Catholics and Halloween 2?

Question

Continuation from : http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoZO1GElvt_8C5lm31vP4dHsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071010195606AAZhSJr

The main reason I stopped letting my kids go out on Halloween was because of what “line dancer” wrote on the last page and also because I have heard witches or Wicca’s use this day for strong spell casting and such. (I may be wrong I’m not a witch) I’ve heard all about it’s pagan roots and I don’t think you can put a bow on evil and make it something good.

I haven’t let my kids do for about 4 years now and I always feel guilty, but we spend the night watching movies and doing fun things together like make a cake for All Saints day. Then we celebrate All Saints day the next day. We have a good time, but at the same time I feel guilt for not letting them go out.

Is there any one who feels the same way? Or are you just suppose to erase what you know about it’s real true past and let your kids wander around on what I would consider not a holy night, but an evil night. Roots are roots, How did something evil be purified in to some thing good? And if it’s truly nothing at all then why waste good money on it?

Answer 1

Halloween is a major satanic ritual day. “It’s a religious holiday for the underworld, with satanists performing sacrifices and witches quietly celebrating with prayer circles or meals for the dead,” according to a USA Today article. It quoted Washington witch Bryan Jordan as saying, “[Christians] don’t realize it, but they’re celebrating our holiday with us. . . . We like it.”
Parents, do you want your children imitating these sinister rituals?

Answer 2

You're a strange, strange woman to keep your kids in one on of the most fun nights of the year for kids. The harassment they must endure at school...jeez. To you and others who think it's evil and equated with Satan -- Halloween is NOT evil. I'm sure that you won't be convinced of that just from my post or anyone else's, but truly, it isn't evil. Do you celebrate Christmas? How about Easter? They have pagan roots as well and much stronger than those at Halloween. Even if a Wiccan or witch right next door to you is casting a spell it's not going to affect you or your children. Spell casting can happen any time of the year at any time of day or night and you wouldn't be affected or know about it. Witches celebrate the day by honoring the dead -- with respect and love and prayers, not with satanic rituals and sacrifices.

The bottom line is, Halloween does have Pagan roots (again, so does Christmas and Easter). Regardless, it was never evil....it is not currently evil. It was and is a time of celebration and to honor those who have passed on, a time to pay respects to our ancestors and to our loved ones who have died. In ancient times it was also the late harvest festival -- a time to celebrate the hard work of summer as the late crops were harvested. In the mainstream of things -- it's a fun night for kids to go out dressed up to get some candy.

Good grief. Let the kids go out already.

Answer 3

Allow me to explain:

This pagan holiday serves a very important and healthy psychological function. It's the holiday that acknowledges the death aspect of the life cycle (all pagan holidays celebrate some aspect of the life cycle), and invites people to 'walk around in its shoes' so to speak. By dressing up as symbols of the things we fear, and by allowing ourselves to be frightened (as in haunted houses), we acknowledge and embrace our fears and therefore, gain a better understanding of them.

This brings our fear into light and removes its power to make us afraid. So you see, it helps us process the fear and change it into something manageable. The holiday also celebrates the hope of an afterlife, so it's not just about fear either. AND it is often about honoring those loved ones who have passed on.

Conquering our fears is a primal thrill and that's why people are drawn to it, even without this analysis.

Our culture has a bad habit of trying to pretend that unpleasant things like fear and death don't exist. Of course, as soon as it is said, we know that's not true.

There is no evil in any of this. The roots are not evil, the meaning is not evil, the actions are not evil.

Oh, and by the way, pagans aren't evil either. We're just people.

I don't think you're really doing your kids a favor by making something out of this holiday that it is not. You're teaching them to be uptight and in denial. I promise you this will backfire sooner or later. Live a little.

"I think we can't go round measuring our goodness by what we don't do, what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think we've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create, and who we include."
--Pere Henri, the Cathoic Priest in the movie Chocolat

Answer 4

Listen, do what you are comfortable with, that's the bottom line. It's okay for Catholic kids to participate in Halloween stuff, and it's okay if they don't. If you want Catholic opinions about this, you'd be far better off asking other parents in your parish -- or run it by your priest if you're really concerned. Some other denominations get a little unnecessarily strange about this very minor "holiday".

Answer 5

It's just another day out of the year. Analyze what Halloween means today and you realize that it's harmless. It may have had 'evil' roots, but today it is just another American holiday designed to allow kids to express themselves and, of course, get free stuff.

Answer 6

It is called evil by those who do not understand. Wicca (and witches) honor their dead ancestors on this day. Early Christians took it to be their day (as they did with other pagan Holidays or Sabbats) so they could convert pagans to their faith. The only "spell casting" that is done is strictly done as self reflection and understanding of one's life path. Giving thanks and honoring the Deity. What is evil about that? We do not force our beliefs or wills on anyone! Whom ever says otherwise should research things before pointing fingers.