Halloween Approacheth

Welcome to Wondercafe2!

A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!

Register Log in
Jae said:
You think it fine for Christians to celebrate some of the early pagan ways?
Click to expand...

No. And to be honest most don't and never have.

Hallowe'en is to candy makers what Valentine's day is to Hallmark. Opportunity. It is a commercial undertaking more than it is a spiritual remembrance.

The top 10 Hallowe'en costumes of 2016 were in order of sales, according to Business Insider were:
1. Harley Quinn
2. Joker
3. Superhero
4. Pirate
5. Wonder Woman
6. Witch
7. Batman
8. Star Wars
9. Clown
10. Dinosaur

Witch being the only "pagan" element and it is doubtful that it came in at #6 because Wiccans put the word out. Some parents clearly hold to traditional imagery values.

And seriously, does Business Insider not know that Wonder Woman and Batman subsets of superheroes?
 
Jae said:
Christmas is a celebration of the Son of God coming into the world. Halloween is a celebration of death.
Click to expand...

No, it is not. Perhaps for some Goths and related subcultures, but not traditionally. Even the pagan predecessors were about celebrating and welcoming the spirits of the departed, not death. It was about the time when the barrier between worlds was thin and spirits of the ancestors present (hence the ghost element). It was also about other spirits being present and propitiating them. The Christian All Hallow's Eve basically built on that base. Nothing about celebrating death.
 
Jae said:
I used to feel the same way Waterfall. That was before Yobo opened her own store. Now I see how vital holiday celebrations can be for business owners.
Click to expand...

So you're okay with commercialization of the Christian holidays?
 
I love carving pumpkins. Usually do two or three, usually following a theme of some sort, often political. Always like to have a kid, of some age, around to help. Don't get many kids at the door; it's a small street that doesn't go anywhere, so I buy a box of plain chips, and that's plenty. Lights turned out by 8. I usually leave the pumpkins out, and to the neighbourhood's credit thus far, they're still fine in the morning, and make very good compost.

Is Samhain a pagan festival? Yes, but there's no real hint of it in our cultural celebrations.

Our church holds a Hallowe'en Party for the congregation's, and the neighbourhood's, kids. Not too long, well attended, kids have fun.
 
Mendalla said:
No, it is not. Perhaps for some Goths and related subcultures, but not traditionally. Even the pagan predecessors were about celebrating and welcoming the spirits of the departed, not death. It was about the time when the barrier between worlds was thin and spirits of the ancestors present (hence the ghost element). It was also about other spirits being present and propitiating them. The Christian All Hallow's Eve basically built on that base. Nothing about celebrating death.
Click to expand...

Dead spirits, right? Dead spirits being present with live people, correct? And then a celebration going on around that event?
 
revjohn said:
No. And to be honest most don't and never have.

Hallowe'en is to candy makers what Valentine's day is to Hallmark. Opportunity. It is a commercial undertaking more than it is a spiritual remembrance.

The top 10 Hallowe'en costumes of 2016 were in order of sales, according to Business Insider were:
1. Harley Quinn
2. Joker
3. Superhero
4. Pirate
5. Wonder Woman
6. Witch
7. Batman
8. Star Wars
9. Clown
10. Dinosaur

Witch being the only "pagan" element and it is doubtful that it came in at #6 because Wiccans put the word out. Some parents clearly hold to traditional imagery values.

And seriously, does Business Insider not know that Wonder Woman and Batman subsets of superheroes?
Click to expand...

Hmm... and yet earlier you said, "You can celebrate some of the early pagan ways..."
 
Jae said:
Dead spirits, right? Dead spirits being present with live people, correct? And then a celebration going on around that event?
Click to expand...

It is not celebrating the fact that they are dead, which is what "celebrating death" would mean. It is celebrating the fact that our ancestors are present and among us on that night. Much like Chinese people bowing to their ancestors and cleaning up their graves (which many still do, even many Christian ones).
 
Mendalla said:
It is not celebrating the fact that they are dead, which is what "celebrating death" would mean. It is celebrating the fact that our ancestors are present and among us on that night. Much like Chinese people bowing to their ancestors and cleaning up their graves (which many still do, even many Christian ones).
Click to expand...

Some Korean Christians also participate in ancestor worship. However, I certainly do not consider it a Christian thing to do.
 
Halloween we all have our views ----all up to us to decide good or bad ----for me the kids are the important ones to know and understand that they should focus on God who is light and not the fear and the dark that Halloween presents in this day and age ------being scared or afraid is not what the light represents ----many have taken characters like a clown and turned what was to entertain children in a good way is now evil and many children are sacred of clowns as well as adults -----zombie movies paint a picture of evil ----etc ----children need good guidance to understand differences -----if Halloween is meant to be fun ---then parents need to school their Children to understand that cause there are many who will try to turn the fun into horror ---in my opinion -----

Is God our Father in Heaven in or out on this day we call Halloween ------that is the real question -----




read all here
The Official History of Halloween

Samhain and the Celts

The change of seasons from growing, plenty, and life to winter, dark, shortages and death was at the meaning behind the holiday.

The final harvest of the year was marked by a celebration called Samhain (pronounced sow-en) and was also the ancient Celtic New Year. Samhain, which translates to "end of summer," usually occurred around the end of October, when the weather started to get cold in Ireland and Scotland. (yes, I know it's not a big difference from "summer" there, but they apparently can tell the difference! :)

Celts believed that transitions, times when things change from one state to another, had magical properties. Samhain marked what was for them one of two of the biggest turning points of the year (Spring being the other) a change in the weather as well as a change in life. The Celts also believed this magical time created an opening to the dead. They believed the worlds of the dead and the living were closest at the time of Samhain, and that the spirits of the dead were freed to travel once more among the living, in part because at Samhain the souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld.

People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to help them on their journey to the otherworld, and to keep them away from the living. On that day all manner of beings were afoot: ghosts, fairies, and demons! Many of the activities of the Samhain festival were related to these beliefs. Many of those practices then evolved into modern day Halloween traditions.

Read more at The Official History of Halloween


The Catholic Church then turns it into a day for their dead Saints----Turning dead people into Saints -----that is just bizarre in my view ----- not only is it bizarre it is impossible and it is bearing false witness to scripture -----no human Religion has any authority to turn their dead into Saints ----only having the Holy Spirit indwelling in you while your alive turns a sinner into a Saint -----False Doctrine teaching at it's best with this one in my view --

All Saints' Day
Societies and religions honored their martyrs for thousands of years. Catholics canonized saints after death. Saints are effectively "ranked" higher since they have special status (sainthood, holiness) bestowed upon them, saints are held in esteem as role models, and God may perform miracles on earth through them. Roman Catholics, and some other Christians, honor saints, and ask them for guidance in daily life.

can·on·ize
ˈkanəˌnīz/
verb
  1. (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint.
    "he was the last English saint to be canonized prior to the Reformation"
    synonyms: declare to be a saint; More
    • regard as being above reproach or of great significance.

Read more at The Official History of Halloween


images
images



images
--------are you a good superhero or a bad one ----
images
 
unsafe says and posted link ---to read full article

What about this Trick or Treat scenario that is attached to Halloween -----good or bad when started ---

How the Tradition of Trick or Treating Got Started

unsafe posted part of article

As for the trick or treating, or “guising” (from “disguising”), traditions, beginning in the Middle-Ages, children and sometimes poor adults would dress up in the aforementioned costumes and go around door to door during Hallowmas begging for food or money in exchange for songs and prayers, often said on behalf of the dead. This was called “souling” and the children were called “soulers”.

Is a Child being called a souler a good thing or a bad thing ----should children be taken out to -----begging for food or money in exchange for songs and prayers, often said on behalf of the dead.

An example of a relatively recent (19th century) souling song is as follows:

A soul! a soul! a soul-cake!
Please good Missis, a soul-cake!
An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry,
Any good thing to make us all merry.
One for Peter, two for Paul
Three for Him who made us all.

unsafe says
Well seems like a light of God here at the end --Three for Him who made us all.---but the reason behind this souling ---seems to be on the dark side to me ----

Halloween is a billion dollar industry ----
Americans Will Spend Nearly $7 Billion on Halloween This Year

Americans Will Spend Nearly $7 Billion on Halloween This Year

Alicia Adamczyk
Oct 20, 2015

The weather is (finally) cooling off, stores are stocking up on bags of candy, and the pumpkin carving is under way. That means it's almost Halloween, and consumers across the country are gearing up for a frightfully fun holiday.


unsafe says ----Here is a catch phrase ---- gearing up for a frightfully fun holiday.


Here is the question can you frightfully be driven into having fun -------
 
I find it fascinating how some people feel threatened or scared of simple things. No doubt there are a few Pagans welcoming the spirits of their dead loved ones at Halloween. Unless one is Pagan there is little chance of witnessing their rituals. They are far outnumbered by the children dressed as imitation witches etc. and collecting goodies from door to door. Since joining FB I have stopped being amazed by the level of ignorance of some people. Until then I rarely met and attempted a conversation with anyone who was fearfully ignorant.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top