EARLY HALLOWEEN QUESTION

[KarenCee 3]

I celebrate Samhain, not Halloween.

Wiccan? or just for kicks?

Pagan, not Wiccan. I just like the whole Samhain thing better than "Halloween". More emphasis on the harvest aspect rather than the greed and tricks part.

As it should have stayed IMHO.

All my students can talk about for weeks is how much candy they're gonna get on halloween. Sheesh. Try having a normal day of school on November 1. Oy!

I celebrate Samhain, not Halloween.

Wiccan? or just for kicks?

Pagan, not Wiccan. I just like the whole Samhain thing better than "Halloween". More emphasis on the harvest aspect rather than the greed and tricks part.

Aha.

You think Halloween is greedy? Why do you think that? the commercialism? Just curious

Most "holidays" in this country have become commercialised IMHO. When "halloween" candy comes out in September and "Christmas" decorations and fluff come out in October (earlier in some stores) then IMHO it has become too commercialised. TV commercials add to this frenzy early too. I dunno...it just seems that the major holidays in this country are one more reason to raise prices and suck consumers dry. Yeah, I know no one forces anyone to buy anything.

[PlatyPius 5]

When "halloween" candy comes out in September...

Actually, Halloween candy has been out since early August.

And that's one of the reasons I don't like Halloween. I love the time of year, I love the autumny part, I love the harvest season, I love the smell of fallen leaves, I love the symbolism - the gourds, corn, etc. But I HATE the cheesy costumes, the begging for candy, the "tricks" (TPing and such), and the general commercialism.

[KarenCee 3]

When "halloween" candy comes out in September...

Actually, Halloween candy has been out since early August.

And that's one of the reasons I don't like Halloween. I love the time of year, I love the autumny part, I love the harvest season, I love the smell of fallen leaves, I love the symbolism - the gourds, corn, etc. But I HATE the cheesy costumes, the begging for candy, the "tricks" (TPing and such), and the general commercialism.

...and that's the sad part. I wonder how many people know the history behind what we now call "halloween". Not many I'd wager.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I believe this guy truly can communicate with the dead...

http://www.georgeanderson.com/page1.htm

For more than forty years, George Anderson has been able to bridge the world of the hereafter and the earth, through his ability to communicate the messages of hope from those we love who have passed on. Since the age of six, George has had a special relationship with the souls who depend on his ability to hear them, and bring peace and comfort to their grieving families. He is widely considered, by those in the medical, scientific and religious fields to be the world's greatest living medium. George Anderson has dedicated his life to helping the bereaved cope with loss by delivering messages of hope from their deceased loved ones with an accuracy and specificity that is unrivalled by contemporaries in his field. His ability is so unusual that those in virtually every walk of life consider him a true and genuine conduit to the world hereafter.

George is the author of the New York Times Bestseller, Lessons From The Light, Walking in the Garden of Souls, and is the subject of the National Bestseller, We Don't Die, We Are Not Forgotten, and Our Children Forever. His books have sold more than one million copies, and have been in continuous print for more than twenty years. He is the most scientifically-tested medium of this century, and has been seen on dozens of television shows and in major publications. George remains the only medium in history to have his ability featured on a national network prime-time television special, ABC-TV's CONTACT-Talking to the Dead.

Worldwide acclaim and recognition for his extraordinary ability has not altered George Anderson's simple, lifelong commitment--to help reunite the souls with their grieving families here, bringing comfort, hope and a new understanding that all is not lost to physical death.

Of his incredible life and amazing ability, George Anderson's only comment is the modest statement of a true visionary-- "I am only the instrument."

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Thanks Steven - I will have to look for some of his books.

Like Platypus, I celebrate Samhain and the Celtic New Year rather than Hallowe-en. There is more of a sacredness to it than just the scary fun. I too have had experiences like Reba's - and they are not scary but they do make you think.

Life is energy and when the physical body dies that energy is released. In life, energy can also take a variety of forms, and like Reba, I have seen the devic energies at work in the garden and outside. In many ways I find them to be teachers as they help us learn to live more in harmony with our world and environment rather than just exploiters. Instead of being frightened of such things, just remember we are all a part of it ourselves - the seen and the unseen.

Other good books I would recommend for those interested in what happens after death are Dr. Michael Newton's books: Destiny of Souls, Journey of Souls and Life Between Lives.

[CaNdiD wiTcH 0]

Thanks Steven - I will have to look for some of his books.

Like Platypus, I celebrate Samhain and the Celtic New Year rather than Hallowe-en. There is more of a sacredness to it than just the scary fun. I too have had experiences like Reba's - and they are not scary but they do make you think.

Life is energy and when the physical body dies that energy is released. In life, energy can also take a variety of forms, and like Reba, I have seen the devic energies at work in the garden and outside. In many ways I find them to be teachers as they help us learn to live more in harmony with our world and environment rather than just exploiters. Instead of being frightened of such things, just remember we are all a part of it ourselves - the seen and the unseen.

Other good books I would recommend for those interested in what happens after death are Dr. Michael Newton's books: Destiny of Souls, Journey of Souls and Life Between Lives.

I guess, I would have to look into those books as well.. Thanks..

[IAMX 3,055]

All my students can talk about for weeks is how much candy they're gonna get on halloween. Sheesh. Try having a normal day of school on November 1. Oy!

Most "holidays" in this country have become commercialised IMHO. When "halloween" candy comes out in September and "Christmas" decorations and fluff come out in October (earlier in some stores) then IMHO it has become too commercialised. TV commercials add to this frenzy early too. I dunno...it just seems that the major holidays in this country are one more reason to raise prices and suck consumers dry. Yeah, I know no one forces anyone to buy anything.

You know, I agree in that things have been far too commercialized, but the reason I will celebrate it has nothing to do with the "I wants" (because you confirmed, with the "I wants", that kids are indeed, kids), but because it's a family event that can be celebrated individually without the strict emphasis on WOOOHOOOCANDY. This is a good example of the good-and-bad that being in society brings. So we must deal with the bad and make, for our own family, for those who do celebrate Halloween, Halloween a family event that will best suit everyone involved, not just the parents. Like all other "holidays", I have and will emphasize that Halloween is more about the family than it is candy, however, understanding that simply following some other holiday to veil the commercialized Halloween is not an educated way to escape commercialization. Simply, and consistently, lessen the emphasis on candy, and do more things with the family, outside, like going to scary movies, or going to those haunted mansions.

Edited August 30, 2008 by SRVT

[Vi Mazzella 4]

OMG This is just perfect for me.

I do believe in Angels, Reencarnation and all that stuff. I´ve been having weird experiences since I was a little girl. For example: People come to say good bye to me before they die (the same thing happens to my dad) we always know when somebody close or somebody that we know will die. .

[CaNdiD wiTcH 0]

OMG This is just perfect for me.

I do believe in Angels, Reencarnation and all that stuff. I´ve been having weird experiences since I was a little girl. For example: People come to say good bye to me before they die (the same thing happens to my dad) we always know when somebody close or somebody that we know will die. .

We are on the same boat.. It is just so hard sometimes.. That is the reason why I hate seeing coffins..

[Tunisia216 2]

Wow.. is this in a dream or are you awake?

OMG This is just perfect for me.

I do believe in Angels, Reencarnation and all that stuff. I´ve been having weird experiences since I was a little girl. For example: People come to say good bye to me before they die (the same thing happens to my dad) we always know when somebody close or somebody that we know will die. .

[CaNdiD wiTcH 0]

Wow.. is this in a dream or are you awake?

I bet she is not dreaming. There are certain things which are really mysterious. How I wish, it was just a dream when you somebody dying or when you predict death but it's not..

[trinket 30]

I have known a few of my Indian christian friends who celebrate "death's day" I forgot that the exact date but I do think it coincides with Halloween, but out here its different though. People (Catholics) go to the burial ground and lit candles and do a mass prayer, its not commercialised at all and most Indians don't even know about it unless they got Catholic friends. Think they have something similar to this even in Mexico.

Change of season especially harvest season brings festivals in every culture.

Regarding have I ever seen ghost, not yet, but I really want to I used to stay awake till late at night, 1 am 3 am you name it but never had any spooky experience.

[CaNdiD wiTcH 0]

I have known a few of my Indian christian friends who celebrate "death's day" I forgot that the exact date but I do think it coincides with Halloween, but out here its different though. People (Catholics) go to the burial ground and lit candles and do a mass prayer, its not commercialised at all and most Indians don't even know about it unless they got Catholic friends. Think they have something similar to this even in Mexico.

Change of season especially harvest season brings festivals in every culture.

Regarding have I ever seen ghost, not yet, but I really want to I used to stay awake till late at night, 1 am 3 am you name it but never had any spooky experience.

In the Philippines, we practice such.. November 1 (All Saints Day) and November 2 (All Souls Day).. We seldom practice trick or treats in here (only in some particular areas).

Silent, you are making me smile.. You cannot see ghosts or cannot encounter elemental creatures just because you want to see them.. It takes more than that.. As I said, it requires more sensitivity to spiritual realm. It takes courage and responsibility to have such "GIFT"..

My friend is so scared because she has the capacity to see the whole image not just shadow.. She complains of seeing dead people who have scary faces. hehehe.. Parapsychology is very wide.. Somebody might not see spirits but he/she has the capacity to see something that is going to happen in the future (precognition).

Edited August 31, 2008 by CaNdiD wiTcH

[Krikit 1,163]

like my foxes on stilts nightmares, jeeze they took ages to get rid of, then find out they actually exhist

Foxes on stilts exist???!!!

How did they ever manage to learn to walk on them? Now I know where my missing stilts went!

[Reba 2]

waaahhhh! creepy! How do you manage to handle it all? Sometimes. it scares me to death but I need to be strong.

not creepy at all, its just my father in law. He's harmless. And a little old lady who live in a house so long she doesn't know she's dead and its time to leave. No big deal really. They can't hurt anyone.

I have and will emphasize that Halloween is more about the family than it is candy, however, understanding that simply following some other holiday to veil the commercialized Halloween is not an educated way to escape commercialization. Simply, and consistently, lessen the emphasis on candy, and do more things with the family, outside, like going to scary movies, or going to those haunted mansions.

Thing is however, that I'd wager they're not following some other holiday just to veil the commercialization of Halloween. Samhain is an ancient celebration that goes back thousands of years in the Celtic tradition. It is the day that the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest, and they can walk among us. The costumes, and the jack-o-lanterns and the feasting is all historical. Wiccans and Celtic reconstructionist religions both celebrate Samhain.

Those of us who follow a religion that celebrates Samhain are doing so because of tradition. Some will also celebrate the secular Halloween, some won't. They are 2 completely different things, though Halloween was born of Samhain. If you follow. As were a lot of Christian "holidays" born of ancient Pagan celebrations.

Like I said, I celebrate both, because I quite enjoy both, for different reasons. Halloween has always been my favourite day of the year, I like the costumes, and the parties, and the tricks and treats. And Samhain is my favourite of the Celtic holy days, because I enjoy cooking supper and setting a place for our family and friends who have gone on before us. And the 2 do not technically fall on the same day. Halloween is October 31st, always has been. Samhain historically was anywhere from November 1 thru November 11th, depending which area of the Celtic world you were in.