[Andrew Gigacz]

Did you join in the Halloween celebrations this year? Perhaps you had grandkids and their friends out on your local streets ‘trick or treating’.

Or perhaps you’re one of the ones who can’t understand why Halloween has become so popular in Australia. After all, it’s an American tradition, isn’t it? Why do we have to copy everything they do in the US?

To an extent, I’m one of the latter. I reckon there are a bunch of customs from the US that would have been best left there. But I have to admit, Halloween isn’t one of them. I quite enjoy seeing kids dress up and having a good time, even if most of them probably have no idea why they’re doing so.

The reason is, as many of you will know, is that 31 October is known on the Christian calendar as All Saints Day. It’s also known as All Hallows’ Day. ‘Hallow’ basically means holy. And on the holy evening of 31 October, many Christians celebrate Hallowe’en, simply a contraction of Hallow or Hallowed evening.

As I kid, I hated the day. I was brought up as a Catholic, and for Catholics, All Saints Day is what’s known as a holy day of obligation, meaning going to church was compulsory, like on Sundays.

But I was also an avid reader of Disney comic books, and seeing the fun kids had on Halloween made me a bit jealous. So forgive me if I’m being a little un-Australian, but I quite like the way many Aussie kids celebrate Halloween these days.
What’s your view on Halloween?

[Allen Gilchrist]

I’, sorry but once again you have got your facts wrong Halloween comes from a PAGAN celebration for the changing of the season from winter solstice to spring which was first practised by the Celts.

[JayJay]

Both Andrew and Allen are correct. Halloween started out as the pagan Celtic festival of Samhain. Early Christians piggy-backed on the date to capitalise on the population’s festive activities, creating All Hallows (Souls) Day aka Hallow’een, the day/night before All Saints Day. Over the centuries this has morphed into Halloween as we know it today. The original 2 holy days are still on Christian calendars.

I also enjoy the children’s happiness at Halloween. There is sadly / unfortunately far too much doom and gloom in the world and children are actively exposed to constant ‘the sky is falling’ rhetoric.

There is nothing wrong with fun despite many people thinking it is a triviality. It is definitely not. Happiness, laughter, fun ease our lives and give us hope, and this is especially important for children.

I say ‘Bah humbug’ to those who decry the fun of Halloween. No-one is forcing them to participate.

[Ms Leith]

Reasons I LOATHE halloween.
1] We’re individual proud Australians, we don’t need to be copy cats. Look what happened when we introduced ‘American’ Guy Fawkes night. Multiple accidents, hospitalizations, amputations & deaths from that day. They’re still happening even though they’ve been banned.

Back to halloween.
My Nana used to say “Never judge a book by it’s cover.” & “What you see isn’t always as it seems.”

2] Your neighbours & their children can be rude & cruel regardless of suburb & surrounding suburbs their from.

3] If you put up a sign saying “Not participating”, abuse from it comes, you’ll still get door knocking & more filthy mouthed abuse as they leave empty handed all hours saying they drove miles to get there.

4] No sign, door knocking from 10am to 10pm, nothing to offer, NO MONEY TO BUY, couldn’t if you wanted to because you’re struggling hard to survive on the pittance pension or disability one from government greedy overpaid rich politicians who increase their wages at will, retire on a ‘lifetime’ pay approx $3k-$5k per week with bonuses & benefits, couldn’t give a toss about you or how you try to survive paying unscrupulous landlords exorbitant prices for run down houses.

I know many in this situation who go without meals, heating, medication & cooling to keep a roof over their head.

Being involved in halloween is last on their agenda.

Name ONE industry where you can LEAVE employment with an ‘over $1.5k weekly’ lifetime minimum pay?

[Author]

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