Halloween

Dirtie_Frank

When my oldest daughter started school, the entire school had a big Halloween celebration. A parade, party, the whole nine yards. This school was in NJ.. For the past two years we have been back home in MD and the schools do not celebrate Halloween, they call it a fall festival and let kids dress up as characters from a book. Is this because Halloween is All Hallows Eve, which is a religious day? I think the way kids celebrate Halloween is a bit different now. Why does the PC nonsense have to take the fun out of everything? There were some kids that could not celebrate because of religious view, but should all the kids have to not celebrate now? There is very little if any link to a religious day for the kids. Why can't we just let them dress up and use their imaginations and celebrate in school?

Godfather.

Dirtie_Frank said:

When my oldest daughter started school, the entire school had a big Halloween celebration. A parade, party, the whole nine yards. This school was in NJ.. For the past two years we have been back home in MD and the schools do not celebrate Halloween, they call it a fall festival and let kids dress up as characters from a book. Is this because Halloween is All Hallows Eve, which is a religious day? I think the way kids celebrate Halloween is a bit different now. Why does the PC nonsense have to take the fun out of everything? There were some kids that could not celebrate because of religious view, but should all the kids have to not celebrate now? There is very little if any link to a religious day for the kids. Why can't we just let them dress up and use their imaginations and celebrate in school?

this what happens when the PC police get their foot in the door, they're equal opportunity assholes.
this has happened with Christmas and even Thanksgiving is being butchered up into Native peoples day who by the way were NOT the first inhabitances in N America, hundreds of years of tradition tossed aside for some group of PC whiners.

Godfather.

hedonist

It's simply and simple FUN when you're a kid. Innocent. Baggage and that grown-up shit isn't attached to a costume from their perspective. I can't remember anything remotely close to this growing up.

Only qualm from that era was my mom forcing me to wear a coat over my costume while trick-or-treating. Now THAT fired up my indignance.

Just please, please...no slutty (insert profession or costume here) getups for the little ones.

pjhawks

Dirtie_Frank said:

When my oldest daughter started school, the entire school had a big Halloween celebration. A parade, party, the whole nine yards. This school was in NJ.. For the past two years we have been back home in MD and the schools do not celebrate Halloween, they call it a fall festival and let kids dress up as characters from a book. Is this because Halloween is All Hallows Eve, which is a religious day? I think the way kids celebrate Halloween is a bit different now. Why does the PC nonsense have to take the fun out of everything? There were some kids that could not celebrate because of religious view, but should all the kids have to not celebrate now? There is very little if any link to a religious day for the kids. Why can't we just let them dress up and use their imaginations and celebrate in school?

because adults can be such assholes. It's absurd to me that anyone thinks Halloween is somehow religious. it's about kids having fun. period. frankly i don't even really like it when adults have Halloween parties as it's a day for kids and not about adults.

rgambs

I don't think it is because Halloween is seen as religious, it is because Christians whine about devil worship and such nonsense. Whacko goddies sit out and then have to ruin the fun for everyone else.

brianlux

Not sure if this is PC nonsense or Bible Belt nonsense, Dirty_Frank. It was always a good time for kids and parents alike when I was a kid. It should still be fun for kids who want to participate.

Because trick or treating is not as safe as it was back then, our town holds a Halloween event event downtown. It's described on the cities events web page:

OCTOBER 31, 2015: Trick or Treat on Main Street
4PM – 6PM in Historic downtown Placerville. Main Street merchants hand out candy (while supplies last) to trick-or-treaters for this great family event. There will be a DJ at the Bell Tower and a Costume Contest (sponsored by the 20-30 Club) at 6PM. Town Hall will also host a Carnival for children 10 and under (sponsored by The Placerville Lions Club). For info call (530 672-3436).

It's a great time and we've never had any PC or religious complaints. We get a huge crowd of both locals and out-of-town folks and the costumes are a gas! Kids love it.

Anyone have a problem with Halloween should just stay home and pout and leave the fun to the rest of us!

xhausted1

I agree Dirtie Frank, it is ridiculous that this, too is taken from kids. I went to a catholic school & we celebrated Halloween! Even when we were older & it was "uncool" we still got to have parties at the end of the day in the classroom (with no veggie tray). The younger grades would do a parade through the classrooms. It was fun, kids & their parents could get so creative. I was very sad when my child started school, at a public school, (not my hometown) & they do not recognize the day. Boo!

jnimhaoileoin

Eh Samhain is a pagan festival, I should know, we invented it

Dirtie_Frank

I just do not understand why they need to take away the name Halloween. It just makes no sense. I have seen this in the news from other areas and they say it is because some kids do no celebrate so the school will not celebrate either. I am going to do a little digging.

dignin

Dirtie_Frank said:

I just do not understand why they need to take away the name Halloween. It just makes no sense. I have seen this in the news from other areas and they say it is because some kids do no celebrate so the school will not celebrate either. I am going to do a little digging.

Pretty much

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Milford-schools-ban-Halloween-6565263.php

hedonist

So much for promoting and teaching "tolerance".

No Halloween for you!

PJ_Soul

Dirtie_Frank said:

When my oldest daughter started school, the entire school had a big Halloween celebration. A parade, party, the whole nine yards. This school was in NJ.. For the past two years we have been back home in MD and the schools do not celebrate Halloween, they call it a fall festival and let kids dress up as characters from a book. Is this because Halloween is All Hallows Eve, which is a religious day?

I'd say it's because whoever is making the decisions is a fucking idiot. Simple as that. Seriously.... it's a real shame that more people can't afford private schools, so that parents can choose to place their kids in a school that doesn't do idiotic things like this.

Enkidu

Why why? This PC stuff makes me crazy. There's a big hoo-haw in my hometown in Virginia now because people are objecting to the "Christmas" parade. It's. A. Parade. At Christmas. Will Thanksgiving be the next holiday to go away?

Argh.

PJ_Soul

Enkidu said:

Why why? This PC stuff makes me crazy. There's a big hoo-haw in my hometown in Virginia now because people are objecting to the "Christmas" parade. It's. A. Parade. At Christmas. Will Thanksgiving be the next holiday to go away?

Argh.

Hoo-haw? In Virginia no less!

PJfanwillneverleave1

I'm the most PC guy ever and I fully support this Halloween ban!

Enkidu

PJ_Soul said:

Enkidu said:

Why why? This PC stuff makes me crazy. There's a big hoo-haw in my hometown in Virginia now because people are objecting to the "Christmas" parade. It's. A. Parade. At Christmas. Will Thanksgiving be the next holiday to go away?

Argh.

Hoo-haw? In Virginia no less!

You can't take the south out of the girl. (Or something like that.)

PJ_Soul

Enkidu said:

PJ_Soul said:

Enkidu said:

Why why? This PC stuff makes me crazy. There's a big hoo-haw in my hometown in Virginia now because people are objecting to the "Christmas" parade. It's. A. Parade. At Christmas. Will Thanksgiving be the next holiday to go away?

Argh.

Hoo-haw? In Virginia no less!

You can't take the south out of the girl. (Or something like that.)

........ I honestly can't tell if you know that hoohaw is slang for vagina or not.

tempo_n_groove

brianlux said:

Not sure if this is PC nonsense or Bible Belt nonsense, Dirty_Frank. It was always a good time for kids and parents alike when I was a kid. It should still be fun for kids who want to participate.

Because trick or treating is not as safe as it was back then, our town holds a Halloween event event downtown. It's described on the cities events web page:

OCTOBER 31, 2015: Trick or Treat on Main Street
4PM – 6PM in Historic downtown Placerville. Main Street merchants hand out candy (while supplies last) to trick-or-treaters for this great family event. There will be a DJ at the Bell Tower and a Costume Contest (sponsored by the 20-30 Club) at 6PM. Town Hall will also host a Carnival for children 10 and under (sponsored by The Placerville Lions Club). For info call (530 672-3436).

It's a great time and we've never had any PC or religious complaints. We get a huge crowd of both locals and out-of-town folks and the costumes are a gas! Kids love it.

Anyone have a problem with Halloween should just stay home and pout and leave the fun to the rest of us!

What's not "safe" about Halloween now a days in your town?

I want kids banging on my door and being excited about the candy I hand out and I want them to complain about the people who handed out an apple, lol.

I wonder how many schools are banning All Hallows Eve?

Enkidu

PJ_Soul said:

Enkidu said:

PJ_Soul said:

Enkidu said:

Why why? This PC stuff makes me crazy. There's a big hoo-haw in my hometown in Virginia now because people are objecting to the "Christmas" parade. It's. A. Parade. At Christmas. Will Thanksgiving be the next holiday to go away?

Argh.

Hoo-haw? In Virginia no less!

You can't take the south out of the girl. (Or something like that.)

........ I honestly can't tell if you know that hoohaw is slang for vagina or not.

It wasn't when I was growing up. Ha ha ha ha.

Amongst the Ani

Enkidu said:

Why why? This PC stuff makes me crazy. There's a big hoo-haw in my hometown in Virginia now because people are objecting to the "Christmas" parade. It's. A. Parade. At Christmas. Will Thanksgiving be the next holiday to go away?

Argh.

Thanksgiving was already taken away from us when stores moved black friday Christmas sales to dinner hours on Thanksgiving. Of course this was our own greed that took that one.

We are lucky my kids school still lets them have a halloween parade and party.

PJ_Soul

A lot of parents take their kids to the fucking MALL to trick or treat where I am. It is SO depressing.

dignin

PJ_Soul said:

A lot of parents take their kids to the fucking MALL to trick or treat where I am. It is SO depressing.

In Vancouver that is kinda sad, but here in Calgary it can be pretty cold on Halloween some years.....so I can understand. I remember as a kid having to throw on a parka that covered up my costume, that sucked. I would have welcomed a mall environment where I could show off my costume.

Weather permitting though, kids should be outside going door to door. That is what it was all about.

Bentleyspop

My favorite part of Halloween is Nov. 1st

When the candy is half off or more!!

brianlux

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

Not sure if this is PC nonsense or Bible Belt nonsense, Dirty_Frank. It was always a good time for kids and parents alike when I was a kid. It should still be fun for kids who want to participate.

Because trick or treating is not as safe as it was back then, our town holds a Halloween event event downtown. It's described on the cities events web page:

OCTOBER 31, 2015: Trick or Treat on Main Street
4PM – 6PM in Historic downtown Placerville. Main Street merchants hand out candy (while supplies last) to trick-or-treaters for this great family event. There will be a DJ at the Bell Tower and a Costume Contest (sponsored by the 20-30 Club) at 6PM. Town Hall will also host a Carnival for children 10 and under (sponsored by The Placerville Lions Club). For info call (530 672-3436).

It's a great time and we've never had any PC or religious complaints. We get a huge crowd of both locals and out-of-town folks and the costumes are a gas! Kids love it.

Anyone have a problem with Halloween should just stay home and pout and leave the fun to the rest of us!

What's not "safe" about Halloween now a days in your town?

I want kids banging on my door and being excited about the candy I hand out and I want them to complain about the people who handed out an apple, lol.

I wonder how many schools are banning All Hallows Eve?

Many parents are concerned about kids getting unsafe or tainted candy (well, yes, all candy is poison but you know what I mean). So Placerville closes Main Street and everybody comes out in costume, listens to the music play, and parades around. Merchants up and down the street hand out candy and treats to the kids and everybody has a good time. It's a grand freak scene!

hedonist

Sad - sex offenders are no longer required to have a sign on their door stating as such. Still can't decorate or open the door for the kids though. Poor, poor offenders.

I imagine most trick-or-treating is safe, though a few years ago a homeowner near where my mom lived was beaten and robbed after opening the door.

gimmesometruth27

i love halloween and hate to see this happen.

this is totally lame, but in defense of the school, they are probably doing this for safety reasons. it is easier to keep kids in line by telling them that they can only dress like characters from a book or not at all. the character from the book is at least educational.

i think we can agree that there are some pretty screwed up kids out there. i think school leaders realize this.

if you let some kids pick what they want to be, they might dress like michael myers, jason voorhees, etc, and that is enough to scare some people. maybe they will bring a real knife to school.

if i were planning on attacking my school i would definitely do it on halloween celebration. dress up like someone else so nobody knows it is me, then attack away.

some kid might dress up as a swat team guy or something and bring an actual gun.

harris and klebold had just trenchcoats.

if they let kids dress how they want, and out of the one in a million chance that something might happen and something happens, the school leaders would never forgive themselve, and we would not forgive them.

i hate the fact that kids these days don't get to do what i got to do at their age.

PJfanwillneverleave1

^^^
It's bizarre to say the least.
Imagine if a kid was sent to school dressed up as a suitcase and holding a clock.
Or
A kid was dressed up as a soldier all decked out in facepaint with camouflage attire.
What would happen?
Scenarios like this were not heard of growing up.
Now it is real.
I can bet what would happen to the clock guy.

Dirtie_Frank

SO my daughter asked the teacher today if there was going to be a Halloween Party at School. The teacher said no there are too many kids with allergies. WTF so no peanuts and store bought stuff no homemade. My younger daughter is in kindergarten and she does not understand it either.

oftenreading

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

brianlux said:

Not sure if this is PC nonsense or Bible Belt nonsense, Dirty_Frank. It was always a good time for kids and parents alike when I was a kid. It should still be fun for kids who want to participate.

Because trick or treating is not as safe as it was back then, our town holds a Halloween event event downtown. It's described on the cities events web page:

OCTOBER 31, 2015: Trick or Treat on Main Street
4PM – 6PM in Historic downtown Placerville. Main Street merchants hand out candy (while supplies last) to trick-or-treaters for this great family event. There will be a DJ at the Bell Tower and a Costume Contest (sponsored by the 20-30 Club) at 6PM. Town Hall will also host a Carnival for children 10 and under (sponsored by The Placerville Lions Club). For info call (530 672-3436).

It's a great time and we've never had any PC or religious complaints. We get a huge crowd of both locals and out-of-town folks and the costumes are a gas! Kids love it.

Anyone have a problem with Halloween should just stay home and pout and leave the fun to the rest of us!

What's not "safe" about Halloween now a days in your town?

I want kids banging on my door and being excited about the candy I hand out and I want them to complain about the people who handed out an apple, lol.

I wonder how many schools are banning All Hallows Eve?

Many parents are concerned about kids getting unsafe or tainted candy (well, yes, all candy is poison but you know what I mean). So Placerville closes Main Street and everybody comes out in costume, listens to the music play, and parades around. Merchants up and down the street hand out candy and treats to the kids and everybody has a good time. It's a grand freak scene!

This is totally an urban myth. There have, in fact, been NO instances of poisoned candy or razor blades in apples ever substantiated, although many people claim to know someone who knows someone who met someone it happened to.

This is a part of the larger myth that current society is not safe for children, which is complete BS - society is safer than it's ever been, with the notable exception that parents rarely let their kids walk or cycle anywhere so the rates of obesity are skyrocketing.

I'd agree that about the only risks regarding trick-or-treating is the tiny risk that and older teen/adult uses it as an excuse to get a householder to open their door to strangers. Since kids tend to trick-or-treat in packs (it's way more fun that way), they aren't at risk from the people in the houses. (They are at risk from cars on the streets, though).

Although my kid is in high school now (and her school is celebrating Halloween week with different events every day, FYI), I suspect that the main concerns are around unwieldy and distracting costumes, rather than any "Christian" flavour.

Of course, I'm speaking as a Canadian; we have fewer rampant Christians here.

PJfanwillneverleave1

^^^
The first rule in our house is to dump all the candy on the table and we throw out all the non-approved stuff out in front of their eyes and explain why.
- homemade anything (don't want your dirty licked fingers in my mouth thanks)
- produce
- partially opened
-fudge

oftenreading

Okay, hygiene issues are acceptable in my eyes. Home made and partially opened are just not on. And fudge? Who wants that anyway.