After researching the origin of Halloween and its connection to Christianity, I was surprised to find that some Christians, even a Bishop, believe that Halloween is related to Satanism. Dating back to the first century, Halloween was originally named “Samhain” and celebrated by Celts. On October 31, the Celts believed that spirits could cross the boundary from the world of the dead to the living. The Celtic priests, also known as Druids, erected sacred bonfires to burn crops and make animal sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During this celebration, the Celts wore costumes, usually consisting of animal skins and heads. Around A.D. 43, when the Romans conquered Celtic territory, two Roman celebrations were combined with Samhain. The two celebrations included Feralia, which honored the dead, and the second honoring the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, Pomona. In the seventh century, the Celtic lands were influenced by the beliefs of Christianity. All-hallows Eve was the new name given to October 31st, introduced by Pope Boniface IV. He also named November 1st as All Saint’s Day, which honored saints and martyrs. Later, the church designated November 2nd as “All Souls Day,” which honored the dead. All-hallows Eve was celebrated very much like Samhain, with bonfires and costumes. The celebrations combined were later known as Hallowmas.
As mentioned earlier, since the origin of Halloween involves Christian celebrations, why do some Christians believe that Halloween is considered Satanic? For example, Bishop Kyrill claims that any participation by members of the Orthodox Church in Halloween is a “genuine betrayal of our God and our holy Faith.” Why? Apparently, because those who acknowledge Halloween are spiritually indifferent, which are the “spiritual roots of atheism and the turning away from God.” He continues, saying that since atheists do not believe in God, they see Halloween as being harmless, ignoring its “obvious pagan and idolatrous origin…and demonic practices.” As an atheist, I personally do not understand why Kyrill is comparing atheists with Satanism and “demonic practices.”
Another group that considers Halloween to be Satanic includes that of the Bible Baptist Church. One member wrote an article for a pamphlet that the church prints, entitled “Should Christians Observe Halloween?” After reading his article, I concluded that the answer to the title would be a definite ‘no.’ This pamphlet, written by James Melton, asks questions to get his point across and backs up these questions with random verses from the Bible. For example, one point that is apparent throughout the pamphlet includes his incredulousness about why a “God-fearing Christian” would want to “dress-up their child like something that God hates… like an evil spirit?” He also says that while many think that Halloween is about having fun, in reality “it represents paganism, Satanism, human sacrifice, torture, rape, murder, idolatry, witchcraft, and spiritualism!” As an ending, Melton encourages skipping Halloween altogether, if you are a “‘true’ follower of Jesus Christ.”
If the above religious fanatics hate Halloween so much, then they need to keep their opinions to themselves. Children need to be able to have fun; they should not be concerned about Satanism or that imminent death is upon them because of axe-murderers.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Dark Forces and Pink Power Rangers
Halloween may have originated from European religious traditions, but to most Americans it is nothing more than an autumn celebration. A late night on the town, full of costumes and candy brings happiness to children and teenagers alike. October 31st is a day set aside each year for trick or treating and apple bobbing, not for Satan and the resurrection of evil spirits.
These evil spirits do not overtake the innocence of young children, even if the day evolved from “All Hallows Eve.” By dressing up in costumes resembling Satan or that of the “dark” side, children have no intentions of being satanic. It is the one day of the year where they can become whatever they wish to become. By dressing as a devil, a vampire, or a ghost, kids only aim to frighten friends and family.
As children grow into their teenage years, they seem to reach the rebellious stage of their life. Their costumes only reflect their raging hormones and emotions. Often times, teenage girls will dress exotic and sexy, but much of this is only done for attention. In my opinion, these costumes are just a way of turning heads, in a room full of teenage boys.
Mark Hoban, a freshman at Piedmont says, “The majority of the people that participate in Halloween are only looking to have a good time. The small percentages of those who don’t feel this way have no bearing on the overall image of the holiday.” Halloween has become more and more commercialized every year, making the holiday what it is today: a harmless night of fun.
Centuries ago, Halloween may have had a malicious and satanic connotation, but over time, it has become just another commercial holiday. For instance, the origins of Christmas came from St. Nicholas’s generosities to those less fortunate families. Today, children look at Christmas as a way of receiving a special toy they have longed for throughout the year. This is primarily due in part to the business world, where every store looks at it as an opportunity to turn a major profit. Easter marked the resurrection of Christ, but due to this commercialization, children believe Easter is about Peter Cottontail and baskets full of candy eggs. Commercialization has transformed the original meaning of Halloween and other holidays, altering the perspectives of society.
Of course there is a small minority of Americans who feel the spirits overtake them on this cool October night; however, when the candy is counted, and the make-up is removed, people return to their ordinary lives. Most of the American culture believes it is just a day of expression, and as a result, very seldom do we see extreme acts of evil, resembling works of the devil.
These evil spirits do not overtake the innocence of young children, even if the day evolved from “All Hallows Eve.” By dressing up in costumes resembling Satan or that of the “dark” side, children have no intentions of being satanic. It is the one day of the year where they can become whatever they wish to become. By dressing as a devil, a vampire, or a ghost, kids only aim to frighten friends and family.
As children grow into their teenage years, they seem to reach the rebellious stage of their life. Their costumes only reflect their raging hormones and emotions. Often times, teenage girls will dress exotic and sexy, but much of this is only done for attention. In my opinion, these costumes are just a way of turning heads, in a room full of teenage boys.
Mark Hoban, a freshman at Piedmont says, “The majority of the people that participate in Halloween are only looking to have a good time. The small percentages of those who don’t feel this way have no bearing on the overall image of the holiday.” Halloween has become more and more commercialized every year, making the holiday what it is today: a harmless night of fun.
Centuries ago, Halloween may have had a malicious and satanic connotation, but over time, it has become just another commercial holiday. For instance, the origins of Christmas came from St. Nicholas’s generosities to those less fortunate families. Today, children look at Christmas as a way of receiving a special toy they have longed for throughout the year. This is primarily due in part to the business world, where every store looks at it as an opportunity to turn a major profit. Easter marked the resurrection of Christ, but due to this commercialization, children believe Easter is about Peter Cottontail and baskets full of candy eggs. Commercialization has transformed the original meaning of Halloween and other holidays, altering the perspectives of society.
Of course there is a small minority of Americans who feel the spirits overtake them on this cool October night; however, when the candy is counted, and the make-up is removed, people return to their ordinary lives. Most of the American culture believes it is just a day of expression, and as a result, very seldom do we see extreme acts of evil, resembling works of the devil.
Halloween, Halloween
Halloween, the holiday that falls on the last day in October, is a day of fun for adults and children alike.
"My family always encouraged trick-or-treating," said Nathan Dean, a freshman at Piedmont College. "Halloween was the only day that we were allowed to get so much candy at one time."
Dean, along with thousands of others throughout the country, dress up in costumes every Halloween and go door to door asking for candy. Also, costume parties, hay rides, and fake haunted houses are created to celebrate the holiday.
"Costumes make up over half of the fun," said Anthony Saputo, a Piedmont College freshman.
There are those who do not celebrate the holiday. According to Kerby Anderson, a founder of a Christian website, Halloween is a holiday that should not be celebrated. He believes that celebrating Halloween glorifies and promotes witchcraft and divination.
April Myers, a mother of two, does not allow her children to celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating. "It isn't as safe as it use to be," said Myers. "It's never okay to take candy from a stranger."
Halloween originated as a Celtic practice. The Celts believed that on the last day of their year, which would now be the last day in October, ghosts of the dead returned to Earth. They believed the ghosts damaged their crops and caused damage throughout their lands. They also believed that the presence of ghosts helped druids, or Celtic priests, predict the future.
To celebrate, the Celts built bonfires and sacrificed animals. They wore costumes to the celebration, many of which were created from animal bones and skins. The Celts also tried to tell each other's fortunes.
In today's time, Halloween is not about sacrificing animals. This religious practice developed by the Celts is now only a tradition.
I believe it is perfectly fine for anyone to celebrate Halloween. When children dress up like witches, ghouls, and goblins, their intentions are not to praise Satan. They simply want to have innocent fun in a spooky environment.
And as for the candy, if you are worried about your children getting poisoned, then take the time sort through each piece individually to check for anything suspicious.
"My family always encouraged trick-or-treating," said Nathan Dean, a freshman at Piedmont College. "Halloween was the only day that we were allowed to get so much candy at one time."
Dean, along with thousands of others throughout the country, dress up in costumes every Halloween and go door to door asking for candy. Also, costume parties, hay rides, and fake haunted houses are created to celebrate the holiday.
"Costumes make up over half of the fun," said Anthony Saputo, a Piedmont College freshman.
There are those who do not celebrate the holiday. According to Kerby Anderson, a founder of a Christian website, Halloween is a holiday that should not be celebrated. He believes that celebrating Halloween glorifies and promotes witchcraft and divination.
April Myers, a mother of two, does not allow her children to celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating. "It isn't as safe as it use to be," said Myers. "It's never okay to take candy from a stranger."
Halloween originated as a Celtic practice. The Celts believed that on the last day of their year, which would now be the last day in October, ghosts of the dead returned to Earth. They believed the ghosts damaged their crops and caused damage throughout their lands. They also believed that the presence of ghosts helped druids, or Celtic priests, predict the future.
To celebrate, the Celts built bonfires and sacrificed animals. They wore costumes to the celebration, many of which were created from animal bones and skins. The Celts also tried to tell each other's fortunes.
In today's time, Halloween is not about sacrificing animals. This religious practice developed by the Celts is now only a tradition.
I believe it is perfectly fine for anyone to celebrate Halloween. When children dress up like witches, ghouls, and goblins, their intentions are not to praise Satan. They simply want to have innocent fun in a spooky environment.
And as for the candy, if you are worried about your children getting poisoned, then take the time sort through each piece individually to check for anything suspicious.
Halloween: A day of fun!
Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. Not only do I get the chance to dress up in a costume and escape reality for a day, but I get all the free candy I want.
However, there is controversy surrounding this holiday. Those who disagree with Halloween tend to lean towards the notion that celebrating this holiday is satanic. I’m sure most who believe this also think the “Harry Potter” books are demonic.
I truly believe most parents don’t like Halloween, but not because they consider it satanic. They dislike it because their kids return on sugar highs from the candy, which can often last for days on end.
It is noticeable that the costumes have become more sexual than they were ten years ago. But what affect does this have on little children walking door to door. Those who are wearing the scantily clad costumes are more often than not older and at parties. These costumes have taken away from the innocence that Halloween represents.
Halloween is a chance for children to let their imaginations run wild. They can either buy a costume of their favorite superhero, or a ghostly ghoul, or even make their own. This allows kids to express themselves. Kids by nature are innocent. They don’t look at Halloween as a chance to celebrate the devil. They look at it as a day to have fun with friends and get free candy along the way.
Halloween is also known for producing one of the most used rhetorical questions of all time: Trick or Treat? If the question is taken literal then the children would egg and roll houses that didn’t give them candy. Needless to say, it is the innocence that allows the adults giving out candy not to fret if their house is going to get egged.
Although Halloween has seen some changes in the past few years, especially in the clothing department, it is still just a holiday for kids to dress up and have a good time.
However, there is controversy surrounding this holiday. Those who disagree with Halloween tend to lean towards the notion that celebrating this holiday is satanic. I’m sure most who believe this also think the “Harry Potter” books are demonic.
I truly believe most parents don’t like Halloween, but not because they consider it satanic. They dislike it because their kids return on sugar highs from the candy, which can often last for days on end.
It is noticeable that the costumes have become more sexual than they were ten years ago. But what affect does this have on little children walking door to door. Those who are wearing the scantily clad costumes are more often than not older and at parties. These costumes have taken away from the innocence that Halloween represents.
Halloween is a chance for children to let their imaginations run wild. They can either buy a costume of their favorite superhero, or a ghostly ghoul, or even make their own. This allows kids to express themselves. Kids by nature are innocent. They don’t look at Halloween as a chance to celebrate the devil. They look at it as a day to have fun with friends and get free candy along the way.
Halloween is also known for producing one of the most used rhetorical questions of all time: Trick or Treat? If the question is taken literal then the children would egg and roll houses that didn’t give them candy. Needless to say, it is the innocence that allows the adults giving out candy not to fret if their house is going to get egged.
Although Halloween has seen some changes in the past few years, especially in the clothing department, it is still just a holiday for kids to dress up and have a good time.
Innocent fun, not evil
What is all the speculation of Halloween about? Halloween is supposed to be a day children get the opportunity to dress up in fictional characters and indulge themselves in enormous amounts of candy. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, on October 31st, Halloween is celebrated in the United States, Canada, and the British Isles by children going door to door while wearing costumes and begging for treats and playing pranks. I do not understand why issues such as religion have to be connected to this celebration. Children all over the world see this as a fun day where they can get loads of free candy. The children are the future of our world and as long as they see Halloween as something fun and rewarding, then why must we fill their heads with views that it is satanic to celebrate. I grew up loving to celebrate Halloween purely for the enjoyment of taking my sister, who was little at the time, door to door trick-or-treating and watching her little face brighten up with joy as she saw all those suckers and tootsie rolls poured into her little pumpkin. The innocence of this annual celebration is being destroyed as people bring satanic views into something that doesn’t deserve scrutiny. For me, a college student, I have lost the interest of Halloween because of the constant comparison of Satan and Halloween. In the United States Halloween has become the sixth most profitable holiday (after Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentines Day, Easter, and Father's Day). What this tells me is, Halloween is a success day and people enjoy celebrating it every year. So quit making excuses as to why we shouldn’t celebrate it and why it is so dangerous. Over the past decade, I have dressed up as a wizard, ghost, Batman, Freddy Krueger and recently have mocked “V” from the movie, V for Vendetta. Should I consider myself a satanic symbol? No. It is the innocence of the children we are destroying when we use reasons of Religion and Satan to disbar the celebration of Halloween. If a child does not know that Halloween’s origin is known as a night of power, when the veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest, as told by Stephen Wagner of Paranormal Phenomena; then why must we destroy their minds with the nonsense that can do nothing but destroy their innocence? |
Halloween
No trick. No treat. No thanks.
“We just didn’t celebrate Halloween,” says Piedmont sophomore, Becca Scruggs. “My family didn’t agree with the origins of the holiday. They considered it satanic.”
Rev. Ralph Fiorelli, pastor of the Bergenfield Assembly of God Church, is opposed to children trick-or-treating because of safety considerations and because it glorifies Satan.
"It's a day that's set aside for things of darkness...things that are supernatural. In reality, it has nothing to do with God," says Fiorelli.
The idea of Halloween being satanic is not surprising.
The tradition of Halloween dates back to the Irish Celts, who believed the day was when the worlds of the living and the dead became one.
Much has changed since those ancient times. Halloween has become a holiday of trick-or-treating, costume parties, and visits to hayrides and haunted houses.
Pop culture has even turned Halloween into a sexual event as girls’ costumes are becoming less modest and more revealing.
“Halloween is a holiday for college girls to dress promiscuous,” says Adam Perillo, an employee of
Looking back at what Halloween use to mean, I must confess it is different now.
The holiday use to be about who got the best candy and who had the coolest costume. Now it is about how scared or slutty we can make ourselves.
“Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it,” says the character Cady in the movie Mean Girls.
When it comes down to it, people have different beliefs and that’s fine. Halloween has unfortunately gone through certain changes, but I still look at it as a time where once a year, a kid can dress up and pretend for a night to be someone ore something else and get free candy. I mean after all, it was always about the candy.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Halloween: Due Wednesday, October 3
How do you feel about Halloween? What changes have you observed over the years in how the holiday is celebrated? How do you feel about those changes? Is Halloween all about children in silly and spooky costumes eating lots of candy, or is there a deeper meaning? Is it all innocent fun or is there a darker side? Remember to justify your opinions with research.
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