Tonight is Halloween. Ugh! 
Sometimes the much-criticised Met Police get it exactly right. In each of our two local papers this week they have taken a two-page advert warning that Halloween “can be a particularly distressing time of year for some of the more vulnerable members of our communities – especially the elderly.”
They also caution people not to throw things like eggs and flour – a theme taken up incidentally by a couple of responsible shops at the top of our road who – like fireworks – won’t sell them to under-18s. The police say eggs and flour “can cause a great deal of damage and misery… (and) can be classed as criminal damage.”
Of course our pre-teen daughters watch the TV and listen to the chat in the playground and want to join in the ‘fun’.
But why would we let them make light of the powers of darkness as if these aren’t real? Why would we allow them to participate in blackmail and threats – “trick or treat” – as if this isn’t learning to bully and torment? Why should they frighten the elderly and lonely? Why should they learn to rejoice in evil as if it’s good?
Halloween is a sick celebration at both a spiritual and social level. Again, I reckon the police have got it right. They suggest that if people want to party on Halloween night “why not just stay at home and having a Halloween-themed party with your friends and neighbours?”
Actually I think this suggestion should have the force of law. If we can ban smoking from public places, how much more should we ban Halloween from our schools and streets too?
October 31st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Cllr Scrooge, Perhaps u should petition for banning Christmas considering its largely based on satanic pagan mythology?
October 31st, 2009 at 5:41 pm
I agree in disliking Halloween. On every level it is a horrible festival. Even a secular Christmas without the wonderful story of God’s love is vastly superior to Halloween:
- Fantasy – there is promotion of witches vs stories about reindeer.
- TV – Christmas generally has family friendly films. Halloween has horror films
- Morality – Santa has a vague moral message about being good. Halloween encouraged blackmail.
-Aesthetics – Christmas has trees and light. Halloween has spiders and skeletons.
I would love Halloween to go away. However, I am not sure whether trying to ban it is the best strategy.
It is a shame, given that our head of state has promised to defend the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law, that we could not make Reformation Day a national holiday, and celebrate that instead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day
http://www.oremus.org/liturgy/coronation/cor1953b.html
October 31st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Or why not celebrate the Christian festival of All Saints which, for those who follow the Christian tradition from which the name of this “celebration” derives? This evening we will be celebrating First Vespers of the Feast before going out for a meal (a necessity in view of what might face us at home). It will be ironic if our celebration of the Eve of All Hallows is interrupted by someone, in the name of Halloween, making demands with menaces (itself a criminal offence).
November 1st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Ben,
I’m suggesting banning Halloween (i) from our streets, as Trick-or-Treat is anti-social behaviour especially when performed on the elderly and isolated; and (ii) from our schools, as they are (or should be) places of enlightenment and healthy socialisation for the next generation.
I’m not suggesting it can or should be banned anywhere else.
Fortunately we were trick-or-treated only once last night. Things are looking up!
Alan