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The Halloween commercialism paradox - 10/31/2008 11:45:08 PM
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aslouie
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From: Los Angeles, CA.
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Here's the irony here:
Whenever Christmas, Easter, and even Thanksgiving (for us Yanks  ) comes about every year, there's always the "other" tradition of complaining how much the commercialism, empty traditionalism, and worse yet (hint: family dysfunctionalism!      ), leaving little of original substance behind these holidays (i.e. losing its well-intended meaning)--at least where all things Christ is concerned. But whenever it's October 31st, like now, I can't help but find myself scratching my head in rhetorical befuddlement, why those of the pagan culture (i.e. Druids, practitioners of witchcraft/sorcery, even Satanism), hardly raise a fuss about how much the rampant commercialism and ritualism done much to lose its supposed meaning... but then again, as a Christian for little over half my life, that's a rhetorical paradox (i.e. all of this commercialism and unquestioned traditions may actually do much to clandestinely influence dark forces in the hearts and minds of the more young and impressionable, like the best surreptitious PR corporate confectionary money can buy!)!
Your thoughts?
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/1/2008 7:35:12 AM
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TaoPoohBear
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I think that since it was turned into a fun event for children in America, because of it's past history, it's a little hard for anyone to complain about the celebration. Loud complaints in the past from ANY group have usually been seen as mean-spirited or uneducated.
It's a children's "dress up" and get candy day. Sort of pulls the fangs out of the real meaning! 
quote:
Trick or Treat
Despite the good natures of some people, Halloween pranks and mischief had become a huge problem in the 1920s and 1930s, mostly because the pranks often turned into vandalism, property damage and even physical assaults. Bad kids and even organizations such as the KKK, used the Halloween as an excuse to engage in criminal activity. Schools and communities did the best they could to curb vandalism by encouraging the "trick or treat" concept. The Boy Scouts got into the act by organizing safe events like school carnivals and local neighborhood trick or treat outings for children, hoping this would stir troublemakers away. But the Trick or Treat idea did face some controversy, as some parents and community leaders would take a stance that Trick or Treat was along the same lines as extortion, either the homes gave children "treats" or the families would be maliciously targeted with "tricks" for not complying. Regardless, by the late 30s, vandalism was decreasing as more and more children opted to partake in Trick or Treat.
Halloween history
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/1/2008 6:26:19 PM
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litfire2000
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My cousin's parents were very strict about not letting her do anything for halloween because of the past attached to it. This so affected her that halloween became her favorite holiday as an adult. She looks forward to halloween even more than Christmas. I say let the kids dress up and trick or treat, it doesn't have to be more than just a fun day.
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/3/2008 11:11:03 AM
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uncabeeil
Posts: 5548
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From: Joisey. Got a problem wit dat?
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quote:
It's a children's "dress up" and get candy day. Sort of pulls the fangs out of the real meaning! No, that is the real meaning. It may have started out a gazillion years ago as something else, but Halloween is all about costumes and candy now. Ask any kid what Halloween is about and that's the answer you're gonna get. I'm betting 99.9% of kids don't even know that the day might have a darker history.
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I don't recall all of the details
But I know life is better when shared. -Jon Troast
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/3/2008 3:01:32 PM
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hope4Him
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Even though you may be right, that most children may not know the history behind halloween - does that make it right? Shouldn't we be teaching our children the history of holidays and why we do or do not participate in them? I'm not saying it is wrong to participate - I think it depends on the child(ren)/family, but I do think it is our responsiblity and calling to educate our children as to the meanings and purposes of the different holidays.
I personally do not participate in halloween due to the nature and the meaning of the holiday - I understand it has been very commercialized and "watered down" by society, however for my own personal reasons I do not participate or support it.
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/4/2008 11:51:10 AM
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TaoPoohBear
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quote:
ORIGINAL: hope4Him
Even though you may be right, that most children may not know the history behind halloween - does that make it right? Shouldn't we be teaching our children the history of holidays and why we do or do not participate in them? I'm not saying it is wrong to participate - I think it depends on the child(ren)/family, but I do think it is our responsiblity and calling to educate our children as to the meanings and purposes of the different holidays.
I personally do not participate in halloween due to the nature and the meaning of the holiday - I understand it has been very commercialized and "watered down" by society, however for my own personal reasons I do not participate or support it.
At what age?!
Do we dispell the myth of Santa Claus to a youngster just because of the higher meaning of the holiday? Or the Easter Bunny?
Sounds kind of mean-spirited instead of informative. Children live in a world of wonder & magic (the good kind!), they grow up way too fast as it is. There is such a thing as age appropriate education - when a child is old enough to ask the meaning, perhaps then it's appropriate to explain.
As a father (my kids are now in their mid-teens), just my 2 cents.
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/4/2008 9:28:25 PM
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hope4Him
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I agree that it should be "age appropriate" etc, I'm not saying we should take all the fun and innocence from a child but I do think as they get older & depending on the child, etc we should be able to teach and educate them about the meanings of the holidays, etc.
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/5/2008 2:05:13 PM
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macokjc
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quote:
Do we dispell the myth of Santa Claus to a youngster just because of the higher meaning of the holiday? Or the Easter Bunny?
Children are not born believing in Santa or the Easter bunny - it has to be taught to them, and that is where we as parents draw the line. We have explained that they are a fun part of those holidays, but that is not what the holiday is about.
With Halloween - it's a bit different because they background has found it's roots in many different things. There are people who believe it is Satanic, and then there are people who believe it started w/ the fall festivals that people used to hold to celebrate the bringing in of the crops. There are fun parts of halloween - like trick or treating. But because it is a holiday that has been associated w/ darkness and satan, we have sat our children down and explained why they can't dress as witches, and why we don't decorate our house.
On a side note, it is hard to believe that it is so commercialized, and the costumes have gotten out of control and way to inappropriate.
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/5/2008 3:21:29 PM
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TaoPoohBear
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quote:
ORIGINAL: macokjc
quote:
Do we dispell the myth of Santa Claus to a youngster just because of the higher meaning of the holiday? Or the Easter Bunny?
Children are not born believing in Santa or the Easter bunny - it has to be taught to them, and that is where we as parents draw the line. We have explained that they are a fun part of those holidays, but that is not what the holiday is about.
If you mean "taught" by TV and friends, my word would be "learn about" rather than taught.
If you mean parents teach these things like they are instructing their kids then that's absurd.
Sounds like you're the ones "teaching", and my only question would be is this for your benefit or the children's?
You sound like you're explaining the fun to a child, sort of like explaining the inner workings of the rides at Disneyland so that they get the whole experience.
Forcing kids to grow up usually achieves it's goal, but not the desired results.
A few years of innocence can pay a lifetime of dividends.
Now, if we're just speaking about how children should know the truth and not be confused with fables and myths -
My answer would be different.
Why would some one dampen a child's most precious possession - Their imagination?
If the truth is the most important thing to teach a child, how far to you intend to go?!
Just insofar as their harmless fantasies, or are you going to step up to the plate and tackle everything they ask about on TV and in life? No evasions, no half-truths about all the REAL nasty stuff that's out there when they ask?
Sorry, but in either case I see this as mean-spirited; It's not about the child's welfare so much as it is the adult's proclamation of their faith to a captive audience, at their expense; At least be honest and declare it's for your own good and not the child's.
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/5/2008 4:41:52 PM
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macokjc
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It has nothing to do with my own good, and all for theirs. My children have great imaginations, without believing in the Easter bunny or Santa. And I have seen parents TEACH their children. When parents tell their children to be good, because Santa see, when they tell them to go to bed because Santa is coming, when they talk about Santa for months on end, that he is coming and bringing them presents; that is teaching them. YOU are telling them that there is a Santa.
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RE: The Halloween commercialism paradox - 11/5/2008 7:22:06 PM
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TaoPoohBear
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quote:
ORIGINAL: macokjc
It has nothing to do with my own good, and all for theirs. My children have great imaginations, without believing in the Easter bunny or Santa. And I have seen parents TEACH their children. When parents tell their children to be good, because Santa see, when they tell them to go to bed because Santa is coming, when they talk about Santa for months on end, that he is coming and bringing them presents; that is teaching them. YOU are telling them that there is a Santa.
I probably should have qualified my remarks, if your kids are being home schooled there's not much of an issue here.
If they're in public school however, their friends & peers may have an outlook on this that'll surprise you. Ever see the 1947 movie Miracle on 34th Street (the Susan Walker character)? That's how I come at this.
Well, the fun thing about raising kids is we all get to find out way too late (because they tell us!) about the mistakes we made. I've made my share!
Glad to hear that your kids practical education hasn't surpressed their imaginations! Not an easy balance to achieve, you should be congratulated.
Best of luck!
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