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Author Topic: Po-faced Christians and Halloween  (Read 18355 times)

ProfessorDavey

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Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« on: October 31, 2016, 08:23:17 PM »
Tonight is Halloween and all round my local area knots of excited small children (carefully watched by their parents) are enjoying getting dressed up as skeletons, witches, ghouls etc and knocking on their neighbours' doors in the hope of some sweets. Entirely innocent and good natured.

Yet our local CofE church deeply disapproves. They sent out a flier last week asking parents to send their children to an 'animal themed' party tonight instead - dress as your 'favourite animal'. All very odd as they've never extended a general invite to a party before. Clearly this is an attempt to get kids to turn their back on Halloween and do something that the church doesn't disapprove of, presumably because they consider Halloween somehow 'ungodly'.

Why so po-faced - can't they simply let kids enjoy halloween?

Just imagine the outcry from the Daily Mail types if non religious people tried to hi-jack Christmas events and turn them into an 'animal themed' party.
« Last Edit: October 31, 2016, 08:27:45 PM by ProfessorDavey »
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Gordon

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2016, 08:29:58 PM »
Brings to mind a well known quote of Bertrand Russell's.

Quote
The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others.
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Walt Zingmatilder

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2016, 08:31:50 PM »
Quote from: Gordon on October 31, 2016, 08:29:58 PM
Brings to mind a well known quote of Bertrand Russell's.
Is 'the man in the street' familiar with this?
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Aruntraveller

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2016, 08:34:31 PM »
Well I bloody hate Halloween. Not for any religious reasons. Just for the sheer unadulterated, commercialised American-ness of it.

We've already got Bonfire Night as a homegrown tradition - do we have to have this faux, good neighbourly nonsense where I am supposed to supply sweets to unknown children.

Try that any other time of the year and see where it gets you....  >:(
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Gordon

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2016, 08:35:16 PM »
Quote from: I can't believe it's not Vlad. on October 31, 2016, 08:31:50 PM
Is 'the man in the street' familiar with this?

Looked out the front door - no man in street, but as soon as I see one I'll ask him.

So, were you familiar with this well-known quote?
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Anchorman

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2016, 08:37:14 PM »
Po faced Christians? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1TpgoqHWbE Stuff'em (from an un-po faced Christian who, though despising Americanisation, is nevertheless grateful that making turnip lanterns with the resultant bloodshed is a thing of the past....)
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Owlswing

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2016, 08:37:43 PM »
Quote from: ProfessorDavey on October 31, 2016, 08:23:17 PM
Tonight is Halloween and all round my local area knots of excited small children (carefully watched by their parents) are enjoying getting dressed up as skeletons, witches, ghouls etc and knocking on their neighbours' doors in the hope of some sweets. Entirely innocent and good natured.

Yet our local CofE church deeply disapproves. They sent out a flier last week asking parents to send their children to an 'animal themed' party tonight instead - dress as your 'favourite animal'. All very odd as they've never extended a general invite to a party before. Clearly this is an attempt to get kids to turn their back on Halloween and do something that the church doesn't disapprove of, presumably because they consider Halloween somehow 'ungodly'.

Why so po-faced - can't they simply let kids enjoy halloween?

Just imagine the outcry from the Daily Mail types if non religious people tried to hi-jack Christmas events and turn them into an 'animal themed' party.

Hi Prof!

Samhain blessings to you.

What really and truly amazes me is that while Samhain (October 31), is observed by the pagan community as a time to remember those who have passed on to the Summerlands and the old Celtic New Year, Hallowe'en is a Christian festival - All Hallows Eve - the Feast of All Souls!

The way it is celebrated by non-pagans, as you describe above, is another import of American rubbish. I really cannot see why the Yanks bastardised All Hallows in this way, but to see the Christian Churches wetting their collective knickers over a Christian festival has led to me allowing myself a glass of mead this year!   

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Anchorman

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2016, 08:39:25 PM »
Oy! Not all Christians throw a hissy fit when Hallowe'en's mentioned (and that's from a Presbyterian)
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ProfessorDavey

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2016, 08:40:42 PM »
Quote from: Trentvoyager on October 31, 2016, 08:34:31 PM
Well I bloody hate Halloween. Not for any religious reasons. Just for the sheer unadulterated, commercialised American-ness of it.

We've already got Bonfire Night as a homegrown tradition - do we have to have this faux, good neighbourly nonsense where I am supposed to supply sweets to unknown children.

Try that any other time of the year and see where it gets you....  >:(
That's just good old fashioned bah-humbug.

Rather than the evangelist christian attempt to turn Halloween into a 'Jungle book-themed party - come dressed up as your favourite animal or Jungle Book character'. I mean wtf.

Sure much of the current Halloween is imported from the USA, but so what - kids love it. And it doesn't really detract from fireworks night - we'll be doing all that at the weekend.

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Aruntraveller

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2016, 08:42:02 PM »
Quote
That's just good old fashioned bah-humbug

Yep - works for me.
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ProfessorDavey

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2016, 08:43:44 PM »
Quote from: Anchorman on October 31, 2016, 08:39:25 PM
Oy! Not all Christians throw a hissy fit when Hallowe'en's mentioned (and that's from a Presbyterian)
I know and that's what makes it all the more po-faced amongst those that do.

Most of the Christians I know (including the missus) have no problem whatsoever enjoying Halloween and making sure the kids enjoy it too with pumpkin carving and a bit of trick or treat. It's just a few who seem to have a big issue, and can't bring themselves simply to ignore it - they can't help themselves, they have to try to sanitise it into an 'animal themed party'.
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Aruntraveller

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2016, 08:45:01 PM »
Quote
I've bought a big bag of sweets and turned the doorbell off. Happy Halloween.

Sarah Millican sums it up perfectly for me. ;)
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Walt Zingmatilder

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2016, 08:45:28 PM »
Quote from: Gordon on October 31, 2016, 08:35:16 PM
Looked out the front door - no man in street, but as soon as I see one I'll ask him.

So, were you familiar with this well-known quote?
Alas no.......It really makes Bert sound like a party animal doesn't it.
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ProfessorDavey

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2016, 08:47:30 PM »
Quote from: Owlswing on October 31, 2016, 08:37:43 PM
The way it is celebrated by non-pagans, as you describe above, is another import of American rubbish. I really cannot see why the Yanks bastardised All Hallows in this way, but to see the Christian Churches wetting their collective knickers over a Christian festival has led to me allowing myself a glass of mead this year!
I know there has been a massive increase in the celebrating of Halloween, but it was far from unknown when I was a kid. It was more about telling scary ghost stories and ducking for apples than pumpkins and trick or treat, but the basic concept - scary stuff, was still there.
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Anchorman

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #14 on: October 31, 2016, 08:54:12 PM »
ProfDavey. I'm about to blaspheme, so I ask your forgiveness in advance. The link I posted to Burns' 'Tam oShanter' is set in the ruined Alloway Kirk. Presbytery (again, apologies for the language) sits in the kirk which replaced it - and both buildings were known to Burns. About a hundred yards away is te cottage where he was born. Tomorrow night when I try to fall asleep at Presbytery, the area will be festooned with turnip lanterns - including the Kirkyard - with the express encouragement of the Kirk. Getting back to the All souls thingy. We remember those who have died, celebrate them with a dram, and watch repeats of the Evil dead....kinda sacred, innit?
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ProfessorDavey

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #15 on: October 31, 2016, 08:54:36 PM »
Quote from: Trentvoyager on October 31, 2016, 08:42:02 PM
Yep - works for me.
Mutter, mutter, mutter ...
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Aruntraveller

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #16 on: October 31, 2016, 08:55:35 PM »
Quote from: ProfessorDavey on October 31, 2016, 08:54:36 PM
Mutter, mutter, mutter ...

See you're getting the hang of it now.  ;)
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ProfessorDavey

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #17 on: October 31, 2016, 08:58:33 PM »
Quote from: Trentvoyager on October 31, 2016, 08:55:35 PM
See you're getting the hang of it now.  ;)
Seems to have quietened down now - no trick or treaters for about an hour. Prime time (not that I was there for the first part) was 6-7:30.

We seem to have virtually no chocolate left.

Actually in recent years we have often given out fruit - not quite sure if this was to be healthy or simply because we'd run out of chocolate - we got some really funny looks, but always a polite thank you - that's the kind of area we live in!!!

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Nearly Sane

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #18 on: October 31, 2016, 09:31:14 PM »
At least some of what we have imported from the U.S. was part of what we exported in the form of 'guising'

http://caledonianmercury.com/2010/10/15/useful-scots-word-guising/0011286 ,

Or also more locally for me growing up, galoshans

http://galoshans.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15520443?SThisFB

« Last Edit: October 31, 2016, 09:50:48 PM by Nearly Sane »
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Gonnagle

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #19 on: October 31, 2016, 09:57:18 PM »
Dear Prof,

Yesterday in Church was all about Halloween, they even had a scary story for the kids, of course God got a mention in the story, you had to shout bang if he was mentioned, stamp your feet for thunder and shout whoosh if thunder was mention, even the Minister rattled on about all saints day and remembering the dead, the only time I saw a po face was when the collection plate went round ::)

Gonnagle.
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ProfessorDavey

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #20 on: October 31, 2016, 10:00:29 PM »
Quote from: Gonnagle on October 31, 2016, 09:57:18 PM
Dear Prof,

Yesterday in Church was all about Halloween, they even had a scary story for the kids, of course God got a mention in the story, you had to shout bang if he was mentioned, stamp your feet for thunder and shout whoosh if thunder was mention, even the Minister rattled on about all saints day and remembering the dead, the only time I saw a po face was when the collection plate went round ::)

Gonnagle.
Never said it was all Christians - quite the reverse - see my response to Anchorman.

Just some.
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Anchorman

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #21 on: October 31, 2016, 10:15:38 PM »
Galoshans, NS? We haven't had that for a few years, unfortunately. I rember doing the rounds of the nearer farms in my early twenties with a few fellow reprobates from the adult part of the Youth Fellowship (Look - it's kirky - you don't get sense with the kirk) When I say 'remember'....er....well I remember the first couple of farms. The rest got more hazy as the night wore on.
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Brownie

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #22 on: October 31, 2016, 11:06:50 PM »
Quote from: Trentvoyager on October 31, 2016, 08:34:31 PM
Well I bloody hate Halloween. Not for any religious reasons. Just for the sheer unadulterated, commercialised American-ness of it.

We've already got Bonfire Night as a homegrown tradition - do we have to have this faux, good neighbourly nonsense where I am supposed to supply sweets to unknown children.

Try that any other time of the year and see where it gets you....  >:(

I feel a bit like that too, Trent.  Probably less so than I used to.  We don't have much in the way of door knocking where I live, probably because it's a main road.  Maybe the side roads have more activity of that nature but, generally, Halloween hasn't taken off in a big way in my neck of the woods.  However my view is that it is a bit of fun for kids and not sinister.

As for the church sending out fliers inviting kids to dress up as animals as an alternative to Halloween, all I can say is, "What utter prats".   Either 'do' Halloween or do nothing.
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Harrowby Hall

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #23 on: October 31, 2016, 11:13:25 PM »
My objection to Halloween is that it is a festival "invented" in England (I cannot say for the so-called "celtic" countries) by commercial organisations simply in order to make money. The major supermarkets stock their stores with cheap, rubbishy tat and make a big profit from it. No doubt, with all the safety controls on fireworks, Guy Fawkes night gives them no reward - so they max the opportunity for "pester power" spending driven by children.

I was very surprised, a few years ago, to exactly the same kind of crap merchandise being sold in exactly the same way in French supermarkets.

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trippymonkey

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Re: Po-faced Christians and Halloween
« Reply #24 on: October 31, 2016, 11:15:17 PM »
HH
Pretty sure WE in the UK 'imported' this from the USA !!!
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