"Halloween is evil"

[Mooehey]

AIBU to be pissed off at my kids head teacher.

They go to a Catholic school because there are no other schools in the area that aren't in special measures. I went to the same school and apart from religion it's a good school.

My kids haven't been baptised and the school know this.

Even though it's a Catholic school there are Muslim kids, Jewish kids etc...

When it's a Muslim festival the kids come home with homework about Eid and Dwali.

Near Christmas they learn about hannuka.

They learn about all different religions.

But the head teacher told the kids they weren't to talk about Halloween because it's evil.

This was said in an assembly. Confirmed by 2 of my kids seperatly.

AIBU to think Halloween isn't evil. It's a Pagan festival and it should be respected the same as any other?

I am pagan and am really annoyed at what she said. We celebrate Samhain big time, not only with modern tradition such as trick or treating (no different to the modern mass market g of Christmas....that doesn't get banned!) And we also celebrate more traditionally with offerings and rituals.

I'm sad that my children 'aren't allowed' to tell their friends at school about our traditions or the fun things we have done this evening.

Would a Muslim child be told that their religion is evil? I seriously doubt it.

I just feel sad and have no where else to rant I guess :(

Also I wanted to make some pumpkin spice cookies in little homemade bags for their class mates and they were terrified they would 'get in trouble!!'

Kids bring in stuff on saint Patrick's day.
Children bring in fortune cookies at Chinese New year.

I agree with you. The comments were totally out of order, and ignorant, and you shouldn't have to put up with it.

Some posters will doubtless say that if you "choose" a faith school for your child then you must obediently swallow whatever antediluvian horseshit they serve up without a flicker of dissent.

Assuming it's a state school, however, I strongly disagree.

Halloween isn't a religion.

YANBU

Ridiculous my dc go to a catholic school and they have a Halloween disco. It's just a bit of harmless fun fgs

Easter isn't a religion either what's your point?

Halloween has roots in the pagan festival of Samhain. Its a part of our indigenous culture.

Halloween is the celtic new year for pagans and an important religious festival for wiccans, pagans etc. So yes, Halloween is part of a religion.

Unfortunately that's what some Catholics still believe. I am a pagan also and totally get it.

You've answered your own question.. Diwali is a celebration of light as is I believe Hanukkah ..though I am not as clued up on this one.
Halloween is not a part of any religion as such. It's a pagan festival...ie celebrated outwith religion
It dues literally mean all hallows Eve and was traditionally thought to be the night the spirits roamed the earth and therefore some schools steer clear of it

We weren't allowed to celebrate (or even acknowledge) Halloween at my primary school because one of the parents complained that it anti-Christian. It wasn't even a faith school. I don't know why the head teacher gave in to them.

Paganism IS a religion, are there really people who don't know this?!

I'm . HT is bonkers!

I'm Catholic and have always celebrated Halloween, have never heard anyone refer to it as evil. My DC attend a Catholic school which held a Halloween disco tonight.

No but Halloween is a religious festival. A pagan festival.

Why is OK to be disrespectful about my religion? I teach my children to be respectful of their Catholic classmates.

I would never say "Catholicism is evil"

Greensleeves since when was Easter not religious..last time I checked good Friday was the day Jesus was crucified and Easter Sunday was the day he rose again.
Although I get it moves with the moon and that has its roots in paganism..but the meaning is understood to be Christian

Halloween is about raising thedead and evil spirits I can see why a religious school wouldn't celebrate that btw it is a festival nothing to do with believing in god but you know that you just fancied a bit of poking the bear!

I went to a fun-sucking convent school in a very doctrinaire Catholic society, with very devout parents, and it was only when I arrived in England that I came across Christian (of any stripe) prissiness about Halloween. It was celebrated enthusiastically by everyone where I grew up, and fitted perfectly as a folk tradition alongside All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. I was very surprised when my son’s C of E school never mentions it, and the vicar tells the children it’s wrong to celebrate it.

I’m afraid I haven’t much patience with this drawing aside of skirts about Halloween. I see it as an aspect of this country’s discomfort with death. And also a k8nd of prissiness.

Second thread tonight about catholic's not celebrating Halloween it's hardly a new thing is it?

I didn't say Easter wasn't religious, i said it wasn't a religion. It is a religious festival. And like Halloween, it has more solid roots in paganism than it does in Christianity.

Pagans don't believe in god pagans have many gods and godesses I imagine a religious school would frown upon that but why don't you take it up with the school

Second thread tonight about catholic's not celebrating Halloween it's hardly a new thing is it?

^ this

It perplexes me that a religious group whose primary ritual involves pretending to eat and drink the flesh and blood of a violently executed man is so squeamish about kids dressing up as witches and skeletons

@IrisDolmato Interesting point. I too am surprised that this is the second thread about it. Never heard of a Catholic school having a problem and I'm in Ireland, plenty of Catholic schools here.

My point is that many Cstholics do celebrate Halloween, just as overwhelmingly Catholic Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead.

Halloween is not about raising the dead and evil spirits 🙄

Exactly, Green, we’re spiritual cannibals.