Just curious as to where the parents are taking thier children trick or treating. The results of this will help me to understand how far christianity and comercialism have gone to ruin this fun evening.

I wouldn't say that its christianity that is trying to ruin it. Maybe fundamentalism...

I know lots of Xtians that are all about some halloween! And I do believe its been more of a consumer holiday since before either of us were born.

I plan on trick or treating til I DIE!! lol

Codeine Coma wrote:Just curious as to where the parents are taking thier children trick or treating. The results of this will help me to understand how far christianity and comercialism have gone to ruin this fun evening.

What are you talking about? Halloween is one of the Christian holidays I most enjoy! And yes, it IS a Chrtistian holiday, originally designed, before all the fun, to scare people into staying inside to avoid all the "evil spirits" (pagans) enjoying their big Fall party night. Imagine some spin doctor way back when talking up how dangerous it was to go out that night...

"There's Evil Spirits out there!"
Damn straight, and we want some candy!

We don't do any of those. I take BOO to a neighborhood down from my parent's house. It's where I used to trick or treat when I was little. There's an older couple in that neighborhood who fill up their porch with stuffed animals and they let the children pick one. We usually hit both sides of the street around a circle. Takes about an hour and a half.

It's possible that this year we might be hitting the Neighborhood around Miss Shawn's house. We shall see.

We live in the older district of Lenoir City....for the last several years, the midgets have racked up while trick-or-treating. The houses are close together so you don't have to walk forever or drive from house to house. I'm too paranoid of weirdos to let the midgets go by themselves.

What are you talking about? Halloween is one of the Christian holidays I most enjoy! And yes, it IS a Chrtistian holiday, originally designed, before all the fun, to scare people into staying inside to avoid all the "evil spirits" (pagans) enjoying their big Fall party night. Imagine some spin doctor way back when talking up how dangerous it was to go out that night...

"There's Evil Spirits out there!"
Damn straight, and we want some candy!

I wouldn't say that its christianity that is trying to ruin it. Maybe fundamentalism...

I know lots of Xtians that are all about some halloween! And I do believe its been more of a consumer holiday since before either of us were born.

I plan on trick or treating til I DIE!! lol

I was not refering to Halloween as a Christian or any religious holiday. I was however, trying to figure out how many people plan on going to a "pop the trunk and dish out candy at the local church' senario. I am well aware that "Halloween" is a Catholic holiday. (originally) I have no problems with that. I do however,have a problem with the whole "Pop the trunk" and "come to our christian haunted house that will scare the bible into you".

And yes,Halloween is/has been very comercial.and will always will be. But,I believe "Mall" activities and "Boo at the Zoo" take away from this Holiday which I enjoy. In other words - We pyrchase alot of candy every year for the trick or treater's and these comercial events take goblins away from my doorstep. (I am rather fond of the little demons)

So basically,I was just asking a question. I really did not mean to start any problems with this. So bring the kids over to my doorstep. (please)....and I will hook them up with some CANDY!

Happy Halloween all!

JaNell wrote:What are you talking about? Halloween is one of the Christian holidays I most enjoy! And yes, it IS a Chrtistian holiday, originally designed, before all the fun, to scare people into staying inside to avoid all the "evil spirits" (pagans) enjoying their big Fall party night. Imagine some spin doctor way back when talking up how dangerous it was to go out that night...

"There's Evil Spirits out there!"
Damn straight, and we want some candy!

Last I checked, Halloween was a spinoff of the Celtic Samhain- the day and night where the veil between the lands of living and dead was thinnest. The day to honor ancestors. Dressing in costume and trick or treating originated with Celtic traditions. Only the word "Halloween" was of Christian origin- an abbreviation for "All Hallows Eve," the day before All Hallows Day.
Do you have a reference that Halloween was originally Christian? I would love to read it.

Google rocks my socks.


History o' Halloween

I think the History Channels page is nice. Originally Celtic..then All Souls Day designated by one of those pope guys with the funny hats.

we will take karin to boo at the zoo the saturday before halloween, she also has a horse show that day. for halloween, we will take her to either safety city or the neighborhood where my husband trick or treated. if anyone is interested in joining us, let me know. either here or email. little_pockit@comcast.net

the reason we do not trick or treat near our own home is because we dont know our neighbors that well and we live on a very busy road. people are too creepy anymore. i had a bad and scary experience as a kid. granted it was in west texas, very near to the mexican border, but still...

paranoid parent and proud of it.

Quick Googling:

The History Channel
By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

Pagan's Path
With the coming of Christianity in the 800s AD, the early Church in England tried to Christianize the old Celtic festivals. Pope Boniface IV designated the 1st of November as "All Saints Day," honoring saints and martyrs. He also decreed October 31 as "All Hallows Eve" and eventually Hallow'een. Scholars today widely accept that the Pope was attempting to replace the earlier Celtic pagan festival with a church-sanctioned holiday.


Although it's very annoying that the sites keep saying that Samhain is/was celebrated on October 31st - isn't it celebrated according to the lunar calender?

In my case, I plan on taking my daughter to several events.

She goes to a christian daycare, so we'll probally hit the trunk deal just so she can see her friends. But that's not on the 31st, it's on a sunday (go figure right?). Then boo at the zoo last for a few nights, so we'll hit that at somepoint, and then there's the party my friends are having where everyone without kids gives the kids stuff, and then we'll trick or treat my building.

Buttercup wrote:I wouldn't say that its christianity that is trying to ruin it. Maybe fundamentalism...

I know lots of Xtians that are all about some halloween! And I do believe its been more of a consumer holiday since before either of us were born.

I plan on trick or treating til I DIE!! lol

Damn straight! Christian here and I am a faithful Halloween LOVER!!

Codeine Coma wrote:
And yes,Halloween is/has been very comercial.and will always will be. But,I believe "Mall" activities and "Boo at the Zoo" take away from this Holiday which I enjoy. In other words - We pyrchase alot of candy every year for the trick or treater's and these comercial events take goblins away from my doorstep. (I am rather fond of the little demons)

So basically,I was just asking a question. I really did not mean to start any problems with this. So bring the kids over to my doorstep. (please)....and I will hook them up with some CANDY!

Happy Halloween all!

Personally, I have taken my baby sister to neighborhoods and to the Mall. When it's really cold outside or the weather is less then calm, it's a BEAUTIFUL thing to have access too. We'd never keep her forever from actual trick-or-treating but sometimes, especially when they are VERY small, the Mall and things like Boo At The Zoo, are the best ways to go. She had her first real trick-or-treating last year and LOVED it. I did too!

i perfer this origin to halloween. and try to fight this logic
history is the hand of the penholder
so many people take credit for certain things theres no way to tell whos not lying
they are all probably connected. they are all probably rooted from one idea and one event
but we can NEVER know for sure. tis so easy to lie on paper. why people thing history is accurate scares me to the bone.....
who cares enjoy it
everyone has their belief of where it came from
agree to disagree
everyone have fun.
halloween is my fav day of the year.
the kids have fun, the adults can watch the madness, and for one day of the year people try to walk into my neck of reality where the world is a swimming spiral of death.

JaNell wrote:<snippity snip>
With the coming of Christianity in the 800s AD, the early Church in England tried to Christianize the old Celtic festivals. Pope Boniface IV designated the 1st of November as "All Saints Day," honoring saints and martyrs. He also decreed October 31 as "All Hallows Eve" and eventually Hallow'een. Scholars today widely accept that the Pope was attempting to replace the earlier Celtic pagan festival with a church-sanctioned holiday.

This is all exactly what I was saying- "Halloween" is the only thing Christian about the whole holiday. As in, the name. So... I'm sorry, but the holiday itself is not Christian, only the name.

JaNell wrote:Although it's very annoying that the sites keep saying that Samhain is/was celebrated on October 31st - isn't it celebrated according to the lunar calender?

Technically it's either the first or second full moon after the Equinox, but I can't recall which.

in my pants

AuralFixation wrote:in my pants

J.C.,I agree with you. History was and is in the eyes of the penholders. I hate that it is/has been that way.