Halloween dangerous says Vatican newspaper
by Caroline Prosser (staff) | Friday, October 30th, 2009
'Dolcetto scherzetto', Trick or Treat (James & Vilija/Flickr)
With the day of ghouls and goblins just around the corner, the Vatican newspaper, the Osservatore Romano, has reiterated the church’s assertion that the festivity is anti-Christian.
In an article entitled ‘Halloween’s dangerous messages’, the paper quoted church rites expert Joan Maria Canals as saying “Halloween has an undercurrent of occultism and is absolutely anti-Christian”.
There is advice for parents to “be aware of this and try to direct the meaning of the feast towards wholesomeness and beauty rather than terror, fear and death”.
Praise was given to communities that have decided to hold a prayer vigil on Saturday evening and to a novel idea from the Paris archdiocese of having a holier substitute to Halloween: a lucky dip for children called ‘Holywins’.
Last year the daily bishops newspaper Avvenire called for a complete boycott of Halloween, describing it ” a dangerous celebration of horror and the macabre”.
In spite of Halloween’s abscence from the traditional calender - pagan celebrations in honour of the dead were replaced with All Saints and All Souls days by Pope Boniface IV in the 7th century - the festivity has grown in popularity in Italy in the last decade. Pumpkin sales reach more than 1 million in the period leading up to Halloween.
October 30th, 2009 at 18:27
Actually there is a reference to the feast of All Saints in St Ephrem Syrus (died 373). In St Chrysostom (died 407) this feast is assigned to the first Sunday after Pentecost. The annual commemoration of ‘All Saints’ was made on May 13 from the time of Boniface IV, who consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to Christian usage on May 13 609 or 610, until the time of Gregory III (died 741), who dedicated on 1. Nov a chapel in the basilica of St Peter to “All the Saints”. Gregory IV (died 844) ordered its universal observance.
October 30th, 2009 at 18:34
Is it possible to add a simple correction? In the comment above, the verb was left out. It should read,”Actually there is a reference…)
October 31st, 2009 at 08:36
Have you ever heard of having an open mind. It’s narrow minded people like you men and women that brain wash children and make them believe that a day of fun and celebration is evil. How about narrow minded people are the evil ones. Wiccans even believe in a “harm none” way of life. Go educate yourselves in the real world.
October 31st, 2009 at 14:02
Halloween is a fine community building experience, as long as boys will be boys, and asses of girls pure
of heart. Older Trick or Treaters still prefer bags of silver- it helps to fix bad teeth caused by yummy chocolate. Not sharing is a REAL SIN. Buy enough for all!
October 31st, 2009 at 19:18
The L’Osservatore Romano is actually the Vatican newspaper, so reporting “Halloween dangerous says Vatican” when quoting L’Osservatore Romano, is somewhat inaccurate. The headline should read “Halloween dangerous says Vatican Newspaper” if you are to indicate who “said” it.
October 31st, 2009 at 19:54
Misquoting L’Osservatore Romano as “The” Vatican seems to be an unending error among journalists. L’Osservatore Romano is the Vatican NEWSPAPER with its very own editorial board.
Halloween, at least here in the Midwest, is an innocuous part of our cultural heritage. From my perspective, L’Osservatore Romano’s Halloween article is just another example of European bigotry and cultural insensitivity. They’re fools to boot.
“The nations gathered in the Upper Room at Pentecost did not hear in their respective tongues a discourse about their own human cultures, but they were amazed to hear, each in their own tongue, the Apostles proclaim the marvels of God.” (“Towards a Pastoral Approach to Culture”, Pontifical Council for Culture)
November 4th, 2009 at 22:00
Done!