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From: bch@mcnc.UUCP (Byron Howes)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Halloween and Jews (and Christians)
Message-ID: <2333@mcnc.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 4-Nov-84 12:57:35 EST
Article-I.D.: mcnc.2333
Posted: Sun Nov  4 12:57:35 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 6-Nov-84 05:47:24 EST
References: <1071@akgua.UUCP> <ucf-cs.1651>
Reply-To: bch@mcnc.UUCP (Byron Howes)
Organization: North Carolina Educational Computing Service
Lines: 25
Summary: 

As a non-Jew I am somewhat reluctant to post to this group, but the
discussion of Jews and Halloween seems to be taking place only here,
and I have an anecdote and a question --

In the predominately Jewish community in which I grew up, Halloween was
not celebrated.  Rather, the night *before* Halloween was declared
"beggar's night" and the traditional "trick-or-treat" activities took
place on that night.  No explanation for this was ever given me, and
in fact I was well into my teens before I knew that this might be pecu-
liar.  I merely thought the customs were different in different parts
of the country.  From recent discussions, I suspect some would argue
that this rewriting of custom represent a very thinly veiled effort at
assimilation or christianization, and I would probably agree.

Now my question, which is not at all related to the above.  What do/should
Jews who would prefer not to participate in Halloween related activities
do when confronted by trick-or-treaters?  The question is only for my own
edification and closure on the discussion.

							Thanks,

-- 

						Byron C. Howes
				      ...!{decvax,akgua}!mcnc!ecsvax!bch