#1. This is a personal, non-transferrable sort of reason. Halloween is my birthday. My Mom never had
Birthday Girl, age 4, with little sister, Mary. |
#2. On a more general scale, you can thank Halloween for those yummy "snack sized" candy bars that nobody would have invented if not for the need to give out the good kind of treats, lest one be labeled forever as a neighbor who offers lame, off-brand candies (or, even worse, healthy treats!).
Light is meant to be shared! And the pumpkin on the right is still waiting! |
The Church of Rome used to celebrate All Saints Day in May; as the Celts entered (and influenced!) the universal Church, the feast of All Saints was moved to coincide with the Celtic calendar. That adaptability of the Church--the deep vision of faith that recognizes where God has prepared the way in culture for the greater, transcendent revelation of the Gospel--is something we still need today as a new culture is arising because of the changes in technology. (Every time a new culture arises because of a development in technology, a new evangelization is called for!) Come to think of it, that same big-picture vision can help us respond appropriately to the inappropriate expressions of Halloween, too.
Looks like I'm not alone!
Three Reasons Christians Must Celebrate Halloween
I'm So Done With Apologizing for Halloween
"Abusus non tollit usum," as the ancients used to say. What do you think about Halloween and the sane ways it can be observed?
4 comments:
In Canada we have only two Holy Days of Obligation - Christmas and Mary, Mother of God, but there are special Masses for All Saints/All Souls throughout the city. It's good to come together at these times to pray for the dead, just as we should pray for them all year long. And Happy Birthday, too! - Jen
Happy birthday, Sister!
Happy birthday, Sister Anne. Today is my husband's birthday too!
Awesome! Happy Birthday!!!
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