Is Halloween really pagan, afterall?

I don't know, but I do know it isn't in the Bible, so I won't observe it.

Masihi I think Halloween can be what YOU want to make of it..does it really matter what was done back in history? You can make new traditions and memories with your children and for them that will be what they pass on to your grandchildren..I wouldn't worry so much as what others say..make your own celebration and tell your kids your own beliefs. I feel free to say this partly because my birthday is on Halloween..and I chose to believe I was the treat not the trick for my parents!!

I know many Christians who will not participate. It does coincide with some pagan festivals, but then so does almost every holiday we celebrate. I let my kids "trick or treat". Often at school it was conference time, and school was dismissed so we did not deal with Halloween at school. On years that they were in school if the kids had dress up days it was focused on book characters at elementary level. At middle school level the one year they did it, they had to dress as a real historical character. Our church helps sponsor a "fall carnival" and have games and safe things. Today the Sunday School Classes had a lesson on the "Pumpkin Prayer" and carved "Jesus O'lanterns". The original jack olanterns were actually carved out turnips used as lamps. In every culture there will always be stories of supernatural, we just do not need to give it place in our lives. My children never wanted to dress up as any of those types of characters. It is really no different to me than horror stories in books or on television and in the movies.

Halloween (All Hallows Eve) follows the old Pagan festival of Samhain, which was the time when the real and spiritual worlds are supposed to be closest. The Catholics made it All Hallows Eve, just as they made all their festivals coincide with Pagan festivals (Easter for Eostre, Xmas for Winter Solstice etc). However there are some points I should make. First, Satanists are not Pagans, they are counter-Christians, and it is the height of stupidity and paranoia to claim that they are sacrificing infant girls at Halloween. I can't really express my disgust at that idiocy more strongly. Pagans, or more accurately neo-Pagans are followers of a modern version of pre-Christian polytheistic nature religions, and couldn't care less about Christian beliefs and thus have no need to parody them. Halloween is not a harvest festival. In the cycle of the Pagan calendar it is the time when the God (representing the Sun) goes into the Underworld to prepare for his rebirth at the Winter Solstice. As for worrying about celebrating it, All Hallow's Eve is a Christian festival; the fact that it coincides with a Pagan festival is normal, since they all do. Even the Satanists aren't particulalry evil, they just worship the dark side of Divinity. Psychopathic idiots sometimes call themselves Satanists and do psychopathic things from time to time, but they are rarely, to my knowledge, anything to do with the Satanist groups around the place. Lash

I am a massive Halloween Hater! Today is the day when this traditional festival is held, so it my day when I usually rant to everyone about how much dislike I have for this stupid festival. I do not know a lot about the specifics of it's origins other than what I have read online, but I do know that just like Christmas, it is far removed from whatever traditional meaning it had. It promotes the eating of toxic chemicals, kids scavenging in the streets which is degrading and it is an environmental disaster. Hundreds of thousands of cheap novelty toys and decorations sold in stores end up in landfill as they break soon after or during the event. Halloween is just mass consumerism gone mad. It is all about corporate profits and making a fast buck. It has no benefit to society whatsoever. It should be banned!

Stop caring what other people think. If you enjoy it, then go out and have fun. And, yes, it has pagan roots. What doesn't? Valentine's? Easter bunny? Leprechauns on St. Patrick's?

Yes, the origins of Halloween are Pagan. Christians adopted the Pagan calendar in an attempt to assist their efforts to convert them. Paganism has absolutely nothing to do with satanism whatsoever. This misconception was created for the same reasons.

First do some reading that is all I will say. You might be surprised

I just checked at internet and it seems that it has its roots of pagan religious holydays. I did not read about sacrifices though. In my country Halloween is an imported holiday from the US. More of a way for kids to wear grosse costumes and ask for treat or trick. I buy some sweets and make the small children pay for their goods, either by reciting a poem or singing a song. I do not give a thing to reens and up and tell them I ran out of sweets. In my country, All Saintsday is celebrated since I remember. Everyone takes flowers to their loved oned at the cemetary. I don´t think that Halloween is a satanic influence, but it has become a material influence as there´s a big business that includes costumes, sweets, plastic jack o´lanterns to receive the bounty that will make our children sick later. On the other hand, how can you keep your children from doing what everyone does? At the most, I´d say: ok, we´ll take you treat or treating for 1 hour".

How are you? Not interacted for more than 2 to three weeks. Hope you and your family members are keeping fine. It is advisable to follow the principle "Be a Roman while you are in Rome". Especially for children we must go along with the local customs. My 10 month old grand son has also participated in halloween functions. Yes. he was wearing "pirate dress" and took photos. It has come very well. we must allow the children to enjoy the celebrations in your place.