to think that if you object to Hallowe'en on religious grounds...

[SchrodingersSexKitten]

you just don't accept invitations to Hallowe'en parties?

We had a Hallowe'en party this afternoon (but late, I know, but the kids are little and don't know what is the "right" date!) and DD (aged 5) invited 4 friends from school. Bobbing for apples, colouring in pumpkin print outs, a Hallowe'en pass the parcel, bowl of goo with sweeties in it etc.

One mum came and dropped her daughter off and said, very pointedly, "well, we don't believe in Hallowe'en, we just think it is wrong, we try to focus on redemptionthrough the Lord, rather than dead bodies coming alive again, so we really disagree with Hallowe'en. It's really not our thing, we disagree with it."

I must have looked baffled, because she then went on to say, "but, look, we will make an exception for you, but really, it's not what we do and we find it all very inappropriate, because we want the DCs to understand that there is no such thing as ghosts and that witches are just wrong, but, well, we're here, so...."

I said, "well, it's just a bit of fun, we're really not discussing dead bodies coming alive."

And she said, "I know, I know, and it's a very American thing, isn't it? Not really what we do. We don't know anyone round here who celebrates it. It's really not our thing."

AIBU to think she could have just politely declined the invitation? It was all so pointed and "people like us" do this and "people who do Hallowe'en are not like us."

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

Interesting name.

[GhostShip]

I agree.

They should allow others the privilege of not having to put up with their nonsense.

[MurderOfGoths]

Totally agree.

[itsatiggerday]

Yep and I'd have been one of the ones who declined. I did briefly explain that we don't celebrate hallowe'en so would have to give it a miss but yes, did just decline.

[SoleSource]

Yanbu.

[nailak]

yanbu

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Er, doesn't the biggest Xtian festival involve a dead body coming alive again?

[honeytea]

yanbu, i would have said something like "well if we were having a fairy party we wouldn't expect the kids to believe faries are real, it's just a bit of fun"

[SchrodingersSexKitten]

Hmmm too. I have been here for a while! Check my posting history!

[marquesas]

I know quite a few adults who object to Halloween but don't know any children who see it as anything other than a fun day to dress up and eat too many sweets.

I don't have a problem with people who don't agree with it but YANBU in thinking they shouldn't send their children to parties.

Schro - what does interesting name mean?

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

Marquesas Nothing really, I am just surprised at the amount of variations of "Schrodingers" I am seeing post lately.

[SchrodingersSexKitten]

I have been SchrodingersSexKitten (not literally) for a while. Schro has a similar name, but has seasonally name-changed. I think she thinks I have nicked her name, but I really haven't.

[GhostShip]

Are you SchrodingersMew? :o

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

I didn't think you had actually nicked it, just suddenly noticed a load of "Schrodingers" and it's getting confusing.

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

Ghost That would be me, yes! :)

[GhostShip]

Ahh I got well confused then, I thought the OP was you Mew!

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

That's my point! I got linked to this thread as someone noticed the name.

I've got used to being known by my regular name and now I keep getting similar names pointed out to me, thinking I posted it. :(

[WilsonFrickett]

Well it's very rude, isn't it, to accept hospitality and then slag that hospitality off. Either decline the invite or keep it zipped. YANBU.

[GhostShip]

I'm going to note down the real Mew and shall make sure your name is clear

[VintageRainBoots]

American here, but this is my opinion, and my opinion alone.

In the US, Hallowe'en is a big deal, but it's pretty much a secular tradition rather than a Pagan holiday. There's nothing religious or anti-religious about it for the vast majority of Americans---it's just costumes and candy...what would one find objectionable?

And Christmas is quickly becoming that way, too, in the US. More and more non-Christians are observing Christmas in some form or fashion-trees, presents, exuberant commercialism-usually without any mention of Jesus or any religious observance, so "Christmas" parties are now more inclusive and secular. Even Jews, atheists, Pagans, etc., attend "Christmas" parties in the US with very few qualms: that's how un-religious they've become.

If someone finds these secular soirées so repugnant that they absolutely must inform the host(s) of their objections...well, they really should stay home, and probably avoid venturing outside at all, lest they encounter anything remotely objectionable to their rigid worldviews.

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

Ghost I don't think you'll miss me with this name! :o

[SchroSawMummyRidingSantaClaus]

Need a spreadsheet of Schrodingers!

[Fakebook]

You should've sent her Dd home with a book of spells and a.

[Fakebook]

Bottle of blood "to drink later".

[Blueschool]

Halloween actually has Christian roots any way.

I was never allowed to celebrate Halloween due to my parents being Christian, but after doing a very brief bit of research Im not sure why they were so agaisnt it to the extremes they are are as it not about celebrating and glorifying the paranormal really is it?