# Reclaiming HALLOWEEN for Christ? Are you SERIOUS? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2010, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589 "2010-10-09T08:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/21 "2010-10-10T08:32:57Z")
Go away and leave Halloween alone. Fuck off and take your lame-ass harvest party with you. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/22 "2010-10-10T11:53:26Z")
> [@anya\_marie](#): > > Go away and leave Halloween alone. Fuck off and take your lame-ass harvest party with you. Seconded. Halloween should be about candy, costumes, trick or treating at NIGHT, pranks, and getting the bejeezus scared out of you by the neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/23 "2010-10-10T12:08:56Z")
The irony in this thread is just fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/24 "2010-10-10T12:13:45Z")
I say we let the Christians reclaim Halloween. Maybe we’ll get another day off from work every year. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/25 "2010-10-10T12:17:58Z")
When my fellow Christians talk about having a Christian alternative for Halloween, I point out that Halloween WAS the Christian alternative to Samhain. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/26 "2010-10-10T13:29:37Z")
Sure, but I bet it wasn’t anything like the modern presentation of Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/27 "2010-10-10T15:50:08Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > > [@Aswan](#): > > > > Off topic. Okay, I understand the Christians co-opting Saturnalia, but Easter? Forgive my ignorance, but please fill me in. > > > > Thank you. > > Yep. Dunno how reliable [this page](http://www.thercg.org/books/ttooe.html) is as a cite, but it covers the basics: cultures had been holding resurrection and fertility rituals at the spring equinox long before the birth of Christ, and the name Easter is possibly derived from the names of a good dozen or so fertility goddess of the time. > [@Aswan](#): > > Okay. Spring Equinox, fertility rites. I can buy that. > > The Church PR Department does not miss any opportunities. ## Well, Easter date is closely related to Pesaj/Passover. Soon we’ll have “reclaiming bacon for Jews and Muslims.” ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/28 "2010-10-10T17:26:50Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > nm > [@Mangetout](#): > > The irony in this thread is just fantastic. It’s clear you have some gem of wisdom that you are dying to share, but good manners are preventing you from doing so without an invite. So, please, enlighten all of us. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/29 "2010-10-10T18:59:59Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Well, these days a lot of the so-called representatives Christianity ARE scary. > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > _ding_ > > “My, what Scary costumes. Who are you…!?” > > “I’m Sean Hannity. I’m Fair & Balanced!” > “I’m Glen Beck. I hold hate rallies to Take Back America from the ideas of MLK! …and, I cry a lot…” > “I’m Christine O’Donnell! I’m NOT a witch!” > “I’m Sarah Palin! I want your kids to have the exact same family values that mine do!” > “I’m John Boehner. Have you seen Marcy? 'Cause she’s not next door…” And then there’s the [upcoming election.](http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2006/10/a_truly_scary_halloween_costume.php) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/30 "2010-10-10T19:04:09Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > > [@Mangetout](#): > > > > nm > > > [@Mangetout](#): > > > > The irony in this thread is just fantastic. > > It’s clear you have some gem of wisdom that you are dying to share, but good manners are preventing you from doing so without an invite. > > So, please, enlighten all of us. There’s no particular connection between the two posts you quoted. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/31 "2010-10-10T19:19:18Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > > [@Pullet](#): > > > > It’s clear you have some gem of wisdom that you are dying to share, but good manners are preventing you from doing so without an invite. > > > > So, please, enlighten all of us. > > There’s no particular connection between the two posts you quoted. If you say so. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/32 "2010-10-10T19:20:37Z")
Heck, I want to reclaim [Bonfire Night](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night) from Halloween. We Brits used to have a grand time burning effigies of Catholics\*, now we’re stuck with an increasingly commercialised and americanised festival of ghosts ‘n’ ghouls ‘n’ other things that go bump in the night. Except my friend Emily… she went to the [same school](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter's_School,_York) as Guido Fawkes (although several hundred years later), and as their headmaster once told them, “Here at St Peters we do \*not \*burn our former pupils.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/33 "2010-10-10T19:35:36Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > Heck, I want to reclaim [Bonfire Night](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night) from Halloween. > > We Brits used to have a grand time burning effigies of Catholics\*, now we’re stuck with an increasingly commercialised and americanised festival of ghosts ‘n’ ghouls ‘n’ other things that go bump in the night. > > Except my friend Emily… she went to the [same school](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter's_School,_York) as Guido Fawkes (although several hundred years later), and as their headmaster once told them, “Here at St Peters we do \*not \*burn our former pupils.” Bonfires for Hallowe’en are common here, fireworks too. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/34 "2010-10-10T20:39:32Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > If you say so. I did. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/35 "2010-10-10T20:47:03Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > > [@Pullet](#): > > > > If you say so. > > I did. Did ya now? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/36 "2010-10-10T20:56:34Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The irony in this thread is just fantastic. Please bust a hot, truthy load all over my ignorance: What’s ironic about the thread? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/37 "2010-10-10T21:06:32Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Bonfires for Hallowe’en are common here, fireworks too. And with it being less than a week before the election here in the U.S., all _we_ have to do is turn on the TV to get “gunpowder, treason, and plot”! ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/38 "2010-10-11T00:11:08Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > When my fellow Christians talk about having a Christian alternative for Halloween, I point out that Halloween WAS the Christian alternative to Samhain. IIRC, the -een (eve) part is a remnant stemming from Celtic days being figured dusk-to-dusk (like Jewish days), rather than from midnight. So from dusk on Oct 31 until midnight (and the start of All Saints / All Hallows on the 1st of Nov) there is a bit of “original” Samhain left. Aside: a local church here holds an annual dress-up “Light Party” for the kids in place of Halloween, which gets a big :rolleyes: from me, but the kids like getting to dress up. Last year my son went dressed as \*\*Pit \*\*aka[Kid Icarus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kid_Icarus), and the churchy types thought he was dressed as an angel… so that was nice… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/39 "2010-10-11T03:35:13Z")
I for one am going to reclaim Halloween for Jesus by going to a costume party as a piece of toast imprinted with an image of JHC. I will name my costume Wonder of Wonders. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589/40 "2010-10-11T03:38:29Z")
Are you kidding? EVERY day is a christian HOLY DAY, because each day is one of Jesus’s snowflakes. Someday someone will do some REALLY christian thing on this date, and they need to get their dibs in now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reclaiming-halloween-for-christ-are-you-serious/556589.md?page=3)