Is Halloween religious?

**no1_vern** · October 31st, 2009, 08:50 AM

Is Halloween a religious activity? At least one school is celebrating Happy 'costume' day.

Happy 'costume' day | guampdn.com | Pacific Daily News

But Villagomez and the 600 other students who haunted the halls at C.L. Taitano yesterday weren't celebrating Halloween, said Principal Corina Paulino.

The school specifically did not plan a Halloween event because Paulino was unsure if it would be considered a religious activity. A costume parade was held to promote literacy by allowing students to dress as characters from books they read, she said.

_SNIP_

Must remain 'neutral'

A notice given to all principals on Oct. 15 insisted schools must remain "neutral in their treatment of religion." The notice warned the principals about allowing prayer or religious activities, which could have included Halloween, Paulino said.

I think they are being rediculous in trying to make Halloween into a religious activity, but, what do I know. Tell me what you think. Is Halloween a religious activity?

**Gomer** · October 31st, 2009, 10:32 AM

Both religion and Halloween involve arcane rituals and both of them require participants to have a very vivid imagination. So yes, they are similar.

Before, Halloween in schools was very non-denominational and all sects were allowed (hobgoblins, regular goblins, tv characters, animals, plants, dick-ina-box guy, etc.). Now they are practicng religious discrimination by restricting costumes. Favoring any costume over another is the reason we have the Seperation of Church and State to prevent sort of thing.

**cyphen** · October 31st, 2009, 07:28 PM

It's derived from Samhain, which is an old Celtic festival that seems to mix harvest/end of summer with spiritual elements. They believed, as i understand it, that demons and evil spirits could more easily get to this world on Samhain, so in order to protect themselves, they disguised themselves as demons and evil spirits. Very religious in nature - but it's been watered down, and its practice is largely secular - kinda like Christmas and Easter.

**kramo123** · November 1st, 2009, 05:28 AM

I would think that Halloween has become more secular than Christmas and Easter. Other religions aren't going to go around celebrating the last two, but down here, (though it's not that widely celebrated) in my predominantly Jewish area a large number of people go around trick or treating. No-one that I've met even knows about any religious connections it may hold.