no more Halloween?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
no more Halloween?
9
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 2:53pm
Recently in the local news here, a school district came under attack for "cancelling Halloween." They argued that it was offensive to Wiccans.

Now, I just got a note from my daughter's new school that they are having their "Halloween" celebration on Friday, but no costumes are allowed and there are to be no witches or ghost decorations of any kind.

So...what's the point?

Avatar for cl_beckty
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 3:07pm

I guess that's up there with our kids not being allowed to have Christmas parties at school anymore, and for the "holiday" program, only singing winter songs.


WHY??? Why are we always so freaking worried that someone out there might be offended by our freedom???

Becky

Becky

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 4:13pm

In Andi's school years going back 11 years now as far as I recall, they haven't called it "Halloween" at school, they call it the "fall festival" or

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 6:02pm
I know it's silly about the Wiccans. Even the Wiccans are saying so! Most of them consider Halloween to be their holiday.

I can totally understand the spring and winter thing, as not every one is of Christian faith, but I think Halloween is taking it a bit too far.

At least the school should get its act together...they had a skate party sponsored by PTA last week where all kids were asked to come in costume to get a special treat, but now it's not allowed. What EVER.

(it's the kid in me protesting, as halloween is my favorite holiday)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 6:32pm
This topic burns my butt so.

And I don't understand the Christmas and Easter thing because MOST of the things associated with Christmas (the tree, stockings, Santa, reindeer, Frosty the Snowman) has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christ, at all, but are all pagan rituals. Same thing with Easter. Where actually the entire celebration - including the sunrise service, the new clothes, the bunny, the eggs and the ham all are part of pagan rituals. If I, as a Christian, am able to get over that those things are all pagan, then they should be able to get over my Mary and Joseph song or whatever.

And I know several wiccans. They all love Halloween. This is just hogwash. I have a feeling this is coming from the Fundies who don't want anything to do with Halloween and they are pinning the blame elsewhere.

I don't really like Halloween. I don't like Santa Claus, and I HATE the Easter bunny. But it's for kids, they don't know the difference, and it should be fun. Period.

Ok - climbing off my soap box now!

Avatar for cl_tcranky1
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:42pm
Oh I know. I was talking about this today with a co-worker. We dont' usually have "Halloween" or "Christmas" parties. We have "Fall" or "Winter" Parties. Last year, as co-chair of the Parent's Group I had to find the most PC way to describe our Christmas Gift Shoppe for the kids so as not to offend. I decided on "Winter Gift Shoppe" because you can't even say "holiday" anymore because of the Jehovah's witnesses!!!! It's ridiculous. I think in America's effort to be all-inclusive we have now become exclusionary to all but a select few who believe in nothing! It's sad.

Actually, my son's second grade class is having a Halloween play on Friday and I was shocked beyond words that the school let the teacher do it. They're even wearing costumes. It's based on a book, "The Big Pumpkin" so maybe that's why and maybe none of the parents in that particular class have objected. But i was sooo surprised they were able to do this.

Tara

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:51pm
"I think in America's effort to be all-inclusive we have now become exclusionary to all but a select few who believe in nothing! It's sad."

APPLAUDS wildly!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Avatar for cl_beckty
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 10:27am

But it's for kids, they don't know the difference, and it should be fun. Period....Absolutely! Halloween is my least favorite, and we didn't trick or treat as kids (because I was raised by parents who were paranoid about celebrating this holiday...they've since gotten over it, as have I) but we went on hayrides and had harvest festivals and the like. It WAS fun. CELEBRATING things is fun. Having a day different from the rest is exciting. I may not like some of the history behind our customs (and like you Mindy, that means EVERY holiday has a few traditions that come from beliefs that I don't hold do), but Tyler doesn't care. He just has a great time, and I enjoy watching HIS joy.


AND....I second that yes yes yes! on Tara's excellent

Becky

 

 

Avatar for comountainsprite
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 4:02pm
Thanks, that's exactly the point I was going to make; that apparently the decision makers didn't know too many Wiccans. LOL I have a friend who's Wiccan who has a Halloween party every year (traditional fun, secular kind of thing) who has been known to dress as the traditional ugly witch. For Wiccans, it is a religious holiday but most of them recognize the fun, totally commercial silly celebration of it and don't seek to squash that. It would be like Christians deciding that Christmas is a religious holiday so there should be no one doing Christmas trees, decorations, presents (yes, I know some do go to that extreme but most mainstream folks don't). My dd's school is having the whole traditional Halloween party although has done away with Christmas parties (yep, we had those as a kid when I went to school but it was a rural area so you get away with more I think). It's good to be sensitive and aware of the diversity of cultures in our great nation but eventually we have to exercise some degree of plain old common sense and moderation in trying not to step on anyone's toes. Heck, if you look hard enough, you'll always find someone that'll be offended.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2003
Thu, 10-28-2004 - 10:34am
We aren't allowed to do costumes at D's school tomorrow either. Pretty dumb if you ask me. THey had Red Ribbon week at his school this week where they wear certain things to school to go with the theme of the day. Today was silly day, which I think would have been more appropriate tomorrow so they at least felt like they were dressing up for Halloween. But not to worry because Sunday he's going to a big festival to have fun IN HIS COSTUME!

Mel

<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wtCMCc4/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.Ticker