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From: smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Haloween and Jews
Message-ID: <1045@ulysses.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 31-Oct-84 15:57:13 EST
Article-I.D.: ulysses.1045
Posted: Wed Oct 31 15:57:13 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Nov-84 05:05:37 EST
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> From: judah@hou2h.UUCP (J.KAMINETSKY)
> Subject: Haloween and Jews
> Message-ID: <673@hou2h.UUCP>
> Date: Wed, 31-Oct-84 14:13:23 EST

> Is there anything antisemitic or unjewish about Haloween?

My (orthodox) Hebrew school teacher used to warn us against going trick-or-
treating, since she stated -- correctly -- that Halloween was really "Hallow
Eve", or the day before "All Saints Day".  She therefore felt that it was
a Christian holiday.

However, she didn't go far enough.  Halloween is really pagan in origin; it
was absorbed into the Christian calendar under a Christian name.  Not that
knowing that would have made her feel any better...

My own view, though, is that despite its non-Jewish antecedents, Halloween
as celebrated in America is a secular holiday, devoid of religious meaning.
(Almost) no one here attaches any significance to pumpkins, witches, etc.;
it's just a way to have a fun time.  Symbols evolve, too.