It's that time of year again!

Modern consumerist Hallowe'en is simply a way of getting people to spend more money and nothing to do with either religion.

Hallowe'en doesn't have anything to do with evil. It's a time for remembering the dead. No need for parties of light because it's not a dark festival.

Hallowe'en is based on the pagan festival of Samhain (pronounced sow inn) when the links between the domains of the living and the dead were the closest and the dead could sometimes cross over. It's not a dark festival. The spirits of dead family members might be invited to join in the feasting and games. When the Christian church took over it simply absorbed the festivals and changed the name but it's still about remembering the dead. The difference arises because the pagan religion doesn't recognise death as being final. It is simply another stage in existence until you are reborn. In order to stop people celebrating Samhain the Christian church held it's own festival when Samhain should have been celebrated and to stop people slipping back into pagan ways they preached that paganism and therefore, Samhain, was evil.

When I was little we had bonfire night with Dad setting off fireworks which sometimes shot off in the wrong direction (remember Jumping Jacks and Catherine Wheels which came off the pin) and sparklers which more than once burned our hands. My DGC go to organised displays which are amazing and have music and lots of other spectators to add to the excitement.

We didn't do Halloween but DGC enjoy decorating the house, making pumpkins, dressing up and trick or treating with adult supervision and no 'tricks'. Collecting sweets which, to be honest, can last till Christmas to be eaten, is heaven to them!

We did read stories such as Hansel and Gretel, sent out to die in the woods by a wicked stepmother with Hansel put in the witch's oven and fattened up to cook. The wolf in the 'Three Little Pigs' fell down the chimney into a pot of boiling water. Little Red Riding Hood and her Grandma were eaten by the wolf and only saved by her father cutting its head off to allow them to escape. Gerda had a sliver of ice enter her heart in the Snow Queen. Snow White was to have her heart cut out and returned by the woodsman sent out by her stepmother. She was then poisoned by an apple. And many, many more such horror stories! Was I traumatised? I don't know. Maybe I need a psychiatrist to tell me!

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose"

We never bothered with it with our children - I don't think there was that much fuss about Halloween then anyway.

My son and his partner aren't that keen on Halloween but I think last year my son's partner took the children to a local (non-gruesome) Halloween event. They don't go trick or treating.

I think the shelves of bloodthirsty tat in the supermarkets are horrible and depressing.

Fortunately DGD1 carved hers at Brownies. A lovely specimen !

And as for carving pumpkins...... nearly broke my wrist last year, it will be a large plastic one this year.?

I think you've hit the nail on the head in what you say, synonomous . It's much healthier to focus on the forces of good in the world rather than forces of evil. I'm sure.

My grandchildren are grown up now so I'm not really involved too much with Halloween. On a recent visit to the UK I did notice how scary and sinister the costumes are becoming. The fun aspect of the evening seems to have gone and again it's competitive for the scariest costume. Here in France it's much more traditional with ghost and witch costumes only and well behaved children ( it's a rural area )
Maybe I'm older and wanting to go back to more traditional times, suppose our children and grandchildren have to make their own traditions, that's not to say I have to like them.

I would rather not have to be involved in taking DGC trick and treating ( true, there are no tricks involved) and it's good humoured with many children taking part and showing off their costumes excitedly, but even so am reluctant to be knocking at doors.I think a better scenario would be for parents to hold Halloween parties for children.
That is the better side of Halloween, the worse side is the displays, some of which are just horrible and do scare children, especially the younger ones, having seen a 3 year old crying and hiding behind his Mother in Tesco, while she said (with irritation) 'it's not real!' As she browsed the frightening stuff on offer.
I expect we will see the Killer Clowns this year as well.

I'm not frantic about Halloween myself, but DS is still of an age when he and his friends go our accompanied by an adult for an hour or so. We always get sweets in for the local children - if they aren't all given away, DH eats them! As for Bonfire Night, we usually get roped into going to an organised display, but I wouldn't be sorry to see the demise of this tradition. Fireworks are a collosal waste of money.

It is ok and usual I would think for members of a church to hold different opinions on these things.

Oh I meant to say one of our members said the church does not approve and he didn't like the idea - this is the same church who thought it was OK for the Rector to dress as Darth Vader and conduct the Christmas Day service last year.

Sadly GS is now 12 so I don't think he wants to dress up but he likes spooky films and sweeties so I guess that is what he will be doing.
For my part the charity I'm on usually does a Nov 5th fireworks and bonfire but this year the organisers wanted to charge us DOUBLE what we paid last year so we are having it on Oct 31st instead at the usual price and it provides an extra night of fun for all the family.

I went into Wilkinsons yesterday just to buy a couple of new feed bowls for the dogs. You could hardly move for Halloween STUFF which is obviously aimed at younger children no matter who gruesome it looks.

I'm glad my DGCs are teenagers now and no longer find it the least bit entertaining.

It's here to stay though, whether we like it or not.

another witch a witch.

^ but selling costumes with fake knives in them and bloodstained masks is just sick.^

Totally agree. We saw a shop window display yesterday that featured an evil looking vampire surrounded by cobwebs. Entangled in the webs were about a dozen or so naked plastic baby dolls. Another baby doll was head first in a cauldron, being stirred by another witch. Really sinister and sickening. And got me wondering about the person who did the display - don't think I'd want my GC anywhere near him/her.

If the shops stuck to selling pumpkins,witches outfits etc it would be ok, but selling costumes with fake knives in them and bloodstained masks is just sick.

No, because they're a bit too young
Not sure it should be forgotten about. My brother and I did the apple thing and we had ghost stories around the fire. All a bit tame for today's kids though.
I don't mind the bloodthirsty aspect as children like that. I feel, though, that the whole thing has become too commercialised, and I don't like trick or treating. However, I gather the trick aspect doesn't happen now, and around our way children are always escorted by adults, knocking only on doors displaying some kind of recognition, e.g. a pumpkin.
If you had asked me about fireworks it would be a resounding NO

1. No to the first. DGC's parents would not tolerate this any more than we would. They have a 'Lights party' at their church on All Saints Day and do happy, funny things and all in a safe environment.
2. Yes. Whilst it is also wise to remember that there are clearly evil forces in the world. But celebrate it? - definitely not!
3. Yes. Clearly the shock value is lessened each year and so they up the ante. So tasteless and unnecessary.

I'm going to a Halloween do with DD and DGC. Apparently I have to dress up as a vampire . They've got me a costume!
No to the second question, as my DGC love it.
Yes definitely, to the third.

1. No, they are 17. 19. 24 Done my whack

2. Yes

3. Yes X 100