Issue Date: 10/26/09
Halloween: Innocent Fun
By Cayle Leipert
Halloween is one of the oldest holidays, and in many ways, it is just like any other holiday: stores have sales, there is food galore and friends get together. That doesn't sound very pagan to me, so when did this traditional holiday become associated with evil?
Adults can let their alter egos out and dress up as super heroes; kids stuff their faces with candy. What other day in of the year can you go to your neighbors' houses and get free candy?
According to History.com, Halloween goes back to the 5th century B.C., when the Celtic summer ended and they held a celebration called Samhain to bring in the New Year. The festivities consisted of priests gathering around a bonfire and sacrificing, cooking and eating their crops and animals. Then they would give a piece of the remaining fire embers to each person in the community so households could start a new fire that would last all year. That seems pretty innocent to me.
But by the 4th century, Christians sought to create an alternative to the ghosts, witches and haunted experiences that had become part of Samhain. They attempted to make the holiday more "holy" by celebrating the lives of Christian saints the day before Halloween. Thus the double standard began.
Nowadays, some Christian families are allowing more innocent costumes to be worn by their children, and many churches hold harvest festivals as an alternative to celebrating Halloween. Kids can dress up in biblical costumes and play carnival games. Halloween isn't Sunday school and bible lessons - it's harmless debauchery and indulgence. I didn't realize free candy and dressing up as a lady bug or ninja was such a hot and debatable issue.
But there are still some extreme religious groups that refuse to celebrate Halloween because of its so-called satanic roots. Too much paranoia can drive a person mad. People need to slow down, have a seat and just relax for a minute.
The world is not going to end if little Johnny sees a girl dressed as a French maid. I say expose kids to the real world now because eventually, they are going to see these things. Kids can not grow up sheltered from other celebrations and cultures. Diversity and experiencing new things is what makes a person whole.
Adults can let their alter egos out and dress up as super heroes; kids stuff their faces with candy. What other day in of the year can you go to your neighbors' houses and get free candy?
According to History.com, Halloween goes back to the 5th century B.C., when the Celtic summer ended and they held a celebration called Samhain to bring in the New Year. The festivities consisted of priests gathering around a bonfire and sacrificing, cooking and eating their crops and animals. Then they would give a piece of the remaining fire embers to each person in the community so households could start a new fire that would last all year. That seems pretty innocent to me.
But by the 4th century, Christians sought to create an alternative to the ghosts, witches and haunted experiences that had become part of Samhain. They attempted to make the holiday more "holy" by celebrating the lives of Christian saints the day before Halloween. Thus the double standard began.
Nowadays, some Christian families are allowing more innocent costumes to be worn by their children, and many churches hold harvest festivals as an alternative to celebrating Halloween. Kids can dress up in biblical costumes and play carnival games. Halloween isn't Sunday school and bible lessons - it's harmless debauchery and indulgence. I didn't realize free candy and dressing up as a lady bug or ninja was such a hot and debatable issue.
But there are still some extreme religious groups that refuse to celebrate Halloween because of its so-called satanic roots. Too much paranoia can drive a person mad. People need to slow down, have a seat and just relax for a minute.
The world is not going to end if little Johnny sees a girl dressed as a French maid. I say expose kids to the real world now because eventually, they are going to see these things. Kids can not grow up sheltered from other celebrations and cultures. Diversity and experiencing new things is what makes a person whole.
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