HALLOWEEN PART 7 Religious observances On Halloween (All Hallows Eve), in Poland, believers are taught to pray out loud as they walk through the forests in order that the souls of the dead might find comfort; in Spain, Christian priests toll their church bells in order to remind their congregants to remember the dead on All Hallows Eve. In Ireland, and among immigrants in Canada, a custom includes the practice of abstinence, keeping All Hallows Eve as a meatless day with pancakes or Callcannon being served instead. In Mexico, on All Hallows Eve, the children make a childrens altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit. The Christian Church traditionally observed Halloween through a vigil (See Picture 1 - The Vigil of All Hallows is being celebrated at an Episcopal Christian church on Halloween.) when worshippers would prepare themselves with prayers and fasting prior to the feast day itself. This church service is known as the Vigil of All Hallows or the Vigil of All Saints; an initiative known as Night of Lightseeks to further spread the Vigil of All Hallows throughout Christendom. After the service, suitable festivities and entertainments often follow, as well as a visit to the graveyard or cemetery, where flowers and candles are often placed in preparation for All Hallows Day. In Finland, because so many people visit the cemeteries on All Hallows Eve to light votive candles there, they are known as valomeri, or seas of light. Perspectives Christianity Christian attitudes towards Halloween are diverse. In the Anglican Church, some dioceses have chosen to emphasize the Christian traditions associated with All Hallows Eve. Some of these practises include praying, fasting and attending worship services. “Father, All-Powerful and Ever-Living God, today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. —All Hallows Eve Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours” Other Protestant Christians also celebrate All Hallows Eve as Reformation Day, a day to remember the Protestant Reformation, alongside All Hallows Eve or independently from it. This is because Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to All Saints Church in Wittenberg on All Hallows Eve, because hundreds of visitors would come to the church during the celebration of Hallowmas. Often, Harvest Festivals or Reformation Festivals are held on All Hallows Eve, in which children dress up as Bible characters or Reformers. In addition to distributing candy to children who are trick-or-treating on Halloween, many Christians also provide gospel tracts to them. One organization, the American Tract Society, stated that around 3 million gospel tracts are ordered from them alone for Halloween celebrations. Others order Halloween-themed Scripture Candy to pass out to children on this day. (See Picture 2 - Halloween Scripture Candy with gospel tract) Some Christians feel concerned about the modern celebration of Halloween because they feel it trivializes – or celebrates – paganism, the occult, or other practices and cultural phenomena deemed incompatible with their beliefs. Father Gabriele Amorth, an exorcist in Rome, has said, if English and American children like to dress up as witches and devils on one night of the year that is not a problem. If it is just a game, there is no harm in that. In more recent years, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has organized a Saint Fest on Halloween. Similarly, many contemporary Protestant churches view Halloween as a fun event for children, holding events in their churches where children and their parents can dress up, play games, and get candy for free. Many Christians ascribe no negative significance to Halloween, treating it as a fun event devoted to imaginary spooks and handing out candy. To these Christians, Halloween holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children: being taught about death and mortality, and the ways of the Celtic ancestors actually being a valuable life lesson and a part of many of their parishioners heritage. In the Roman Catholic Church, Halloweens Christian connection is cited, and Halloween celebrations are common in Catholic parochial schools throughout North America and in Ireland. Many fundamentalist and evangelical churches use Hell houses, themed pamphlets, or comic-style tracts such as those created by Jack T. Chick in order to make use of Halloweens popularity as an opportunity for evangelism. Some consider Halloween to be completely incompatible with the Christian faith due to its putative origins in the Festival of the Dead celebration. Indeed, even though Eastern Orthodox Christians observe All Hallows Day on the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Eastern Orthodox Church recommends the observance of Vespers and/or a Paraklesis on the Western observance of All Hallows Eve, out of the pastoral need to provide an alternative to popular celebrations. Other religions The reaction of non-Christian religions towards Halloween has often been mixed, ranging from stern disapproval to the allowance of participation in it. According to Alfred J. Kolatch in the Second Jewish Book of Why, in Judaism, Halloween is not permitted by Jewish Halakha because it violates Leviticus 18:3 which forbids Jews from partaking in gentile customs. Many Jews observe Yizkor, which is equivalent to the observance of Hallowmas in Christianity, as prayers are said for both martyrs and for ones own family. Nevertheless many American Jews celebrate Halloween, disconnected from its Christian origins. Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser has said that “There is no religious reason why contemporary Jews should not celebrate Halloween while Orthodox Rabbi Michael Broyde has argued against Jews observing the holiday. Sheikh Idris Palmer, author ofA Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam , has argued that Muslims should not participate in Halloween, stating that participation in it is similar to one commemorating Christmas or Easter, or congratulating the Christians upon their prostration to the crucifix. Javed Memon, a Muslim writer, has disagreed, saying that his daughter dressing up like a British telephone booth will not destroy her faith. Most Hindus do not observe All Hallows Eve, instead remembering the dead in the festival of Pitru Paksha, during which Hindus pay hommage to and perform a ceremony to keep the souls of their ancestors at rest. The celebration of the Hindu festival Diwali sometimes conflicts with the date of Halloween; but some Hindus choose to participate in the popular customs of Halloween. Other Hindus, such as Soumya Dasgupta, have opposed the celebration on the grounds that Western holidays like Halloween have begun to adversely affect our indigenous festivals. Neopagans do not observe Halloween, but instead observe Samhainon November 1, although some neopagan individuals choose to participate in cultural Halloween festivities, opining the idea that one can observe both the solemnity of Samhain in addition to the fun of Halloween. Other neopagans are opposed to the celebration of Halloween, believing that it trivializes Samhain, and avoid Halloween, because of the interruptions from trick or treaters. Around the world (See Picture 3 - A Halloween display in Saitama, Japan) The traditions and importance of Halloween vary greatly among countries that observe it. In Scotland and Ireland, traditional Halloween customs include children dressing up in costume going guising, holding parties, while other practices in Ireland include lighting bonfires, and having firework displays. In Brittany children would set candles in skulls in graveyards. Mass transatlantic immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in North America, and celebration in the United States and Canada has had a significant impact on how the event is observed in other nations. This larger North American influence, particularly in iconic and commercial elements, has extended to places such as South America, Australia, New Zealand, (most) continental Europe, Japan, and other parts of East Asia. In the Philippines, on the night of Halloween, Filipinos return to their hometowns and purchase candles and flowers, in preparation for the following All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Araw ng Patay) on 1st November. TRICK or TREAT!
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:48:47 +0000
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