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
750 Views
For a sec I was gonna go into the specifics for you...
- 01/11/2011 04:32:18 PM
378 Views
But its always just been an excuse to make a fire on the top of a hill.
- 01/11/2011 05:32:57 PM
366 Views
Yup. I know there are various pagan origins, but honestly, fuck'em
- 01/11/2011 08:17:12 PM
370 Views
I'm not going to do a history lesson, but...
- 01/11/2011 09:22:59 PM
396 Views
What would you say is the proper plural form of Jesus?
- 01/11/2011 09:51:31 PM
406 Views
Claudii is an established plural, actually.
- 01/11/2011 10:02:52 PM
471 Views
I want to reread Lamb: The story of Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal now
- 01/11/2011 11:38:26 PM
478 Views
Jesī *NM*
- 01/11/2011 10:06:29 PM
212 Views
Minor addendum: it seems to be a defective fourth declension. The plural should still be Iesūs.
- 01/11/2011 10:44:08 PM
362 Views
He is singular in nature 
- 01/11/2011 10:08:43 PM
396 Views
- 01/11/2011 10:08:43 PM
396 Views
I thing attempting to discuss the plurality of Jesus precludes any serious discussion
- 01/11/2011 10:41:01 PM
335 Views
Well, Zombie Jesus seems a legit matter for theological discussions
- 02/11/2011 01:03:38 AM
313 Views
Lots of Mexican guys in one room could still be "Jesuses". *NM*
- 01/11/2011 10:47:03 PM
122 Views
So is it Jesūs, Jesii, or Jesuses then?
- 02/11/2011 01:04:58 AM
318 Views
Well, in English I'd assume it's Jesuses. In Latin it would be Iesūs.
- 02/11/2011 01:06:09 AM
334 Views
As I mentioned above, the Latin plural would not be Jesi, but Jesūs.
- 01/11/2011 10:46:18 PM
319 Views
Halloween isn't a Christian holiday, at least not originally.
- 01/11/2011 10:26:58 PM
386 Views
I know all of this, and care not.
- 01/11/2011 11:37:12 PM
295 Views
Again halloween is a world thing, not US property
- 02/11/2011 12:01:25 AM
326 Views
Not according to the Defense of Halloween Act of 1997! We own all IP rights and residuals.
- 02/11/2011 01:12:22 AM
340 Views
I honestly wasn't making it a US thing
- 02/11/2011 02:43:59 PM
386 Views
Pagans and Satanists care a great deal about religion around Halloween.
- 02/11/2011 01:10:42 AM
338 Views
All Saints' Day is huge in New Orleans, as well. Lots of replastering and whitewashing cemeteries. *NM*
- 02/11/2011 02:14:40 AM
133 Views
*NM*
It seems internationally understood from what I can tell.
- 01/11/2011 10:48:02 PM
354 Views
Aren't morbid celebrations to ward away spirits pretty common throughout the world? *NM*
- 01/11/2011 11:20:45 PM
147 Views
That's not what Halloween is in the US, though. Not anymore. *NM*
- 01/11/2011 11:34:27 PM
134 Views