Nasty School Letter -- Other Way

[Soprano]

From a British perspective, and NOT wishing to offend anyone here . I could never understand why America is so obsessed with Halloween.

Sadly, this day seems to be growing each year in the UK. Sadly, as its clearly just a money making scheme with stores and card shops pushing it to grab some extra cash off people before Christmas.

I would not let/take my children around to strangers houses asking for sweets.

I can see why Catholic's have no issue with it. Isn't part of Halloween supposed to be a time when the dead souls get to walk the earth from (the Catholic Church made up concept of) purgatory??

I have Irish Catholic relatives who have Halloween party every year.


On the flip side, there is a growing number of local councils who do not allow celebrations of Christmas in school, council workplaces just in case it offends Muslims. Not that I have ever known a Muslim to find Christmas offensive!

 

[skbasnett]

Dear Parents,

Please have your child refrain from laughing and having fun. We also feel a strict diet of seaweed and soy is what is best for the child!!!!
Thank You,

The Party Pooper

Better nix the seaweed. That could make them think of the beach and start to want to have fun there. Geesh!!!

 

[skbasnett]

All About Halloween


The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year.

One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living.

Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.

 

[Brier Rose]

All About Halloween


The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year.

One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living.

Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! You beat me to it!
This is what we were always taught.
I really do think that a lot of people just decide they don't like Halloween without even doing the research on it.

People didn't dress up because they wanted to celebrate all things evil then, and there is nothing evil about Halloween now! It's FUN!!!

 

[crisi]

Possible origins of Easter:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eostre

Easter is as pagan as Halloween or Christmas. i.e. there are a lot of pagan traditions there - the name, the time of year (though Easter coincides with Passover - its date hasn't been as "arguably randomly chosen" as Christmas), eggs and bunnies....even the rebirth isn't original to Christianity and is found in many preChristian religions, usually in the Spring as Spring is the season for rebirth. But pagan does not equal evil or bad, and just because Christianity borrowed the traditions of earlier religions does not make it invalid as a belief system. If you throw out all the pieces Christianity borrowed, you won't have many traditions left - even communion disappears as it was a feature of pre-Christian Roman religious life.

 

[skbasnett]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! You beat me to it!
This is what we were always taught.
I really do think that a lot of people just decide they don't like Halloween without even doing the research on it.

People didn't dress up because they wanted to celebrate all things evil then, and there is nothing evil about Halloween now! It's FUN!!!

You are very welcome!!

 

[Talking Hands]

I think when childhood obesity was down around 5% it wasn't as much of an issue, but now with it getting closer to 20%, and with a significant number of children now suffering from adult-onset diabetes, there are a significant number of children for which one cupcake really is too much, and it would be doubly-bad to be excluded in that way from what the rest of the class is doing, don't you think?

My oldest daughter had a type 1 diabetic in her class from 3rd grade on. I was room Mom and his Dad room Dad. We were able to do the parties in a manner that had both healthy food and treat type food. One year we even did sugar free snow cones and none of the kids were any the wiser. We had apples on a string for the kids to grab (each there own), snow cones, popcorn, fruit and veggie plater and a meat and cheese platter, cupcakes with a few without frosting for those who couldn't have it or preferred not to. It was amazing how many of the kids went for the fruit, meat and cheese. Candy bags were given out at the end of the party with a specially made one going to this child and to my daughter who couldn't have chocolate. Looked like everyone elses but wasn't inside.

 

[jimmysmommy]

My son's school did do a VERY Brief Halloween costume parade, but there was no party allowed as the school has a "no food" policy for celebrations. This is in response to allergies. While I understand, it is still dissapointing that we can't figure out a better way than just avoiding something entirely. It doesn't really give the kids a sense of the real world, because in the real world, you would be confronted with this stuff all the time, and have to make your own choices. There is one school in our district that did actually cancel the Halloween festivities entirely because of parent objections. What I would say to these parents is, wouldn't the best way to teach tolerance and diversity and appreciation of other cultures/races/religions be to celebrate in some way all holidays? The fastest way to show a child intolerance is to keep them ignorant of an entire segment of the population.

 

[MKCP5]

Our kids have an "autumn walk" (pc in the extreme) and they are asked to be a favorite character from a book. That being said, everyone dresses as they would for Halloween and has a great time.

There are many in our born again church who do not participate in Halloween. It is their choice. For our family, it is a fun night to dress up and get some candy, No more, no less.

 

[tobias sampson]

My son's school did do a VERY Brief Halloween costume parade, but there was no party allowed as the school has a "no food" policy for celebrations. This is in response to allergies. While I understand, it is still dissapointing that we can't figure out a better way than just avoiding something entirely. It doesn't really give the kids a sense of the real world, because in the real world, you would be confronted with this stuff all the time, and have to make your own choices. There is one school in our district that did actually cancel the Halloween festivities entirely because of parent objections. What I would say to these parents is, wouldn't the best way to teach tolerance and diversity and appreciation of other cultures/races/religions be to celebrate in some way all holidays? The fastest way to show a child intolerance is to keep them ignorant of an entire segment of the population.

Dealing with such "issues" as an older child or adult is much different than dealing with it as a small child. Parents have a right to decide what is right for their kids. I still can't figure out what was so nasty. A parent simply notified the school of her intentions.

By the way, I think your last statement is a bunch of hoo ha. That may be your opinion, but it is sadly stated as fact. And, I can't think of any piece of research that backs it up. My children didn't have to celebrate Hanukah to understand and have "tolerance" of the jewish culture. We didn't have Kwanza in our home to understand the black population. Of course, it didn't even exist back then! And exactly what population is Halloween supposed to enlighten children to?

 

[drewchyi]

If a few people complain to the schools about having halloween parties..and thus getting them cancelled, can I complain about the cancellations and thus have the parties reinstated????

 

[skbasnett]

If a few people complain to the schools about having halloween parties..and thus getting them cancelled, can I complain about the cancellations and thus have the parties reinstated????

Tu chez!! (If i spelled it wrong please dont correct it). I agree with you. I just dont see the point in cancelling them. Even at my DS other daycare last year, the teachers wouldnt put on a party but the parents could. It makes no sense and is ridiculous. People want kids to be adults faster so why not take away their fun?

 

[aplejax76]

In all seriousness, When did this restriction start happening???? Reading this thread yesterday is the first time I have heard about any of this!! I have 3 children in grade school. I 've never heard any parent up in arms about Halloween. I guess its all in where you live.

 

[cara loves the poly]

Do a little research, they are not 'based' on Pagan holidays.

One theory says that Christmas was decided to be celebrated on Dec. 25 to steer people away from a pagan holiday on the same date.

Easter celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. There are pagan symbols that somehow got attached to the celebration of Easter, such as eggs etc. But Easter is not based on a Pagan holiday.

I am just saying that 'based' probably isn't the best word to use. The christian and pagan holidays have become intermingled throughout time. But one didn't use the other as a 'template' for their holiday.


Anyways, I could just see a bunch of Pagans sitting around saying that there holidays were based on Christian ones.

I am very confused on what the Pagan religion is. We are Catholic and this is a new one to me. Could someone give me the basics? I know that is worded wrong.. sorry.

 

[estherhead]

Boy do I have a lot to say on this issue. I am slightly offended, as a non-Halloween celebrator, that people on a DISNEY WORLD board would call we non Halloween people haters of fun. We are Disney freaks, how could you possibly say we hate having fun? We so obviously live for fun.

This is my religion. As stated earlier, I actually feel that God would be displeased with me. I make decisions based on what I feel God would like or not. I know that many of you do too. So although you may not agree with me that this particular thing displeases God, under the American constitution I have the right to feel and say outloud my feelings about it. If that effects you in a negative way, I am sorry. I have never and would never ask for a holiday party to be changed for me. The government has brought this on themselves by making attendance equal paychecks.

As for the above comment about Pagan vs. Christian: to me the holidays that are intermingled are interfaith, no matter if the original intention was to Christianize paganism or vice versa. I know that many do not feel that way. But eggs and bunnies came from worshipping fertility gods. I am really not into worshipping fertility gods while celebrating Jesus ransom and resurrection, especially when I'm pretty sure there is no mention in the Bible of Jesus worshipping fertility gods. I know that for many this is irrelevant, they can view it lightly and do both. That is fine with me. I do not go around protesting egg hunts (I actually chuckled just then imagining myself following around the Easter bunny saying "Down with chocolate!") I do celebrate Jesus ransom & resurrection (and just ate a really yummy chocolate turtle.)

It isn't necessary for us to agree on this. America was built on religous freedom. I won't stop you from having fun. But please believe me when I say I am having fun too.

And I despise seaweed. (and tofu)

I believe in moderation, lots of hugs & kisses, at least one belly laugh everyday, and showing my kids that it is OK to feel passionately about things as long as they are respectful of other's passions too.

Does that make me a terrible parent?

 

[seashoreCM]

...what was so nasty...

(Nothing more than hijacking the title of another thread.)

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

We are Christians and due to quite a few of the major holidays having pagan undertones we choose no to celebrate them. We do not treat others badly for celebrating but our choice is to not celebrate them. We do not celebrate Halloween, Christmas, or Easter. Actually on Christmas and Easter we read the Bible Story that coincides with said holiday on that day. We do not feel that we need presents on Jesus birthday but we do think that He would like for us to read the sory in rememberance of Him. We do not see what eggs and bunnies have to do with Jesus death so we do not incorporate those but we do read the sory of Jesus death and resurrection. We also go to Church on both days. The majority of our church celebrates all 3 holidays but they understand our polite non-participation. For instance, I was asked if my 6 year old son could be in the Christmas play by the Children's Church Pastor-- I said he could if it was the story of Christ birth but not Santa and what not. A week or two late after church the CC Pastor told me that when she had shown my son his part that he had said. "I'm sorry Pastor but I would not feel comfortable reading this part." She told me that she was quite impressed by his maturity and that when she had asked his reasoning he had given her a good explanation and that she did not find hem offensive at all. Apparently she had him as the narrator (He reads like a 12 yr old--no joke) and the story was about people rushing around buying last minute Christmas presents and Santa. I do not know what that had to do with the birth of Christ. Basically that is what he told her. I believe that how people celebrate or don't is their own choice. Our school system has Harvest parties and Winter parties because their is apparently alot of religious and cultural diversity in our area.

 

[pjynx]

I'm really surprised that so many people/schools have cancelled any kind of Halloween celebration. I can understand taking out the word "Halloween" and instead using "Pumpkin" or "Harvest", but I didn't realize so many places were cancelling all together.

Having said that, I'm even more surprised that our elementary school still uses "Halloween" as their word of choice, rather than changing the terminology. We live in a very religious area. So much so that even though it's a public school, they still have their Christmas program in a church (larger auditorium than the school), and the kids still say the Pledge of Allegiance (including "under God") every day in school. As far as I know, nobody has complained. But we still have our Halloween party. It's fun for the kids. I went to my dd's class and I loved seeing all the costumes. Nobody was absent that day. One little boy was even dressed up as a pastor (he had on a suit and carried around a Bible). All very cute and the kids loved the opportunity to see each other's costumes and have a little party.

I think it just goes to show how different communities (even highly religious ones), are still open-minded about what's fun for the kids instead of getting all restrictive about celebrations so they won't offend people.

 

[tobias sampson]

(Nothing more than hijacking the title of another thread.)

Well, fair enough! I like a good logical, straightforward answer!

 

[Disneyrsh]

One year we even did sugar free snow cones and none of the kids were any the wiser.

I'm allergic to aspartame, as are both of my children, so the next time you think you're doing somebody a good deed by sneaking a nasty chemical in where people think it's plain old sugar, please reconsider, you can send someone to the hospital.


As for the 'under God' quote in the pledge of allegiance, it was slipped in there in the late 50's during the McCarthy era. Nice. It so messes up the rhythm of the pledge, and so has nothing to do with God. As an author, I'd be really peeved at McCarthy's cronies for messing up my work.

And every store this morning is going gonzo with Christmas stuff! What, has Thanksgiving become a mere blip in the tidal wave of Christmas stuff? I just can't keep the holiday spirit going that long! It's exhausting!