is still in celebration of the birth of Christ. So, lets call it Seasonal Celebration for the birth of Christ then everybody's happy.

Posted by create (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There most certainly are religious connections to Hallowe'en, and they are explained simply in the following link:

http://www.web-holidays.com/halloween/

Good comment, jayhawker. Yes, this has everything to do with the "slippery slope."

Let's just all dress up like the Puritans...we all know what they did.

Posted by kseyetie (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All the christian holidays are based on old pagan dates. That's how they converted people to the new religion. People need to lighten up, practice their religion at home and enjoy the holiday music, whether it's Ave Maria or Songs about the Bishop of Turkey (Santa Claus)............

Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Your link is broken create, could you post another? Too busy monitoring the bailout to research this hehe.

Posted by kseyetie (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If you are asking about Halloween, try this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain

Posted by create (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just clicked on the link I provided in my last post and it worked. Please try again because it really is interesting and relative.

http://www.web-holidays.com/halloween/

Posted by create (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

<a href="http://www.web-holidays.com/halloween/">An Explanation of Hallowe'en</a>

Just trying something different hoping if I change the language you can find the link easier. If it doesn't work, I apologize.

Posted by create (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nope, won't work. I apologize.

Posted by create (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

problem solved:

"Traces of Halloween can be found in the ancient Celtic ritual known as Samhain (sow-in). Held on November 1st, Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the onset of the cold, bleak winter. The night before, October 31st, the boundary between the living world and the afterworld was opened and the dead mingled freely among the living. These spirits were powerful and wise. It was in the 19th century when children began playing pranks and people began to fear these "ghosts" as evil.

In the 800's, Pope Boniface IV created All-hallows from the Middle English, Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day to be celebrated on November 1st in an attempt to end Samhain. However, the eve of Samhain became known as All Hallows Eve and eventually Halloween.

In the late 1800's, there was a strong effort to change Halloween from a scary, superstitious night to a family and community holiday. Families held parities for children and scary decorations were abandoned.

The tradition of carving out pumpkins started in Ireland. Originally large turnips, rutabagas, and potatoes were used. Legend tells of an ornery man named Jack, he was a mean man and when he died Heaven turned him away, but so did Purgatory because Jack had played terrible tricks on the devil during his life. It was dark and Jack couldn't find his way so the devil tossed him a burning coal which he promptly put inside a turnip. He was doomed to walk the earth looking for a place to go. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern," or "Jack-o'-lantern." To scare away Jack and other spirits, jack-o'-lanterns are placed outside the front door on the one day where spirits roam the land--Halloween. When immigrants came to the United States they started the tradition of using pumpkins.

The idea of trick-or-treating originated in England when the poor would beg for food on All Souls' Day. Beggars would receive special treats in exchange for prayers for the dead. In time, children began "begging" for treats on Mischief Night. To avoid tricks, treats were and still are given to children."

Now, do I hear the closing bell? Gotta go.

Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hmm interesting, ban em all then lol. I dare not touch the belief issues confronting this country, that is a loaded gun to which there is no winning.

Posted by romano1784 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am a Wiccan living in Emporia, and I dont have any problem with the naming of any holiday. I dont believe in the Christian religion, not trying to offend anyone, but didn't Shakespere say it best as only he can? "Whats in a name...?" I practice my own religious beliefs at home with my family, and I never hear any complaints. I happen to like the "Seasonal Celebration"/ "Winter Celebration"/ Christmas Celebration" and have gone every year since 2000, when I was in it.