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AnonymousAs a child I loved Halloween. I mean absolutely reveled in it – with total childlike abandon. I dressed up as a black cat or pretty princess or matching clown with my twin. And we ran from house to house joyfully gathering candy. Then I got born again. And my mother, twin and I learned that we should not participate in a dark, pagen holiday with occultic roots. And I felt apprension and creepiness on Halloween. And a bit of guilt that I still wanted to participate, but mostly pride that I was following Jesus and staying at home on Halloween like a good Christian girl should. I was even nice enough to keep our porch light on and hand out candy to all the little kids that were as ignorant as I used to be.
Then I grew up. And I grew away. And I had kids. And I love Halloween through them. And I dress up with them. And I wheel myself in my chair behind them as they trick or treat and I am as excited as they are to see what they got at the end of the evening. We dressed as witches and black cats last night. A definate no no from where I am from. Some Christians might have been neutral on princesses or animals or Bible characters, not witches.
My girls and I had so much fun last night. I don’t believe in the pagen, Satanic night, God would not approve of trick-or-treating boloney any more. So why the lingering guilt and anxiety?
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This topic was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by
David Hayward.
it’s like PTSD!
OMG, that’s a perfect way to say that, David!
Last night I put on some face paint and make up like that of sugar skulls for Day of the Dead. (Google “day of the dead makeup”.)
While the few people I showed loved it, I still deliberated for several hours as to whether or not I should share it on Facebook because I expected to get a few stink eyes and lectures about “encouraging demonic things”.
I don’t believe it all that hogwash either, but I still have that lingering guilt too.
I have a friend told me today… and she’s really progressed liberally theologically… she was driving down the road when this huge wave of fear came over her, “What if there really IS a Hell, and I’m going there?” And then it passed. PTSD.
AnonymousOh, I’m so sorry that your friend was feeling that. I can certainly relate.
PTSD – wow, light bulb moment, as Oprah would say, hehehehehe.
Halloween hasn’t really been a big thing where I live, but I wonder whether it’s helpful to take some time dwelling on death and darkness each year? A lot of people here who are anti-Halloween are more concerned about being expected to adopt ‘American’ customs, but I wonder whether this would actually be a helpful tradition to explore.
When I was in the Philippines they actually party all night over the graves of their loved ones once a year.
When I was in the Philippines they actually party all night over the graves of their loved ones once a year.
My first reaction was, that’s what funerals are for, but OK… dancing on graves. That’s interesting take.
Ya I wouldn’t be in to that. It’s a mixture of Catholicism and folk religion in the Philippines.
Halloween hasn’t really been a big thing where I live, but I wonder whether it’s helpful to take some time dwelling on death and darkness each year?
Absolutely! Darkness is for a time of rest and planning. It’s also a time for review to see where one has been.
Which also brings up the other aspect of Halloween (or as in my spiritual circles, Samhain): veneration of the ancestors. It’s a time to remember, celebrate, and honor (not to mention grieve again, if needed) those who came before us, who helped us get where we are today. It’s a chance to reconnect to our past and clarify our future.
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This topic was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by
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