When Halloween falls on a Sunday, should it be moved to Saturday?

Desiree - posted on 10/19/2010

To all of you in the US who do celebrate Halloween from us here in South Africa who don't, have a great day and ignore the rest. Halloween isn't celbrated in SA besides with the supersitious people who abound in this country (my domestic worker freaks out at the sight of reptiles and belives in something called the Tokoloshi, its a demon, if the older generation had to watch us dress up as witches and Ghouls heaven knows what would happen;) I have tried to tell her and a number of people that we have the same beliefs but we just call is something else to no avail so we just leave things as they are, sometimes best to leave the sleeping dog to sleep a very deep sleep.

Rosie - posted on 10/18/2010

crazy. that is all.

Kathy - posted on 10/18/2010

Isn't Halloween just a fun thing anyway? Does it matter? Sorry, bit confused here. In Australia we don't do Halloween much (though it's catching on: someone might make a buck out of it!) but it's just a bit of a joke.

Jaime - posted on 10/18/2010

Jocelyn, that sounds wonderful. I do the same sort of thing, probably just to antagonize those who feel a certain way. It's a character flaw, but it can be fun. I loved looking up those articles for this. I saw this topic and giggled maniacally. Hubby looked at me like I was crazy and asked, "Oh no, what are you writing now?"

Besides, I think Christians seem to think all religions that are not Christian are pagan. It's somewhat annoying. Accept people for who they are and what they want to believe in. Religion and politics are two of my pet peeves. Can't stand to discuss them with anyone because you always piss someone off somehow.

Jocelyn - posted on 10/18/2010

Lol @ Jamie. That's why I love being Pagan. When some hard-core religious person tells me *insert insult here/derogatory remark* I am always prepared to spout off a bunch or facts that by them celebrating Christmas THEY are (to a degree) celebrating MY religion :P
Hehehe.... I'm devious like that.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 10/18/2010

Nope...if you don't like it, don't celebrate with the rest of society!

Jackie - posted on 10/18/2010

It's Crap... and that's all I'm going to say about that...

Liz - posted on 10/18/2010

Thats stupid, these people seriously have too much time on there hands to worry about what day halloween falls on and try to change it. I am throwing my daughters birthday party on halloween and trick or treating after. I love halloween!!!

Desiree - posted on 10/18/2010

I agree, I am a christian myself but the last time I checked the bible tell me to be tolerant of other beliefs. So why should the pagans change their holiday to suit the Christians. The Christians certainly don't do it for anyone else, nor do the Jews or the Muslims. It would be hypocritical. Besides Halloween actually falls on the eve of all Saints day. The object of the original dressing up was to confuse the devil so he couldn't take the good.

Jane - posted on 10/18/2010

Move Halloween? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. My goodness....if you don't believe in Halloween, then don't celebrate it. The Christian community needs to move on and quit being such a pain in the butt with things like this. I mean, if a Jewish holiday falls on a Sunday, are they going to ask for that to be moved too?

IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T CELEBRATE IT!!!!

Jaime - posted on 10/17/2010

You know, Christmas is a Pagan holiday, if you really want to get technical.

http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/C...

Just sayin'. I consider myself Christian, sort of, but I still know the Christian holidays are all BS. Every one of them is based on some kind of Pagan ritual, often horrible in nature, that early Christians used to fill up their churches and do exactly what the Bible said NOT to do, mix the cultures and incorporate non-Christian beliefs.

It's quite funny that they'd get so worked up about Halloween, which is based off of the Celtic holiday of Samhain, a festival that celebrated the Celtic new year, previous harvest, and that also honored the dead and warded off the evil spirits to keep the people safe during the on-coming winter.

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Seems much better than a week of fornication ending with an innocent man or woman being killed as a symbol of Roman power over the people. But that's just me.

Jaime - posted on 10/17/2010

I think it's ridiculous to get so upset about Halloween falling on a Sunday. Get over it, if you don't want to take your kids out trick-or-treating on Sunday then do so Friday or Saturday. That's what our town is doing. Every year, Halloween is celebrated on either October 31st or the nearest Friday or Saturday, depending on if it's a school night or not. Halloween has fallen on a Sunday before and people didn't get all pissy about it.

Chatty - posted on 10/17/2010

"kerfuffle"? Seriously, Krista? *giggles*

Charlene - posted on 10/17/2010

@Joy, we had it changed in 2004, but then some of the surrounding communities didn't. Some people only went out Saturday, but there were some people who went out BOTH nights. :P

Charlene - posted on 10/17/2010

@ Krista, it's another huge debate here.
The Christians and some people who work retail, don't want Sunday shopping year-round, while the rest do want it or don't care either way.
Right now we only have it from May 31st until December 31st.

Joy - posted on 10/17/2010

Non issue. Even if they DID manage to change the date, MOST people would still go on the 31st anyhow.

Krista - posted on 10/17/2010

Carol's pretty much got it. If you don't like it, don't participate. Most people who are THAT bent up about religion don't participate in Hallowe'en anyway.

Question: do they have Sunday shopping in PEI, Charlene? I remember what a big kerfuffle it was here when they finally introduced it.

Jocelyn - posted on 10/16/2010

Hell no. Most of the hard-core Christians don't observe Halloween (so they'll be at service regardless) and the other Christians that DO celebrate Halloween shouldn't care (because they celebrate Halloween, how strict can they be?! lol)
And the rest of us non Christians could give a flying fuck if it's on a Sunday.
You CANNOT change the date of an international (well, North American lol) holiday just to accommodate a very SMALL portion of the population.

Sharon - posted on 10/16/2010

LOL the christian community can get bent then. I don't see any damned difference if they participate in an ancient pagan rite on a saturday or sunday.

Johnny - posted on 10/16/2010

Ack. I'm guessing these are the same people who are still opposed to stores being open on a Sunday. Because god forbid those who don't give a crap about religion get a chance to pick up some groceries. If you don't like it on a Sunday, then don't participate!

Good Day! - posted on 10/16/2010

We are going Trick-or-Treating on October 31st! That's when it supposed to be. Our church doesn't hold service on Sunday evenings, but even if it did, we would go to church, then go Trick-or-Treat after. I fail to see what the issue is.

Serena - posted on 10/16/2010

I used to love when Halloween fell on a weekday or Sunday because the little Catholic school I went to gave us All Saints Day off. It was nice being the only kid in my neighborhood that didnt have to go to school the next day.
I don't see what the big deal is. I was always taught at the Catholic school I went to that church was the reason for Halloween. You dressed up to scare the evil spirits away in preparation for All Saints and All Souls day.

Bonnie - posted on 10/16/2010

I think Halloween should be on Sunday like it is scheduled to be and that is it. Every other holiday is celebrated on the day it falls on so why shouldn't this one.

Kate CP - posted on 10/16/2010

I think it's damned retarded. But I also think calling it "harvest fest" is stupid, too. It's Halloween. Let it be Halloween. This is actually one of my favorite holidays. Every year I dress up as the same thing: a witch...cause I do what I know. ;) I also make crescent cakes, pumpkin loaf, and mulled cider and have a mini party with friends and family to celebrate the harvest and the coming of fall. I'm Christian and I still go to church and celebrate the other holidays, too. I think some Christians need to get over themselves. :P

Jennifer - posted on 10/16/2010

What...why should it be moved? If the Christians don't want to participate then that's their problem. I was raised Catholic and we always went trick or treating regardless of what day it was on.

Chatty - posted on 10/16/2010

Hallowe'en falls on October 31st....WTF? Switch days? That Christian community is bonkers. If THEY don't want to celebrate it on Sunday, then don't but to expect to change it for everyone is ludicris.

Teresa - posted on 10/16/2010

Things like this ARE what give organized religion a bad name which pisses me off too cuz not all Christians are like that. Unfortunately, most of the Christians that AREN'T like that aren't very vocal which makes people tend to lump all Christians together in the 'bad group.' :(

Krista - posted on 10/16/2010

No, it's ridiculous. They pull shit like that around here, too. Every July 1st in Pugwash, they have a big parade and fairgrounds and a celebration. And the last time July 1st fell on a Sunday, the town organizers actually made them move the festival to the day before, because they didn't want all of the commotion and noise to disturb "the holy day".

It's frigging ridiculous.

Besides, most church services are held on Sunday morning, and most trick or treating is done in the afternoon/evening.

Things like this are why organized religion pisses me off -- they expect everybody else to change their schedules and their lives, in order to accommodate their faith, when their faith isn't even threatened to begin with.

Jodi - posted on 10/16/2010

One more way that Chrstianity is trying to control it's communities, which is not at all rare especially in smaller, more rural areas. My area always does a Friday night Harvest Fest every single year, the closest Friday to the 31st. The kids can come in costume, play games, win prizes, carve pumpkins etc etc etc. Halloween falls on a certain date, the 31st of October, NOT a special day to accomodate one religion that, generally speaking for smaller rural towns like mine, doesn't support the holiday as is!!!! (My community church, not that I attend anymore, dissaproves of Halloween on the whole.) Malarky if you ask me!

April - posted on 10/16/2010

no. if it makes you uncomfortable, then don't participate.

Amie - posted on 10/16/2010

I agree with Becky! Perfectly said. =)

Teresa - posted on 10/16/2010

I wish Halloween always fell on a Friday or Saturday though cuz then I wouldn't have to worry about still getting my kids to bed on time. ;)

Charlene - posted on 10/16/2010

Unfortunately, PEI is a fairly back assward, old fashioned province. It's actually quite surprising that the council is going AGAINST the Christian community. They usually bend over backwards to please them, for whatever reason, I don't know...
This will be discussed (read:complained about) for the next 11 years.. until the next time Halloween falls on Sunday. ;)

Mary - posted on 10/16/2010

Ummmm...NO.
I'm not even sure why it is an issue. Participation in Halloween is not mandatory; if it conflicts with your religious beliefs, simply don't send your kids out trick-or-treating, keep your doors closed and your porch light off. It's not hard; if your religion prohibits you from doing whatever on a Sunday, don't do it. I see no reason why the rest of the community needs to shift it's celebration of this (non-religious) commercial/social holiday.

The only thing I wish they would do on Halloween is hold those teacher admin days then, so the kids would be off for the day. I LOVE when Halloween falls on either day of the weekend!

Kimberly - posted on 10/16/2010

Just another kooky reason why organized religion is becoming more and more of a turn off. Honestly. Those people are nuts.

Becky - posted on 10/16/2010

That's just silly! If you object to your child trick or treating on a Sunday for some reason, then don't take them trick or treating.
I think the only people this would really matter to anyways are those "Sunday Christians" who think that as long as you go to church on Sunday, you can live the way you want to the rest of the week. Because if celebrating halloween is wrong on a Sunday, then what makes it okay any other day of the week?

Sapphire - posted on 10/16/2010

Then the Christian community doesn;t have to participate. In my area, most of the Chirstian churches are opposed to Halloween anyway and they sponsor their onw "Trunk or Treats". It's a non-issue, but they are making it an issue. They need to get over it, or don't participate.

Teresa - posted on 10/16/2010

Nope. I can guarantee at least the leadership of my church (if not the entire church body) wouldn't agree w/ it either.



Oh, and wasn't Halloween on a Saturday last year? My dad is a Seventh-Day Adventist and he went w/ me, my kids, and my niece out ToTing last year. ;)