Halloween and those who are not Christian - faux pas?

[Aerows]

Is it okay to send them Halloween wishes for fun and with joy?

I worry that I made a faux pas with one of my friends who is not Atheist (as I am) or Christian, as the holiday is associated with.

I don't wish to offend.

[Codeine]

1. Everybody loves Halloween. nt

[Aerows]

I hope so

I was just trying to cheer up a friend, when I realized she's Jewish, and probably wouldn't appreciate it. I feel kind of stupid for not realizing that.

[Codeine]

4. Honestly, every Jewish kid I knew celebrated Halloween.

I think she'll smile and enjoy your good wishes. :)

[Aerows]

8. Thanks for the cheer

I was genuinely trying to perk her up. She's had a hard (illness) year, and I was wanting to bring some happiness to her.

Thanks for assuring me :)

[RC]

5. Correct, everyone loves Halloween. Some because they like candy and some

because they like to get bent over the Pagan roots. And everywhere in between.

Next up, Happy Holidays.

[Goblinmonger]

2. It's pretty much a secular event, now.

You would run more risk offending some RW Christians who feel it is the devil's birthday.

As an atheist, I have no connection to the holiday but enjoy it and will be watching my favorite zombie movies in celebration.

[Aerows]

6. If all I offend are the RW, I could care less

Just worried if I offended a Jewish faith.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Halloween is really a pagan holiday, at least that's its origin.

Some fundamentalist Christians even think it's evil and will have nothing to do with it. You won't offend anybody but the fundies.

[newspeak]

18. Happy New Year!!!!!

october 31st is the celtic new year's eve (samhain).

[azurnoir]

19. I'd always heard that Halloween was the holiday where

Christian mutilated innocent vegetables in their gory er gooey rituals :-)

[blueamy66]

22. Screw them.

Their kids are gonna be screwed up anyway.

[Rabblevox]

7. Minor correction, Halloween was originally a pagan holiday known as...

Samhain. It was the "night of the dead" when souls can travel between the real and spirit worlds, and food and drink were placed outside the home to bribe the spirits not to enter.

It was only much later that those damn Christians co-opted the holiday and called it Halloween, just like they did with every other sacred day in the pagan calendar. (un-creative thieves!)

I'd say no faux pas, most non-Christians are tougher to offend than that.

[Aerows]

10. I believe it's Samhain, too

and has roots in a far deeper ceremony than any religion. I just didn't want to offend my friend, who has been through enough, and wanted to make her happy.

[Rabblevox]

13. Merry Meet!

[Aerows]

15. Indeed :) n/t

[Curmudgeoness]

9. Halloween is not a Christian holiday.

Or at least, I have never heard that it is. The closest you can come to linking it to Christianity is that it means "Hallow's Eve", which is the eve of All Saint's Day---and that is only a Catholic day to my knowledge. But it was pagan superstition that is the source of Halloween. I think just about everyone enjoys Halloween.

[Aerows]

14. Thank you

That puts my mind at ease.

I was concerned that I might offend, but you all helped dispel that. Off to bringing a Jack'O'Lantern, chocolate and some spookiness to my recovering friend :D.

[Nye Bevan]

11. If anyone is offended by "Happy Halloween", it's their problem, not yours (nt)

[The Straight Story]

12. Same with Merry Christmas, etc (nt)

[Goblinmonger]

24. I think that is different, though it doesn't bother me.

Saying "Merry Christmas" assumes that everyone is Christian. "Happy Halloween" does not. You wouldn't walk around Europe on the 4th of July and way "Happy Independence Day." Why assume everyone is Christian (though, I understand, that odds are on your side)?

[Posteritatis]

17. Yep. (nt)

[Aerows]

16. I don't know a lot about the Jewish faith

So I didn't know.

Southern Baptists get offended at the drop of a hat, which is what I was "raised" as. I learned a little bit more from Catholics on tolerance. Then I have my sister, who is a stark-raving Pentacostal type.

I guess I shouldn't assume every religion is as stark raving crazy as my sisters.

[pintobean]

20. Don't know. You might piss off some wingnuts with that far in language, though.

[seabeyond]

21. extreme ... really extreme fundamentalists are the only ones that i know offended by

halloween.

i know a lot of fundamentalist and there are only a couple that dont play with halloween

[a la izquierda]

23. Just don't wish her a happy Jesusween...

and I think you'll be fine.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-complete-guide-to-jesusween
:rofl:

[Arugula Latte]

31. Anyone serving Jesusweenies 'n' beans tomorrow?

:hide:

[JI7]

25. i never heard of Halloween being a Christian Holiday

[Manifestor_of_Light]

26. It's All Hallow's Eve, which got compressed into Halloween.

Nov. 1 is All Saints Day, Nov. 2 is All Souls Day.

The Hispanics celebrate Nov. 1 as Day of the Dead. They go to cemeteries and have picnics at the family gravesite.

They have special sweet rolls that look like skulls.

[REP]

27. Dia de Los Muertos predates Christianity by many centuries

The observance as it is known today came about during the Aztec period.

Halloween was Samhain, a Celtic observation of when the barrier between the two worlds was at its most permeable.

[WinkyDink]

28. Who wishes anyone a "Happy Halloween"?! No two towns, e.g.,can agree on parade or Trick or Treat

nights.

Halloween IS NOT A HOLIDAY.

Hallmark wins again.

[Edweird]

29. If she's your friend she'll know you meant well. Anyway, who gets offended by Halloween

except fundie nutbags?

[Raine]

30. Seems to me only RW fundies are offended

that's why I love Halloween, anything that offends them is GREAT in my book! :evilgrin: