May I ask a Halloween question of some christian (C of E) mumsnetters please?

[ScaryHalloweenSquonkRAAR]

Dd2's school is not allowed to have a Halloween disco because it is a C of E school and tis against the tenet of the church.

Why?

I don't mean to be confrontational or start a MN bunfight, but as a non-believer, I would have thought that the whole Halloween thing would go hand in hand with there being an almighty force for good to counteract the nasty hobgoblins and the like that come out to frighten us on 31st October.

What obvious thing am I missing?

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Bloss, you do know that xmas and easter are pagan festivals that predate christianity? That they just have a christian label stuck on them which most of us simply ignore.

How do you feel about easter eggs?

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Well they only commemorate significant Christian events for christians. The rest of us are enjoying something quite different on those days. If christians can pretend that xmas/easter are when christ was born/died then why not make up a story about halloween so you can join in and there won't be any conflict.

The eggs at easter are probably more offensive to christianity if you go into what they represent than the kids dressed as goblins, but even christians like chocolate so they are on the 'good' list

Mmm.. TBH the three central events are birth (Christmas) Death (Halloween as viewed as all souls eve) & resurrection (Easter)..

Anyway, we'll be doing Halloween here with bob-apple, monkey nuts, sparklers etc... but no nastiness!

Black Eyed Dog bit of dodgy info there I think.
Halloween in Poland is not celebrated (except in language schools, and often then is frowned upon for the "hijack" and anti-Christian reasons).
1st Nov is All Saints' day, a public/church holiday, renamed "The Festival of the Dead" in communist times to get out of using the Christian word "Saints"... Mega celebrated, very beautiful, solemn occasion, EVERYONE goes to family/friends' graves, lots of family get-togethers as "long-distance" families get together even more than at Christmas. By the end of the day the cemeteries look like Christmas trees with all the multicoloured grave candles and wreaths/bouquets...
OK sorry for thread hijack, culture studies lecture over

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But our deaths are important because then mortals face their maker/ justify their actions etc. So while it is a sad event for those left behind, it is on fact a glorious event in the totality of life. Also, isn't Easter Sunday the most important: resurrection and the life ever after?

I'm not offended by differing views on Halloween but do find it odd when people object on Christian grounds, in the same way I find objecting to Harry Potter on religious grounds most peculiar. Indeed, I even think Philip Pullman should be compulsory for robust Christians!

Anyway I'm off to plan a Halloween party!

Oh I can't stop myself!

Halloween is the modern name for All Hallows Eve, the eve of All Saints.

It was always a festival of light for Christians. The idea of dressing up was supposed to confuse the demons into not recognising the innocent souls, so the devil couldn't take them for himself.

Yes, the costumes have got out of hand and are often way too scary for children but it was not and is not intended to say that witchcraft is a good thing in Christian eyes.

All of the horrible stuff that happens around Halloween (egging, demanding cash etc) is more to do with the breakdown of society and is a separate issue.

The pagan celebrations of Samhain are about reverence of family and our ancestors, much as All Souls is, I believe, to Christians.

So yes, the history of the holiday does have a lot to do with it. Get it back to its roots, celebrate it for what it is but please stop saying it is unchristian. As some one said, it is only as unchristian as the modern take on Christmas and the mass commercialisation that surrounds it.

Apologies for the Halloween moniker. My usual saintly guise might have been more appropriate

Our church has been invited to lots of local (non church) schools through Hallowe'en week to do a theme on superheroes of the bible culminating in a big superheroes (fancy dress) disco/party in the church on the 31st - cue lots of relieved parents not lumbered with trick or treating etc and excited children.

....and all the little old ladies who have bought sweets for the trick or treaters can eat them themselves....or are you inviting them too Hannah'saunt?