Do you view Halloween as purely a fun, kid's holiday of ghosts, goblins and too many sugary treats?
Or is it a much more serious spiritual observance connected to the changing of the seasons?
The holiday itself does have spiritual connections extending to ancient times.
Or do you shun the holiday as connected to witchcraft?
Does your church celebrate Halloween with moralistic hell houses that preach against the path to damnation?
How do you view Halloween in your household?
Deborah Ann Culp | Oct 12, 2012 | 11:37pm
No I nor my family, celebrate Halloween and do not agree with the concept of it and what it represents. Of course for all of those that do celebrate Halloween; it’s your constitutional right to do so. To add proverbial insult to injury - I am originally form Detroit Michigan. When I was a child and the “Few times” that I remember being allowed out for Trick of Treating, involved my grandparents taking me and my bag of goodies home, cutting them open and primarily guessing if any of it was contaminated! Back then the police department was not as involved as they are today with their medal detectors and sniffing dogs. unfortunately Detroit is known for the past celebrations during the Halloween season: Devils Night, Hell Night,Egg & Toilet Paper Night… That prompted my grandparents, who raised me - to make the final decision of not buying in to Halloween for what tit represents in the spiritual sense and for basic staying alive. “Not an experience that I’d like to have any-more or share with my grandchildren or any children for that matter. DAC
Cynthia p. Barnett | Oct 15, 2012 | 10:47pm
Masks on Halloween and Other Days
By Cynthia P. Barnett
Are you planning to dress up for Halloween? Even adults enjoy the fun of a Frankenstein mask or a witch costume. At our house we dress up as The Mad Scientist and Tina Turner. (Guess which one is which.) When our candy supply runs out, or when the Halloweeners stop coming, we blow out the pumpkin, munch on leftover Hershey’s, and take off our masks until next October 31.
But we don’t leave it there. Do we also remember to take off the everyday masks we sometimes don’t even know we wear? Here’s what I’m talking about:
Recently we visited four year old Isabelle and her mom. Isabelle is bright, exuberant and charming. Except when she’s having a temper tantrum, which she was on that afternoon. Her lovable self seemed to disappear amidst tears, screeches and NO, I WON’Ts aplenty. Her mother spoke firmly but gently, then finally removed Isabelle to the confines of her room until the bad behavior stopped.
We were impressed. This parent was doing all the right things, yet the tantrum continued. How could we best support this mom? As we exchanged glances, I knew that my husband was joining me in silent prayer. We were both praying to see the real Isabelle, the loving and satisfied child we knew her to be. We prayed to un-see the ugly mask of temper, and see instead the child of God’s creating.
Interestingly, Isabelle’s mother had a similar angel thought. She appealed to Isabelle by saying, “What happened to the real Isabelle? I don’t want to see this mean Isabelle. She’s a FAKE.”
Isabelle was intrigued. She responded to this explanation of her true nature. Soon she came out of her room and told us, “You won’t see that FAKE Isabelle any more. She’s GONE.” Calm was restored. Since then, Isabelle’s mom tells us her daughter’s behavior has improved markedly. The mask is off now, hopefully for good.
Sometimes I wear masks of worry, irritability or impatience. I don’t always recognize them as masks and they fool me into thinking they are the real me. But a quiet reconnect to the essential truth about me unmasks the unnecessary, negative attitudes and brings back my better qualities.
Some would call this change of thought, this redemption process, prayer. But by whatever name it’s called, I’m relieved to be myself again. I’ll bet others are even more so!
So now I’m wondering, are the other sad or ugly conditions I sometimes express the real me, or are they also masks? If I prayed to see more of my real identity as God sees me, would my problems tend to drop away? Would my mental and physical health improve?
My experience with prayer says that it would and does. This subject of masks and the real me has me thinking.
Melody | Oct 16, 2012 | 11:34am
It seems to me that as our personal security, diet factors and the world at large has changed so has our holidays somewhat. I know that Halloween is not a holiday but over the years the dynamic has morphed. Years ago, it was considered a day of fun, mischief with charity rolled in (we asked for money for UNICEF with cartons provided). Now, it seems that communities have gotten into the action to provide a safe atmosphere for children without the door to door dynamic. I still see alot of costumes in stores but I bet the best ones are the homemade kind. These days, I get dressed in my flourscent bones shirt with a pair of black leggings and bones gloves and wait for my door bell to ring….......last year my husband and I ate the candy and that is why I always get what we like….....for all you out there…....go out and enjoy October 31!
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