halloween

[CradleJourney]

Costumes are fun. Candy tastes good. Telling Scary Stories is fun.
Just don’t get carried away. The evil that came from Halloween in America as a Commercialized Holiday is we Catholics forgetting the Feasts Days…and our prayers for those in purgatory in GENERAL.

The Pagans of today have an obsession with witches, zombies, vampires and ghost stories because outside of the Church, one still has a need to acknowledge something beyond the material, visible world. Why wouldn’t we as humans have that in the back of our minds, we’re each assigned a guardian angel!

that’s just my point of view, I’m not a theologian or anything so don’t take my word for it!

lol good anecdote ,

Trick or treating (imho) is a fun way to also teach and reinforce manners in regards to our neighbors -

• you do not bother people (look for the porch light),
• ring the doorbell if there is one or knock politely (do not pound),
• use sidewalks (do not cut across people’s lawns),
• always say thank-you and respond politely to adults engaging you in coversation ("Oh, what are you dressed up as? Is that your favorite superhero? etc.)
• watch out for those littler than you - let them go first, lend a hand if needed
• do not touch things that don’t belong to you (no matter how cool the decoration)
• extend appreciation to the hardwork/skills of others (compliment them if you like their decorations/costumes)
• don’t be afraid of the dark - it’s just another aspect of the world God created for us
• be grateful for anything you receive because no one HAD to buy that and give it to you, aren’t they generous (yes, even the neighbor who doesn’t want you to turn your bike around in his driveway).

Then once you get home there’s the learning experiences of economics (two of this candy is worth trading for one of those) and decision making (you only get to keep 30 pieces - which ones are you keeping, which are you donating).

Nope, sorry - don’t see any evil in it here.

 

[Evania]

And if a child is dressed up like a box of M & M’s? What’s crazy to me is how Halloween has become an ADULT holiday over the last 10 - 15 years. We’ve been getting catalogs of adult costumes, yard decorations, Halloween party supplies, etc. As far as I can see, it’s the adults that have been introducing the seriously “dark” edge to Halloween, not how the kids are dressed. For most of my life the night has been about kids and candy and either home made costumes or Disney princess dresses off the store self. But lately the apparent need for wild adult parties, costume day at the office, and hanging orange lights around your yard like they were Christmas lights seem to have become the thing. The issue isn’t how the kids are dressed; the only thing making an impression on them is the amount of candy they get. It’s the adults, as usual, messing-up what had been in my youth a low-key and relatively innocent (the occasional toilet-paper house wrapping excepted) night.

Excellent point!

Last year the advertisement was all for adult women in all professions (nurse, firewoman, teacher) and all had some sort of lingerie look with fishnet stockings. A lot of women give themselves a pass on this night and dress in the most degrading underwear…Ahem…I mean “costumes”.

I agree that it’s the adults as usual messing up and taking the innocent fun out of it. I have good memories of this holiday as a kid.

 

[maryjk]

Ah - Autumn…The air cools, the leaves turn, the birds head south…and out come the annual threads dedicated to the upcoming holidays of Halloween and Christmas…
Nice to know that we are pretty much right on schedule…
Peace
James

I was thinking it was a little early.

But after checking my calendar, you are RIGHT.

 

[JRKH]

Trick or treating (imho) is a fun way to also teach and reinforce manners in regards to our neighbors -

• you do not bother people (look for the porch light),
• ring the doorbell if there is one or knock politely (do not pound),
• use sidewalks (do not cut across people’s lawns),
• always say thank-you and respond politely to adults engaging you in coversation ("Oh, what are you dressed up as? Is that your favorite superhero? etc.)
• watch out for those littler than you - let them go first, lend a hand if needed
• do not touch things that don’t belong to you (no matter how cool the decoration)
• extend appreciation to the hardwork/skills of others (compliment them if you like their decorations/costumes)
• don’t be afraid of the dark - it’s just another aspect of the world God created for us
• be grateful for anything you receive because no one HAD to buy that and give it to you, aren’t they generous (yes, even the neighbor who doesn’t want you to turn your bike around in his driveway).

Then once you get home there’s the learning experiences of economics (two of this candy is worth trading for one of those) and decision making (you only get to keep 30 pieces - which ones are you keeping, which are you donating).

Nope, sorry - don’t see any evil in it here.

This is absolutely great…

Excellent point!

Last year the advertisement was all for adult women in all professions (nurse, firewoman, teacher) and all had some sort of lingerie look with fishnet stockings. A lot of women give themselves a pass on this night and dress in the most degrading underwear…Ahem…I mean “costumes”.

I agree that it’s the adults as usual messing up and taking the innocent fun out of it. I have good memories of this holiday as a kid.

I agree with this…Though I don’t restrict it to just “Adults”. I include teens as well. It’s generally not the little ones or their parents who are rude when they come to the door, but there are older ones - too old - who come and some of these have been rude.

All in all though…Any holiday or feast day or festival or whatever is going to be what we personally make of it. Will “All Hallows Eve” be a fun growth experience for us or not. Will we “keep Christ in Christmas” or not?
Seems to me there are a lot of holidays that are “mis-used” anymore.
How many people actually remember the vets on Memorial day?
How many really appreciate what the 4th of July actually means?
For that matter, How many actually realize the truly radical nature of the events of Easter?

Holidays are either good or bad - it just depends on what we bring to them.

:twocents: duly deposited

Peace
James

 

[WiccanWoman]

I remember celebrating both Halloween and All Souls/Saints Day as a child in a R/C school, and at home.

At present, Halloween for me (as a non-Catholic) is slightly linked to a sacred celebration called Samhain, but it does not equal Halloween. These are two different observations held at the same time of year. I ask that you please indulge me while I provide some information, so you can understand what I am saying.

Samhain is a spiritual/religious holy-day, and Halloween is a secular holiday – not the same thing, although the word holiday comes from the term holy-day. Some members of the Pagan community feel that Halloween itself is tacky, and that it trivializes Samhain. Personally, I do not think that the solemnity of Samhain is diminished by the fun of Halloween. Depending on the individual spiritual path followed by any particular branch of Paganism/Wicca, there are different ways to celebrate Samhain; however, typically we focus on honoring our ancestors, and/or acknowledging the cycle of death and rebirth in nature, similar to what is done by Mexican folk who follow the custom of El Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead (Oct. 31 - Nov. 2).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead

During that time, families create altars in their homes to “welcome” spirits of departed relatives. Vigils are held, and families often go to cemeteries to decorate and perform maintenance on the graves of deceased family members, leaving for them “gifts” of food, drink and possessions. All of this is very similar to that which we Pagans do in memory of those who have gone before us. We respect death as a natural part of life. steps up on soap-box We do not worship “the dark side” and wish that Hollywood would stop lumping us in with “goths” and Satanists and demons and vampires (etc.). steps down from soap box

Halloween is about “scary stuff” – Samhain is about remembrance and respect.

Now that you know the difference between the holy-day of Samhain and Halloween… I would like to provide you with some very relevant quotes/links for you in relation to Catholicism and Halloween.

Father Augustine Thompson, O.P., an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia, wrote an article for Catholic Parent Magazine (2000), entitled Surprise: Halloween’s Not a Pagan Festival After All, excerpts and link which follow here:

“We’ve all heard the allegations: Halloween is a pagan rite dating back to some pre-Christian festival among the Celtic Druids that escaped church suppression. Even today modern pagans and witches continue to celebrate this ancient festival. If you let your kids go trick-or-treating, they will be worshiping the devil and pagan gods.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth. The origins of Halloween are, in fact, very Christian and rather American. Halloween falls on October 31 because of a pope, and its observances are the result of medieval Catholic piety.”

“The next time someone claims that Halloween is a cruel trick to lure your children into devil worship, I suggest you tell them the real origin of All Hallows Even, and invite them to discover its Christian significance, along with the two greater and more important Catholic festivals that follow it.”

beliefnet.com/Faiths/Catholic/2000/10/Surprise-Halloweens-Not-A-Pagan-Festivalafter-All.aspx

and

…A blog containing a thought-provoking article (in CCM Magazine) by John Fischer (excerpt and link below):

“Not to diminish the reality of spiritual warfare–something to be taken seriously by all believers–but the last day of October is not a spiritual battle any more than any other day. If Satan comes out on Halloween, he doesn’t go back into hiding the next morning. Whether the origins of Halloween are pagan or otherwise, what we have today is a culture-wide event that glorifies pretending more than the underworld. It’s actually one holiday that adults haven’t taken over–the one time kids get to “be” whatever they want to be. Our participation–or lack thereof–in such a popular, cultural event is only indicative of our ability to have a good time with silliness, not a measure of our standing in a fight between good and evil. If Satan wins anything on this day, he may win more through the darkened homes of Christians than anything else.

The truth is, Christians never have anything to fear–on this night or any other–or God is not God and His promises are not true. What we should be concerned about is a retreat from our homes, when, more than any other time, it’s important to be there with our lights on and a bowl full of treats near the door. If there is a darkness on Halloween night, I, for one, am going to at least make sure that it will not be on my block, at my house."

crockerchronicle.blogspot.com/2006/10/repost-halloween-trick-or-treat.html

 

[JRKH]

WiccanWoman,

Thanks for your wonderful post.

Peace
James

 

[WiccanWoman]

WiccanWoman,

Thanks for your wonderful post.

Peace
James

I am honored by your kindness, sir.
May you and yours be blessed!

 

[JRKH]

I am honored by your kindness, sir.
May you and yours be blessed!

Thank you . We are indeed blessed.

Your post reminds me of how the Church, in her wisdom, recognized that there were elements in other (pagan) faiths that were good and these elements (and festivals / solemnities) could be incorporated into the Christian practices of a given society.

Of course - every year we have these threads about Halloween and about Christmas…

A post like yours, well written and informative can help to remind us of this.

Peace
James

 

[BluesPicker]

QUOTE=Nelka;11255586]In England you get a lot of satanists going to churches and desecrating them to the point that some have a police presence.

Generally it gives teenagers a right to hassle people on their doorsteps and offer them a trick or treat+trick.

Crime appears also as people can walk around in scream masks and nobody takes any notice of them.

Anyone who thinks it is just a bit of fun is in denial.

It is also a popular time for young people to go ghost hunting in haunted places.

It annoys me when catholics celebrate halloween and All Saints Day is pushed back or away altogether.

Yes,  this true in Michigan also.  It is one of the Satanic feast days...or anti-feast day of All Saints Day.   There are those who celebrate this day in a good way:

When my three youngest children were still young enough for trick or treating, they dressed as Blessed Mother, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Therese of Lisieux. They did this as the parish party as well. They also wore these costumes to the public elementary school they attended, and it served to bring out a good discussion about St. Therese with the kindergarten teacher!

It helps a lot to focus on “All Hallowed Evening”.

Now does this sound like someone who is trying to separate themselves from God? No, I say not. 

  We have to be cautious of course about who we interact with on Halloween.  I suggest only going to the homes of people we know to be active Church goers.

In the past,  there have been tragic crimes perpetuated against innocent children. Guard your children, be wary of strangers.   As  parents follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on this.   Please pray and ask Him to Guide you.

 We are in a war.  A good soldier is well armed, alert, and on the ball.  Only in this war, Our General is  God.   Our arms are prayers and our Protection is the Holy Spirit of God.

 

[Miserissima]

Trick or treating (imho) is a fun way to also teach and reinforce manners in regards to our neighbors -

• you do not bother people (look for the porch light),
• ring the doorbell if there is one or knock politely (do not pound),
• use sidewalks (do not cut across people’s lawns),
• always say thank-you and respond politely to adults engaging you in coversation ("Oh, what are you dressed up as? Is that your favorite superhero? etc.)
• watch out for those littler than you - let them go first, lend a hand if needed
• do not touch things that don’t belong to you (no matter how cool the decoration)
• extend appreciation to the hardwork/skills of others (compliment them if you like their decorations/costumes)
• don’t be afraid of the dark - it’s just another aspect of the world God created for us
• be grateful for anything you receive because no one HAD to buy that and give it to you, aren’t they generous (yes, even the neighbor who doesn’t want you to turn your bike around in his driveway).

Then once you get home there’s the learning experiences of economics (two of this candy is worth trading for one of those) and decision making (you only get to keep 30 pieces - which ones are you keeping, which are you donating).

Nope, sorry - don’t see any evil in it here.

THIS ROCKS! Thank you!

 

[pnewton]

Ah - Autumn…The air cools, the leaves turn, the birds head south…and out come the annual threads dedicated to the upcoming holidays of Halloween and Christmas…
Nice to know that we are pretty much right on schedule…

(sigh)

I was thinking it’s a little early, like maybe we had two more weeks before this thread. I will say the same thing I always say. If you want to do something Halloween and do not think it is bad, then do it. If not, don’t. If the Church (or your priest or bishop) ever gives you direction to do something, or not do something, on Halloween, then listen to him. This is not a Catholic moral issue in that their is some directive in place. Thus, it falls back to the individual conscience.

Society is not stagnant. I have found the changes around this day to be interesting in my lifetime. The day may come I feel differently, but for now, Halloween is a non-issue, except I get to pass out candy.

Now for the Saint Day as school, I am working on my son’s costume, St. John the Baptist('s head on a platter! – bwa ha ha)

 

[Starrsmother]

(sigh)

I was thinking it’s a little early, like maybe we had two more weeks before this thread. I will say the same thing I always say. If you want to do something Halloween and do not think it is bad, then do it. If not, don’t. If the Church (or your priest or bishop) ever gives you direction to do something, or not do something, on Halloween, then listen to him. This is not a Catholic moral issue in that their is some directive in place. Thus, it falls back to the individual conscience.

Society is not stagnant. I have found the changes around this day to be interesting in my lifetime. The day may come I feel differently, but for now, Halloween is a non-issue, except I get to pass out candy.

Now for the Saint Day as school, I am working on my son’s costume, St. John the Baptist('s head on a platter! – bwa ha ha)

BWA-HA-HA is right! Good one!
Thank heaven you don’t have a girl instead. You sound like you have my same sick sense of humor and would send her to school as Joan of Arc–burning on a stake! (PS–and yes, the school will complain about the incendiary device–you just can’t win anymore these days!)

 

[BluesPicker]

Surprise!
translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=2&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.gesuemaria.it/dottrina-1.html&usg=ALkJrhia0dy0h70IKum2RI3sYqG6Fi0DAg

AND OCCULT symbolism - (October 24, h.01.58) - On October 31, a date is important not only in Celtic culture, but also in Satanism. And ‘one of the four witches’ sabbath. The first three marked the time for seasonal “beneficial”: the awakening of the earth after the winter, the time of sowing, the time of the harvest. THE fourth Sabbath marcava the arrival of winter and the “defeat” of the sun, cold, hunger, death. The Catholic feast of All Saints is not tied to Halloween, was established by Pope Gregory IV in the year 840, was originally celebrated in the month of May and the 1st November. It was in 1048 that Odilo of Cluny decided to move the Catholic celebration in early November in order to dethrone the cult’s "Samhain. In English the eve is called “All Hallowed Eve”, which became Halloween. "Halloween is a fact of culture, is a form of economic colonization of our country, (and everyone else). is a commercial gimmick, you want to have fun, it is the night where everything is permitted, is a way to entertain the kids, so … HAPPY HALLOWEEN! With these words, or who knows what other and with this hope you are preparing to decorate shops, organize parties, teaching English to children in a fun way, or improvise some masked to school, or office. " Meanwhile, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), as do the magic and everything that revolves around it including the new and next age (Prana therapy, bach flowers, pyramids, Perfumetherapy, music therapy, reiki courses, etc.): the majority of Catholic people also do not know that it violates the fundamental rules of the AB relationship with God is the first commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
BEFORE YOU ACT, YOU KNOW!

1. The meaning - Halloween is the contracted form of the English expression “All Hallows’Eve day” which literally means the eve of All Saints’ Day.
2. The occasion - Halloween, despite not you tell it as it should be, it is a magical occasion (in fact, magic is exercising power in a covert manner against someone). The world of the occult so he calls: “It is the most magical day of the year, New Year’s Eve around the world esoteric”, “is the most important festival of the year for the followers of Satan.”
   However, the Bible says: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20 ).
3. Legend - The ancient Irish legend tells that Jack, a blacksmith wicked, perverse and stingy, that a night of All Saints, after yet another drunk was caught by a deadly attack of liver cirrhosis. The devil to reclaim his soul is tricked by Jack and is forced to fulfill some of his desires, such as to leave him alive, coming to agreement to give up the soul of the reprobate. Jack, unaware of the effect of the disease, he died a year later. Refused to Heaven, Jack has no place even to hell because of the pact with the devil. By way of rites the poor carve a big turnip putting you inside the flaming embers in place of eternal damnation. With this lantern, Jack, ghost, returns to the world of the living.
4. Tradition - The Irish famine-stricken, immigrated to America in 1850. Landed in the New World, they found a huge amount of pumpkins that, unlike the indigenous small turnips, were large enough to be carving. So pumpkins replaced turnips and became the Jack o 'lantern. Use the night of All Saints because it was thought to ward off the restless spirits of the dead who were trying, like Jack, to go home.
   Children today masquerade as restless spirits, who do not find “peace” nor in the heaven and make visits to families led by lantern pumpkin and sweet they get in exchange for their “benevolence.” Trick-or-treating is the custom of “trick or treat”. Trick or treat literally means “trick or fun”, “trick or pleasure” but that the original meaning of “curse or sacrifice.”
5. Historical Facts - The dark legend of Jack hidden historical facts and, in a magical way, aims to recall them. A few centuries before Christ, a secret he kept under his empire the Celtic world. Every year, on October 31, Halloween, this celebrated in honor of his pagan gods, a festival of death. The elders of the sect went from house to house demanding jobs for their god and it happened that demanded human sacrifices. In case of refusal, uttered curses on the house of death, hence was born the “trick or treat”.
6. Considerations about the …
   Legend: this is mounted on the double lie that man can outsmart the devil and that the gates of hell close to someone. It also grows according to satanic practices: ask the devil the fulfillment of desires, make a pact with the devil, satanic mandate to manifest to men, esoteric rituals.
   Tradition: the phenomenon Halloween tradition, customs and trade, is a set of rituals and a practice of witchcraft is that those who do it consciously or not.
   History: The history behind the phenomenon reveals how Halloween there were satanic rituals and sacrifices, Nowadays we know that the satanic practice of human sacrifice during this night.

 

[Starrsmother]

1. The meaning - Halloween is the contracted form of the English expression “All Hallows’Eve day” which literally means the eve of All Saints’ Day.
2. The occasion - Halloween, despite not you tell it as it should be, it is a magical occasion (in fact, magic is exercising power in a covert manner against someone). The world of the occult so he calls: “It is the most magical day of the year, New Year’s Eve around the world esoteric”, “is the most important festival of the year for the followers of Satan.”
   However, the Bible says: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20 ).
3. Legend - The ancient Irish legend tells that Jack, a blacksmith wicked, perverse and stingy, that a night of All Saints, after yet another drunk was caught by a deadly attack of liver cirrhosis. The devil to reclaim his soul is tricked by Jack and is forced to fulfill some of his desires, such as to leave him alive, coming to agreement to give up the soul of the reprobate. Jack, unaware of the effect of the disease, he died a year later. Refused to Heaven, Jack has no place even to hell because of the pact with the devil. By way of rites the poor carve a big turnip putting you inside the flaming embers in place of eternal damnation. With this lantern, Jack, ghost, returns to the world of the living.
4. Tradition - The Irish famine-stricken, immigrated to America in 1850. Landed in the New World, they found a huge amount of pumpkins that, unlike the indigenous small turnips, were large enough to be carving. So pumpkins replaced turnips and became the Jack o 'lantern. Use the night of All Saints because it was thought to ward off the restless spirits of the dead who were trying, like Jack, to go home.
   Children today masquerade as restless spirits, who do not find “peace” nor in the heaven and make visits to families led by lantern pumpkin and sweet they get in exchange for their “benevolence.” Trick-or-treating is the custom of “trick or treat”. Trick or treat literally means “trick or fun”, “trick or pleasure” but that the original meaning of “curse or sacrifice.”
5. Historical Facts - The dark legend of Jack hidden historical facts and, in a magical way, aims to recall them. A few centuries before Christ, a secret he kept under his empire the Celtic world. Every year, on October 31, Halloween, this celebrated in honor of his pagan gods, a festival of death. The elders of the sect went from house to house demanding jobs for their god and it happened that demanded human sacrifices. In case of refusal, uttered curses on the house of death, hence was born the “trick or treat”.
6. Considerations about the …
   Legend: this is mounted on the double lie that man can outsmart the devil and that the gates of hell close to someone. It also grows according to satanic practices: ask the devil the fulfillment of desires, make a pact with the devil, satanic mandate to manifest to men, esoteric rituals.
   Tradition: the phenomenon Halloween tradition, customs and trade, is a set of rituals and a practice of witchcraft is that those who do it consciously or not.
   History: The history behind the phenomenon reveals how Halloween there were satanic rituals and sacrifices, Nowadays we know that the satanic practice of human sacrifice during this night.

To me Halloween is not a witchy or pagan anything—as I’m not a pagan or witchy individual. It’s just a day I get to feed my 8 year old grandson lots and lots of chocolate without listening to his dad grouse about it and to tell him that he is the best looking Batman out there! Christmas is the same as what was once the pagan feast of the Sun god also. So, who cares? I don’t get into heavy, inconsequential non-logic about that one either. On Christmas,I get to buy my grandson the biggest, loudest, most annoying toy out there, remind him that it’s Jesus’ birthday and that Jesus is the real source of all such awesome gifts—which, by the way, his dad can’t grouse about me giving him either! Good times for Grandmas indeed!

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Surprise!
translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=2&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.gesuemaria.it/dottrina-1.html&usg=ALkJrhia0dy0h70IKum2RI3sYqG6Fi0DAg

AND OCCULT symbolism - (October 24, h.01.58) - On October 31, a date is important not only in Celtic culture, but also in Satanism. And ‘one of the four witches’ sabbath. The first three marked the time for seasonal “beneficial”: the awakening of the earth after the winter, the time of sowing, the time of the harvest. THE fourth Sabbath marcava the arrival of winter and the “defeat” of the sun, cold, hunger, death. The Catholic feast of All Saints is not tied to Halloween, was established by Pope Gregory IV in the year 840, was originally celebrated in the month of May and the 1st November. It was in 1048 that Odilo of Cluny decided to move the Catholic celebration in early November in order to dethrone the cult’s "Samhain. In English the eve is called “All Hallowed Eve”, which became Halloween. "Halloween is a fact of culture, is a form of economic colonization of our country, (and everyone else). is a commercial gimmick, you want to have fun, it is the night where everything is permitted, is a way to entertain the kids, so … HAPPY HALLOWEEN! With these words, or who knows what other and with this hope you are preparing to decorate shops, organize parties, teaching English to children in a fun way, or improvise some masked to school, or office. " Meanwhile, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), as do the magic and everything that revolves around it including the new and next age (Prana therapy, bach flowers, pyramids, Perfumetherapy, music therapy, reiki courses, etc.): the majority of Catholic people also do not know that it violates the fundamental rules of the AB relationship with God is the first commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
BEFORE YOU ACT, YOU KNOW!

1. The meaning - Halloween is the contracted form of the English expression “All Hallows’Eve day” which literally means the eve of All Saints’ Day.
2. The occasion - Halloween, despite not you tell it as it should be, it is a magical occasion (in fact, magic is exercising power in a covert manner against someone). The world of the occult so he calls: “It is the most magical day of the year, New Year’s Eve around the world esoteric”, “is the most important festival of the year for the followers of Satan.”
   However, the Bible says: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20 ).
3. Legend - The ancient Irish legend tells that Jack, a blacksmith wicked, perverse and stingy, that a night of All Saints, after yet another drunk was caught by a deadly attack of liver cirrhosis. The devil to reclaim his soul is tricked by Jack and is forced to fulfill some of his desires, such as to leave him alive, coming to agreement to give up the soul of the reprobate. Jack, unaware of the effect of the disease, he died a year later. Refused to Heaven, Jack has no place even to hell because of the pact with the devil. By way of rites the poor carve a big turnip putting you inside the flaming embers in place of eternal damnation. With this lantern, Jack, ghost, returns to the world of the living.
4. Tradition - The Irish famine-stricken, immigrated to America in 1850. Landed in the New World, they found a huge amount of pumpkins that, unlike the indigenous small turnips, were large enough to be carving. So pumpkins replaced turnips and became the Jack o 'lantern. Use the night of All Saints because it was thought to ward off the restless spirits of the dead who were trying, like Jack, to go home.
   Children today masquerade as restless spirits, who do not find “peace” nor in the heaven and make visits to families led by lantern pumpkin and sweet they get in exchange for their “benevolence.” Trick-or-treating is the custom of “trick or treat”. Trick or treat literally means “trick or fun”, “trick or pleasure” but that the original meaning of “curse or sacrifice.”
5. Historical Facts - The dark legend of Jack hidden historical facts and, in a magical way, aims to recall them. A few centuries before Christ, a secret he kept under his empire the Celtic world. Every year, on October 31, Halloween, this celebrated in honor of his pagan gods, a festival of death. The elders of the sect went from house to house demanding jobs for their god and it happened that demanded human sacrifices. In case of refusal, uttered curses on the house of death, hence was born the “trick or treat”.
6. Considerations about the …
   Legend: this is mounted on the double lie that man can outsmart the devil and that the gates of hell close to someone. It also grows according to satanic practices: ask the devil the fulfillment of desires, make a pact with the devil, satanic mandate to manifest to men, esoteric rituals.
   Tradition: the phenomenon Halloween tradition, customs and trade, is a set of rituals and a practice of witchcraft is that those who do it consciously or not.
   History: The history behind the phenomenon reveals how Halloween there were satanic rituals and sacrifices, Nowadays we know that the satanic practice of human sacrifice during this night.

None of which has anything to do with the 5-year-old next door who comes to my home dressed as a walking Tootsie Roll and to whom I give a handle of mini candy bars.

 

[FAB]

Do most traditional Catholics celebrate Halloween? I think Halloween celebrations and the like or even just giving recognition to Halloween is a smokescreen covering up the fact that it is evil. Satan can be crafty making it look harmless. Anyway, I am not sure if when my kid gets older to let him trick or treat. I feel pressure to let because he will miss out on flub. Makes me feel guilty. Am I the only one out there that think this? Thanks

Very good on the explanation from Fr. Robert Barron
wordonfire.org/WoF-Blog/WoF-Blog/October-2012/Culture–Time-for-Catholics-to-Embrace-Halloween.aspx

 

[MorEphrem]

I read this thread and one thought passes through my head: overscrupulous.

 

[CB_Catholic]

QUOTE=Nelka;11255586]In England you get a lot of satanists going to churches and desecrating them to the point that some have a police presence.

Generally it gives teenagers a right to hassle people on their doorsteps and offer them a trick or treat+trick.

Crime appears also as people can walk around in scream masks and nobody takes any notice of them.

Anyone who thinks it is just a bit of fun is in denial.

It is also a popular time for young people to go ghost hunting in haunted places.

It annoys me when catholics celebrate halloween and All Saints Day is pushed back or away altogether.

Yes,  this true in Michigan also.  It is one of the Satanic feast days...or anti-feast day of All Saints Day.   There are those who celebrate this day in a good way:




Now does this sound like someone who is trying to separate themselves from God? No, I say not. 

  We have to be cautious of course about who we interact with on Halloween.  I suggest only going to the homes of people we know to be active Church goers.

In the past,  there have been tragic crimes perpetuated against innocent children. Guard your children, be wary of strangers.   As  parents follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on this.   Please pray and ask Him to Guide you.

 We are in a war.  A good soldier is well armed, alert, and on the ball.  Only in this war, Our General is  God.   Our arms are prayers and our Protection is the Holy Spirit of God.

You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. A member of our family, an in-law, was an active church goer, also active in his church, and turned out to be a pedophile of the worst kind.

Parents need to go with their children, not let them run around the neighborhood by themselves.

 

[JHow]

…Now for the Saint Day as school, I am working on my son’s costume, St. John the Baptist('s head on a platter! – bwa ha ha)

pnewton spikes the ball and dances a victory dance!

 

[chadair]

Anyone who thinks it is just a bit of fun is in denial.

count me in as “in denial”! I love the day. All of my children have enjoyed it. 3 r too old for it now, but my 10 yr old daughter still enkoys it

None of which has anything to do with the 5-year-old next door who comes to my home dressed as a walking Tootsie Roll and to whom I give a handle of mini candy bars.