Modern Halloween in the US doesn't give a damn about religion. The only people who think Halloween has religious elements are the ones who like to bitch that there aren't enough jesuses around
Therefore the religiony stuff matters in any discussion of it.
My Original post just said "people who didn't grow up with it."
Though it does seem like you and I have had much different experiences with International Halloween. For me, people from Southeast Asia, India, and this Turkish guy I met a few nights ago (spurring this post- It was his first Halloween, he was dressed as a lumberjack, and was having a great time, but definitely found it a bit surreal) all had heard of Halloween, but had either never or very rarely participated.
None of those people saw it as some kind of ancient festival to keep the evil spirits at bay. Plus, that's besides the point- the modern, vastly popular perception of Halloween is a completely secular holiday.
Just like yes, some people feel the planting of a tree on Arbor Day is a religious act, or some people actually give a damn about Saint Valentine, but the vast majority doesn't see those as religious holidays either.
And frankly, the people who do insist focusing on the irrelevant religious roots tend to be buzzkills /passiveagressive.
I amuse myself.
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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- 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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I honestly wasn't making it a US thing
- 02/11/2011 02:43:59 PM
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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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*NM*
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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