Halloween isn't a Christian holiday, at least not originally.
Tom Send a noteboard - 01/11/2011 10:26:58 PM
It wasn't by coincidence that the Church chose to celebrate All Saints' Day on November 1, or Candlemas on February 2.
The Celtic pagan holidays were taken over and Christianized, and the placement of the Christian holidays had nothing to do with celebrating an event at the anniversary of its actual occurrence (except Easter, which was tied to the Jewish Passover and so happened at the right time of the year without fail). It is likely that Jesus was born in the Spring if the Gospels are to be believed; in the Near East shepherds would only watch their flocks by night in the early Spring when the lambs were born.
All Saints' Day, a day venerating a number of people, didn't happen to fall on Samhain, the feast for the dead. It was specifically chosen for that day, just like the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple was called Candlemas in honor of the traditions of Imbolc. Beltaine was never really subsumed by a Christian holiday and everyone just kept celebrating May Day. Lughnasadh was turned into Lammas-Day, the day on which the harvest was blessed.
Each of those days was halfway between an equinox and a solstice, and based on old solar calendars. That would have nothing to do with the roots of Christianity, since Judaism followed a lunar calendar, and no particular significance would attach to solar calendar breaking points.
The Celtic pagan holidays were taken over and Christianized, and the placement of the Christian holidays had nothing to do with celebrating an event at the anniversary of its actual occurrence (except Easter, which was tied to the Jewish Passover and so happened at the right time of the year without fail). It is likely that Jesus was born in the Spring if the Gospels are to be believed; in the Near East shepherds would only watch their flocks by night in the early Spring when the lambs were born.
All Saints' Day, a day venerating a number of people, didn't happen to fall on Samhain, the feast for the dead. It was specifically chosen for that day, just like the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple was called Candlemas in honor of the traditions of Imbolc. Beltaine was never really subsumed by a Christian holiday and everyone just kept celebrating May Day. Lughnasadh was turned into Lammas-Day, the day on which the harvest was blessed.
Each of those days was halfway between an equinox and a solstice, and based on old solar calendars. That would have nothing to do with the roots of Christianity, since Judaism followed a lunar calendar, and no particular significance would attach to solar calendar breaking points.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
It's so weird trying to explain Halloween to people who didn't grow up with it
01/11/2011 02:26:52 PM
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For a sec I was gonna go into the specifics for you...
01/11/2011 04:32:18 PM
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But its always just been an excuse to make a fire on the top of a hill.
01/11/2011 05:32:57 PM
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Yup. I know there are various pagan origins, but honestly, fuck'em
01/11/2011 08:17:12 PM
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I'm not going to do a history lesson, but...
01/11/2011 09:22:59 PM
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What would you say is the proper plural form of Jesus?
01/11/2011 09:51:31 PM
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Claudii is an established plural, actually.
01/11/2011 10:02:52 PM
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I want to reread Lamb: The story of Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal now
01/11/2011 11:38:26 PM
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Jesī *NM*
01/11/2011 10:06:29 PM
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Minor addendum: it seems to be a defective fourth declension. The plural should still be Iesūs.
01/11/2011 10:44:08 PM
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He is singular in nature
01/11/2011 10:08:43 PM
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I thing attempting to discuss the plurality of Jesus precludes any serious discussion
01/11/2011 10:41:01 PM
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Well, Zombie Jesus seems a legit matter for theological discussions
02/11/2011 01:03:38 AM
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Lots of Mexican guys in one room could still be "Jesuses". *NM*
01/11/2011 10:47:03 PM
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So is it Jesūs, Jesii, or Jesuses then?
02/11/2011 01:04:58 AM
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Well, in English I'd assume it's Jesuses. In Latin it would be Iesūs.
02/11/2011 01:06:09 AM
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As I mentioned above, the Latin plural would not be Jesi, but Jesūs.
01/11/2011 10:46:18 PM
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Halloween isn't a Christian holiday, at least not originally.
01/11/2011 10:26:58 PM
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I know all of this, and care not.
01/11/2011 11:37:12 PM
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Again halloween is a world thing, not US property
02/11/2011 12:01:25 AM
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Not according to the Defense of Halloween Act of 1997! We own all IP rights and residuals.
02/11/2011 01:12:22 AM
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Pagans and Satanists care a great deal about religion around Halloween.
02/11/2011 01:10:42 AM
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All Saints' Day is huge in New Orleans, as well. Lots of replastering and whitewashing cemeteries. *NM*
02/11/2011 02:14:40 AM
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It seems internationally understood from what I can tell.
01/11/2011 10:48:02 PM
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Aren't morbid celebrations to ward away spirits pretty common throughout the world? *NM*
01/11/2011 11:20:45 PM
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That's not what Halloween is in the US, though. Not anymore. *NM*
01/11/2011 11:34:27 PM
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