Halloween = The Devil? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Agamemnon · 10-15-2004, 09:05 PM

Looks like some Christian folks in the American south are upset that Halloween falls on a Sunday this year. Many are threatening to boycott (not send their kids out, not give out candy) Halloween.

"You just don't do it on Sunday," said Sandra Hulsey of Greenville, Georgia. "That's Christ's day. You go to church on Sunday, you don't go out and celebrate the devil. That'll confuse a child."

It's been determined that Saturday will be designated as the Devil's day to prevent confusion.

Jeez.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/10/15/halloween...h.ap/index.html

So what's the deal, are these people crazy, or should Halloween be moved so as not to insult God by desecrating the sabbath (I bet they don't have a problem with NASCAR on Sundays :P )

Edit: oops, forgot the link!

calf · 10-15-2004, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Agamemnon@Oct 15 2004, 09:05 PM
"You just don't do it on Sunday," said Sandra Hulsey of Greenville, Georgia. "That's Christ's day. You go to church on Sunday, you don't go out and celebrate the devil. That'll confuse a child."

I always thought halloween was about dressing up in stupid costumes and going trick'er'treatin'. What's so bad about going to church then getting free candy that night? That's all the holiday is about, isn't it?

Displaced Flames fan · 10-15-2004, 09:10 PM

Not only in the south.

I know people in Northern BC who never allow their kids to celebrate Halloween because it promotes evil.

Regulator75 · 10-15-2004, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Agamemnon@Oct 15 2004, 09:05 PM
"You just don't do it on Sunday," said Sandra Hulsey of Greenville, Georgia. "That's Christ's day. You go to church on Sunday, you don't go out and celebrate the devil. That'll confuse a child."

:wwf:

Like seriously, what's wrong with people?

calf · 10-15-2004, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Oct 15 2004, 09:10 PM
Not only in the south.

I know people in Northern BC who never allow their kids to celebrate Halloween because it promotes evil.

Interesting. All depends on interpritation of the holiday I guess.

Or they can turn things around and do what some guy did on my block when I was that age: instead of candy, give out Bible stories!!!!

Agamemnon · 10-15-2004, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Oct 16 2004, 03:10 AM
Not only in the south.

I know people in Northern BC who never allow their kids to celebrate Halloween because it promotes evil.

I hear ya... though I think the article focuses on a southern state, I don't recall.

Daradon · 10-16-2004, 03:15 PM

Well Halloween doesn't really celebate the devil, that was just a Christian myth to attck pagan religions. The pagan festival of Samhein which modern halloween was adapted from DOES celebrate the horned god. This figurehead is where Christianity derived their Devil from, both to promote their religion and vilify pagan religions.

The festival of Samhien celebrates a few things. First of all it celbrates the end of the growing year (something that is obviously very important to ancient peoples) with a final harvest and party before the long cold winter. Secondly the 'veil' between the physical world and the spirit world is at it's thinnest on this date supposedly. Obviously adaptations of this is where all the ghosties and skeletons and various 'evil' or 'dark' things came from, but orginially it was just a time to meditate, perhaps try to contact loved ones that had passed on for wisdom, honor those that HAD died in the previous year, and reflect on ones own mortality.

Samhein (Oct. 31st-Nov 1st) is also the balancing holiday for Beltane (April 30th-May 1st) Beltane worships the goddess, fertility and new life. Crops are planted this time and rituals to ensure a good harvest are done. It's also a time for love and joy. So you can see how the pagan year is cyclical and both life and death are honored and worshipped.

The Devil was a Christian invention and really has nothing to do with Samhein. Though, since Halloween is more of a western interpretation and Christianity is by far and wide the most popular WESTERN religion, perhpas it is celebrating the Devil in it's own way. But that would be their own religion doing that, not the world, or the evils of society. Because if you don't believe in the Devil, how can you celebrate him at all?

BlackArcher101 · 10-16-2004, 04:20 PM

I can remember this happening in Lethbridge quite a few years ago too... either '93 or '99. The huge religious population of Lethbridge complained about it, and if my memory serves correct, they were extremely close to actually winning. Part of me thinks they won and held it on Saturday also...

I didn't realize the christian faith looked at it this way. Having grown up in a Catholic family and school, we always celebrated Halloween and even were taught that it wasn't all about evil things.

Agamemnon · 10-16-2004, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlackArcher101@Oct 16 2004, 10:20 PM
I can remember this happening in Lethbridge quite a few years ago too... either '93 or '99. The huge religious population of Lethbridge complained about it, and if my memory serves correct, they were extremely close to actually winning. Part of me thinks they won and held it on Saturday also...

I didn't realize the christian faith looked at it this way. Having grown up in a Catholic family and school, we always celebrated Halloween and even were taught that it wasn't all about evil things.

Yeah, I went to Catholic elementary/junior high/senior high and we always had halloween festivities of some kind. Never heard a bad word spoken about it. That would lead me to surmise that its not a "christian" problem (or at least Catholic), but that these people have some other bee under they're bonnet. The priest from my church was handing out candy!

Daradon · 10-16-2004, 04:34 PM

Agreed, I was brought up Catholic and was pretty devout for a kid and teen, but our parents had no problems with it. Just saw it as some harmless fun. I did know several Christian family that were against it though, on that even put out pamphlets in our neighbourhood mailboxs 'educating' families about the 'evil' of it all.

Super-Rye · 10-16-2004, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Agamemnon@Oct 15 2004, 09:05 PM
"You just don't do it on Sunday," said Sandra Hulsey of Greenville, Georgia. "That's Christ's day. You go to church on Sunday, you don't go out and celebrate the devil. That'll confuse a child."

I love how she has no idea about the real meaning behind Halloween, yet she still feels it's necessary to run her mouth.

wittynickname · 10-16-2004, 07:37 PM

I love the fact that she's only worried about "celebrating the Devil" on a Sunday.

Because celebrating the Devil is okay on Saturdays.

Weiser Wonder · 10-16-2004, 08:28 PM

Here in good ole Weiser, Idaho Halloween has been moved to Saturday. Damn the mormons. Sunday is the best day for Halloween you can go to Church in your costume! The mormon bishops could all wear the same costume because they insist on looking exactly the same.

Displaced Flames fan · 10-16-2004, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Weiser Wonder@Oct 17 2004, 02:28 AM
Here in good ole Weiser, Idaho Halloween has been moved to Saturday. Damn the mormons. Sunday is the best day for Halloween you can go to Church in your costume! The mormon bishops could all wear the same costume because they insist on looking exactly the same.

Maybe in your town. That's not the case with all Mormons.

Weiser Wonder · 10-16-2004, 08:33 PM

"You just don't do it on Sunday," said Sandra Hulsey of Greenville, Georgia. "That's Christ's day. You go to church on Sunday, you don't go out and celebrate the devil. That'll confuse a child."

Yes we must have designated days for evil and good. Monday-good, Tuesday-evil, Wednesday-good, Thrusday-evil, Friday-good, Saturday-evil, Sunday-good. You can tell I'm a godly person seeing as I have 4 good days and 3 evil days.