Halloween

Yeah, it seems quite similar although our Sint Maarten (St. Martins Day) originates from some saint from modern Hungary who helped the poor about 1700 years ago, whereas Halloween is originally a Celtic tradition according to Wikipedia .

Exactly my sentiments...

Those are cool. I got some awesome ones a few days ago. They're clear plastic skeletons with dangly arms and legs and they have blinking green lights in them.

The parade in the village rocks. It didn't used to be as structured as it is now though.

I don't have little kids anymore and it used to be pretty much a little kids holiday. Now - I think I agree with Carli - it's a marketing ploy that has grown really big.

Kathleen

I don't like it and don't celebrate it (and I watch American films. LOL)

....aww I love it...my kids do too! ...we do all sorts of things from Hallowe'en running upto Guy Fawkes!..Got to fill the transition from Summer to Winter somehow!....

Yes, it's got mega commercial...but you can still have the fun without spending the dosh!

We used to celebrate it in a big way all the decorations and parties but now we don't anymore since my daughter (a wiccan) informed me that it isn't fair of us to celebrate her "most high" holiday when she doesn't celebrate ours (christian) I do miss it though

That's a bit unfair. Perhaps if she sees it as ridiculing her beliefs then you might choose not to celebrate it for want of sparing her feelings, but to not celebrate it just because she doesn't celebrate your holidays is absurd. I'm not christian but wouldn't stop my family decorating the house at christmas because I don't like it (and aside from the religious reasons I actually find the decorations tacky but as long as they aren't in my room it's fine by me)

I think I actually heard about somewhere, I can't remember where it was, but basically they banned Halloween there so as not to offend any wiccans. Funny how christians are so tolerant of their faith being ridiculed but other religions take great offense to it and want things banned, or start riots and such.

Along those lines really many parts of christmas should be seen by christians as a mockery of what they believe to be the true spirit of the holiday because it is now at a point of being much more commercial than anything else.

commercial!!!! wow!!!! theres no pint other than to make money and follow the americans!

I agree with you the kicker is she has been baptized and all her life has celebrated all holidays not just christian ones. I raised my kids to be tolerant of all faiths. I just chock it up to her being young (shes 16) and hope that one day she will grow up and realize we weren't making a mockery of "her holiday" we were celebrating it for the children in the neighborhood just like we did when she was growing up

One thing that annoys me about Halloween though is that we always tell children to avoid strangers and such, but for that one night they can knock on their doors and accept sweets from them. It is less done here, but still I think it is a ridiculous idea and if I had children I wouldn't let them do it.