More on Hallowe’en
No, that’s not a typo. Go back to the origins of this event and you’ll find that it started as (and still is) a Christian holiday. One of Helen Hull Hitchcock’s friends shared some of her concerns over what the event was turning into, and how to plan her children’s celebration of it.
Her concern was real — and considering some of the adult Hallowe’en street celebrations in recent years, anyone would think this is a deeply pagan festivity. (The same might be said of Mardi Gras celebrations!) Add to that the fact that some people today actually claim to be witches. They have claimed “ownership” of Hallowe’en. They claim it is really an ancient pagan harvest festival.
When the culture grabs onto something like this and buys into the advertising and merchandising hype about it, folks just start believing this weird stuff. And then they get caught up in the pop culture (the ‘cult’ of the event) and go with some celebrations they don’t even question.
What about this? Can even innocent children’s parties, trick-or-treating, dressing up like witches and ghosts on October 31 — as almost all Americans have done for generations — be participating in a pagan religious celebration? Worse, is it a way of seducing our kids into the occult or devil worship?
Are we compromising our religious beliefs and principles by letting our children, even if innocently, dabble in something that has its origins in evil? As Catholic families, what is our obligation to be consistent and true to our faith?
Women for Faith & Family has all kinds of resources and background on matters of faith and morals. They provide an alternative to the pop culture’s view on those matters.
We think that Hallowe’en can be a real teaching moment. Despite what many people think — or what some modern-day “witches” may claim — Hallowe’en is and has always been a Christian holiday.
It’s still a month away. And yet is here now, everywhere you shop (and some places you dine and go for entertainment). So it’s time to consider what’s going on with Hallowe’en. It’s a popular holiday. There will be more here on it through October.
