Since, most don't believe in ghosts and other silly stuff that goes along with the holiday. Do we still observe some of it for the children. I rather ignore it like the rest of the religious holidays.
I ignore most holidays and events and this includes my own birthday. Halloween and Christmas have nothing for me. They might if children were around. I do go to the dinners for these events if invited. If not, it's just another day. We keep wanting to "weed out" Thanksgiving where the pilgrims would have starved if it wasn't for the Indians. Why is that?
Imagine a birthday party where the young boy is about 4 and they keep telling him it is his birthday. He looks at the presents but cannot believe it. Why? It's because he knows this has happened before. Who are they fooling?
I got involved with it when my kids were younger, but since then and since they moved out, I am not that enthusiastic. I never got involved with adult costumes or parties. The neighborhood I live in now doesn't have a lot of kids, so that will probably do it for me.
Actually, Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, began well before xtianity...
[en.wikipedia.org]
& I love Halloween, btw!
Yes, it sure did.
Personally I think it's a stupid commercialised american festival that has no relevance to me, but is becoming increasingly more popular here in the UK.
I blame Wes Craven.....
Halloween to me is a magical time when pretending is fun. An interest in all things supernatural and paranormal allows the awe and wonderment of what makes Halloween spooky and fun. I have many Pagan friends who are naturally magical thinkers and spending Halloween and the days leading up to it with them is a nice visit into the mystifying.
I live in Atlanta, where there are Halloween events for adults almost every day during the month
I don't think most who celebrate are true believers in ghosts and other nonsense. It's fun. The Halloween parade in Little Five Points (an area of Atlanta where graffiti is art and the residents are mainly painters, writers, hippies, or alternative or counter culture in some way) is well-attended, wild, and tons of fun.
Dragoncon, held during Labor Day weekend is the largest science fiction, fantasy and horror Con in the world. I attended every year. It's like Halloween exploded over several blocks and all over 5 prominent downtown hotels. Thousands of elaborate costumes, hundreds of panels/discussions, hundreds of celebrity appearances (top rated A listed actors to new and upcoming performers), artists, and so much more. Very similar to Halloween in many ways. Always a wonderful time!
Reality is amazing, but short adventures into the otherworldly is a nice, fun break from the normal routine.
Halloween is my Christmas. And I don't believe in the supernatural or paranormal or in anything magical or unnatural.
Jeff ??