Conservative Christian’s ‘War on Halloween’ fails in court

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A psychoanalyst could plumb the depths of the human psyche and explain why we need a holiday like Halloween. I suppose, deep down inside, we all know we’re going to die some day. Adults deal with that in part by playing footsie with the dark side for one night a year.

For kids I think the explanation is a lot simpler: You get to wear a cool costume and are showered with free candy. What’s not to like?

I know that some people are bothered by Halloween — but that doesn’t mean they get to spoil everyone else’s fun. I also know the holiday has ancient, pre-Christian roots — but that doesn’t mean it’s a religious holiday today. One needs to look at how the culture celebrates the holiday, and in America, Halloween long ago became secular.

That’s why I think a federal court made the right call recently in a case challenging Halloween decorations at a government building in Puerto Rico. The judge rejected the claims of a Pentecostal Christian employee who argued that the decorations establish paganism. One of the decorations plaintiff Coraly Rosa-Ruiz found most offensive was a carpet that emitted a “horrific scream” whenever anyone walked on it. She demanded that the screaming rug and all other decorations be removed.

Fortunately, the court disagreed.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/

[MissStacey 1]

I love Halloween!!

I am so excited about my first Halloween here. Mel goes all out for the decorations- he turns the whole yard into a grave yard and we have a huge blow up haunted house that the kids walk through.

I love handing out the candy.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I love Halloween!!

I am so excited about my first Halloween here. Mel goes all out for the decorations- he turns the whole yard into a grave yard and we have a huge blow up haunted house that the kids walk through.

I love handing out the candy.

It's one of my favorite times of year.

[ericdraven 0]

At last a win for us pagans !!! shame its more about the beginning of autumn than dead people but nevermind

[PlatyPius 5]

At last a win for us pagans !!! shame its more about the beginning of autumn than dead people but nevermind

Aye.

Happy Samhain to everyone, whether you celebrate it or not. lol

[GaryC 7]

Why do some of these same people that think bad to want to ban Halloween decorations don't like the idea of Christmas decorations? (BTW I think it all should be allowed)

[nivesito 0]

Well, I have to say I never really understood Halloween because in my country was always considered a religious holiday. We have another time of a year when kids go around and they have there fun in getting candy's and cakes. But of course everybody know what Halloween is

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

Why do some of these same people that think bad to want to ban Halloween decorations don't like the idea of Christmas decorations? (BTW I think it all should be allowed)

quite simple - halloween does not involve christianity

[Saddle Bronc 124]

...

For kids I think the explanation is a lot simpler: You get to wear a cool costume and are showered with free candy. What’s not to like?

...

There are a few risks :

• adulteration of the candy (with needles or toxins)--even the old "Charlie Brown Halloween" showed this, where CB got three rocks
• some give out old, stale leftover candy

[Caladan 19]

Wasn't most of the 'poisoning the candy' hysteria shown to be mostly just that--- hysteria? You get a bunch of nasty old candy sometimes, but razor blades and needles seem to be the sort of thing that people worry about more than there's actually a risk.

In any case the court decision, Gary & charles, said that Halloween WASN'T a religious holiday, not that it was, and so the decorations were permitted. Sounds about right to me.

[almaty 19]

At last a win for us pagans !!! shame its more about the beginning of autumn than dead people but nevermind

Aye.

Happy Samhain to everyone, whether you celebrate it or not. lol

salute to my pagan brothers and sister...

[jundp 191]

At last a win for us pagans !!! shame its more about the beginning of autumn than dead people but nevermind

I love Halloween too. Of course, I also teach Spanish and we use that time of the year to do altars and celebrations for Dios de los muertos, as well.

Halloween and Christmas: two favorite times of the year.

(and maybe this Christmas I'll get an NOA2 to make it all the sweeter)

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

Wasn't most of the 'poisoning the candy' hysteria shown to be mostly just that--- hysteria? You get a bunch of nasty old candy sometimes, but razor blades and needles seem to be the sort of thing that people worry about more than there's actually a risk.

In any case the court decision, Gary & charles, said that Halloween WASN'T a religious holiday, not that it was, and so the decorations were permitted. Sounds about right to me.

then why, pray tell, are some above talking about it being a pagan holiday?

[Nagishkaw 510]

I was wondering the same thing, Charles.

[Mags 112]

You will find that many pagans DO consider Hallowe'en (samhain) a religious holiday. A friend of mine wrote this piece about it:

In this darkest, coldest, bleakest season, Samhain marked the onset of winter. It was a time of death, when the earth lay bare and livestock were slaughtered for the long winter ahead. The veil between this world and the otherworld was lifted, and the spirits of the dead rejoined the community in the feasting and celebrations. Bonfires were lit on hilltops for purification and symbolized the longed-for regeneration of the life-giving sun.

In some traditions, the festival of Samhain marks the beginning of the new year. Samhain (pronounced 'sow-in' or 'sow-en') means 'summer's end.' In most of the northern hemisphere, by the beginning of November, summer has truly ended. The nights grow long and the days get shorter. The roads and pavements are strewn with fallen leaves as the trees strip themselves of the greenery they cannot support through the winter. Throughout winter, they will sleep and stand bare and skeletal against the dark sky.

As it is the new year, it is also traditionally a time to dedicate yourself to the path, take a magical name, or join a coven. You may also find it a time for banishing the unwanted, as it is the last sabbat of the waning year.

Samhain is also a festival of the dead. Our Celtic ancestors knew that Samhain brought death. Winter brough snow and frost. No animals could graze. They had to feed on hay stored from the summer fields. Only a few animals could be fed through the winter. The rest were slaughtered and their meat salted. With the cold, the elders of the village were vulnerable to illness. The death rate would go up with the onset of November ~ something that is true even today.

The season of Samhain is a natural time to think about death and to remember those who have gone before. It is customary to lay a place setting at the table for family members or friends who have passed on.

Remember though that the focus is not only on death, but on the renewal of life also. Be thankful for all you have, and what is yet to come.

Edited September 30, 2007 by Mags