What do you think about it?
How do you handle it at your house? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Not wanting to be overly conservaive in my views, I find it hard to take a firm stand on Halloween. After all I love to have fun and I love to give kids candy and presents.
So I decided that I should write an article on the subject that would cause me to do some digging into the subject as well as into my own convictions.
The results are on the Christian Living site. Halloween -- The Origins and Halloween -- The Symbols

correction,
the article about Halloween isn't correct. Yes, during this time it was believed that the dead/recently departed or ancestors could return to the mortal relm. It was believed that the veil between this world and the next was very thin, thus allowing those spirits to come accross. it was common to leave a light on in the window to help those family members who were deceased to find their way there. Food was also left out to feed the spirits as they wandered. There was no sacrifices done to the ancient Gods.
Speaking for myself, i am Wiccan. The celebration of Samhain pronounced sow-en, is a time to reflect on our mortality, remembering that we to, will die but not to fear death. It is a time to remember family, friends, loved ones who have crossed over. To remember what they taught, to remember who they were, their teachings to us. It is also a time to look forward. decide where we want to direct our life. look over the last years past mistakes and learn from them. There isn't anything dark about this. Besides, Halloween has become so commercialized that it has nothing to do with the original belief.

Thanks for your post Ronald.
Most of the historical information came from Encart Encyclopedia- a fairly reputable source.
And I believe the Ancient Celts did use animal and human sacrifice. I'm not saying that cultures after that time continued the practice.
All Saints day and All Souls day were meant for remembering past relatives and friends.
Thanks again for your reply. I'm happy for any insight into the subject. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the reply. Actually, until recently, the majority of "experts/historians" have relied almost exclusively on Caesar's "Commentaries on the Gallic War" (De Bellum Gallico) as the source material on the ancient Celts. As you as a Christian know well, the Romans were not afraid to let their biases as conquerers color their interpretation and perspctives. Several scholars have recently begun a reaccessment of what we actually know about the Celts that presents a more objective approach to Celtic history. One misfortune is that the Druids, who were less priests and more like scholars, or the equivalant of "scientists" in our time, only kept records on "tablets" of wood, which is obviously one of the worst mediums to survive time. The Druids did practice a form of ritual sacrifice where a person, sometimes a king or virgin, often done voluntarily in it's latter phases, would be treated as royality for a year and then killed as the dying King, much as Christ was, to bring success and good harvests during the coming year. This was not even the case in the latest years of the Celtic people as they eventually evolved out of this practice. Sacrifice of humans to god is not uncommon in the Bible as evidenced by the request of Isaac's life. Job also had his entire family taken to prove a point. The point is that all religions, in their earliest forms, have had some form of human sacrifice involved.

I realize that you are not a Christ Follower, so I'm not trying to persuade you in any particular way. Just to clarify.
Christ went willingly to the cross to take away sin and defeat death. It was His reason for being here. God became flesh to do it.
The request for Issac's life was to prove Abraham's devotion to God. God provided the sacrifice. Abraham also knew that God could bring Issac back to life and he knew that God gave him Issac (through miraculous means) and He could take him away.
Job's family was taken by Satan.
Christians don't expect to have a 'charmed' life. No one does here in this life. Christians know that they are never alone in trouble and we know where we are going after death in this life.
I wasn't trying to be 'down' on the druids. Just presenting a historical perspective on Halloween.

Lynne,
No problem. You've been very gracious in this conversation, Thank you. And yes, our beliefs are different. We are not anti-Christian just not Christian. All too often, differing religions are shown in poor light but you've been up front and positive in your article.

Hi Lynne,

We do not celebrate Halloween in our home. Neither my husband or I grew up in an actively religious home, so we both celebrated as children. Therefore, it was automatic for us to celebrate as adults. However, we took a deeper look at the Scriptures, and also the origins of the "holiday", and made the decision several years ago that we would not participate. Our son is now four years old (and, by the way, just diagnosed with Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes) last year, so that has only deepened our conviction that we must find alternatives.

Because of our son's condition, he must endure many painful procedures each day (fingersticks, site changes for his insulin pump, etc.). So this year we have random "Bravery Days" for his courage. We take him somewhere special, etc. That helps to fill the void of not participating in other days that some children do. Plus, he will be homeschooled, so some of that "peer pressure" is off.

Thanks for the gret topic, and for such a civil discussion!

Warmly,
Marie <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

www.attachmentparenting.bellaonline.com
AND
www.depression.bellaonline.com

Ronald Thank you. I've enjoyed our conversation. Becoming a Christian has only made me care about people (all beliefs) more and fear them less.
Marie Thank you for your post. It must be heartbreaking seeing what your four year old has to go through. He is fortunate to have parents who help him deal with it.

Lynn,

Hate the sin, love the sinner. Poor journalism can be compared to a paganistic lack of faith. You've had the opportunity to know the truth and can not be excused for your inadequate study and convenient dismissal of it.

Tony

Tony
Incomplete post. Hard to respond.
There is nothing in the Origins article that didn't come from reliable resources. It doesn't contain my personal opinion, just the facts. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I enjoyed both articles greatly and learned something about the history of the holiday.

I think that just about every holiday we have, including religious ones, has all sorts of roots. Christmas as we celebrate it today has many, many pagan ceremonies in it. So does Easter and so on. So to say any holiday is 'good' or 'bad' in the year 2002 just because it has some elements drawn in from pagans in the year 0BC seems to be a bit overprotective. It'd be like refusing to use words in the English language because they came from pagan words a few thousand years ago <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If someone dislikes the witch aspect of Halloween, it's certainly not required. You can instead focus on the costumes, the 'dress up' and the idea that you can be anything you wish to be. Kids can dress up as astronauts, cowboys, and realize that if they want to be something, they can be. Have the kids dress up as Clara Barton or Albert Einstein and learn something about history. Have harvest treats like popcorn and candied apples <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Those are all equally valid ways of celebrating Halloween which give a very positive message.

It's like Thanksgiving. Native Americans can celebrate Thanksgiving as a harvest festival without having to celebrate the 'puritans destroying our culture' aspect.

Thanks for the post Lisa.
(I learned quite a bit by doing the research)
I agree with you.I think its great that the children and 'grown up' children have fun and I love passing out treats to the kids.
<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Lynne, you are a gracious host. You are right, few things causes disagrement amongst Christians as does Halloween. Let me add information, or fuel to the fire <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> , by linking to mine own article Halloween vs. All Saints Day. They link well together.
I personally dislike the idea of Harvest festivals in churches. To me (and this is subjective and personal) it's closer to the Druidic meaning. I like Halloween. I also take Colosians 2:16 to heart:
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

Great article, Paula. It does link well. I just added it to my related links. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good articles ladies. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I had a wonderful Halloween with my family. Our daughters dressed as heroines (I try to keep them from icky costumes) and enjoyed visiting with our neighbors.

Thank you Caring Parent.
Thats the fun part about Halloween. More people should go out and meet their neighbors.
I think if I lived in a neighborhood, I would sit outside with hot cider and candy. (I live back a dark wooded lane. Nobody dares to come back.

I agree that that's one of the joys of Halloween. I get to visit with neighbors that I often don't see because of busy schedules.