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From: rjb@akgua.UUCP (R.J. Brown [Bob])
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Halloween and Jews (and Christians)
Message-ID: <1071@akgua.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-Nov-84 11:54:31 EST
Article-I.D.: akgua.1071
Posted: Fri Nov  2 11:54:31 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Nov-84 07:43:11 EST
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Re: Halloween, a brief history

First, Halloween is not a Chrsitian holiday.

The roots of Halloween go back to the Druids and their
god Samhain (sp?), lord of the dead.  On this evening
the  spirits were allowed to come back and haunt the living
and they required a bribe from those they haunted.  You know,
"Trick or treat !" except that the "tricks" were your babies would be
stillborn or your animals would die or your ground would be cursed.

The "treats" were sometimes human sacrifice ( children, virgins)
to protect the community.

Further, Oct 31 is big with those who practice witchcraft.
Sort of their New Year's Eve.

The original ploy by the Church was to counter Halloween by moving
All Saint's Day from the Summer ( June, I think ) to Nov 1.
(Fair enough that the word Halloween is a contraction of All Hallows
Eve a reference to All Saints Day - Nov 1)

The Church (RC) was originally vigorously opposed to the Occultic
and demonic characteristics and practices of Halloween.  Many Protestant
and Independent Christian groups still are.  Some like the fellowship
I belong to offers an alternative to our (and the community's) children.
We decorate our building and grounds with booths and games.  Good times
and treats which we call a Hallelujah Party are offered without witches,
goblins, demons, et al.

Jews have a similar good time for children don't they  ? Isn't it called
Purim celebrating Queen Esther's saving the Jews from the evil Haman ?
(In the Spring isn't it ?)

If I've again exposed my non-Jewish background and ignorance on this 
item, please forgive ( you too Yiri ! :-)).

The bottom line is observant Christians have no real part in the
"Halloween" celebration as we normally see it.  Of the major holidays
that are linked with the pagan past (Christmas - Saturnalia, Easter -
Ishtar, Ashtoreth, etc Spring Fertility Rites) Halloween is the only
one with blatantly occultic and demonic symbolism recognized as such
by the culture.  For instance, do you think most Gentiles realize
that bringing a tree into the house (Christmas tree) derives from
a pagan custom to appease the woods elves (or whatever) ?  Probably
not.  However, most are familiar in some degree with witches, demons,
ghouls, goblins, spells,... ad nauseam.

Many Christians do not believe in symbolism evolution that Steve 
mentions. (Us retard fundamentalists, no doubt)

We believe that the demonic part of the spirit world is a real and
negative force in the Universe.  We who claim to be children of light
should not actively support the kingdom of darkness.


Bob Brown {...ihnp4!akgua!rjb}