Happy Halloween

Just a quick reminder today, Christian chums, to avoid saying that the commercialisation of Halloween will draw people a little closer to the dark side if we will be moaning, in a month or so's time, that the commercialisation of Christmas will lure people away from its true spiritual meaning. Joined up protest please.

On Pumpkins

This is a discussion starter right. I'm not sure I have a view on what I'm going to ask. But it's this.

At Christmas time we are often heard to complain, as Christians, that the commercialisation of the season robs it of its special nature. 'Put Christ back into Christmas' we say, or some do anyway.

At Halloween time we are often heard to complain, as Christians, that the commercialisation of the season gives more importance than is safe to its special nature. 'Say no to trick or treat' we say, or some do anyway.

Is this inconsistent?

All Saints and the Night Before

God of holiness,
Your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example
with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Felt I needed that after the mish-mash of last night's early evening house-callers. This is a suburban estate and therefore mimics the US far more than town centre Leamington did. Groups, no tribes, of dressed-up young people carried plastic bags around from door to door trick or treating. A new friend tells me that in the US no-one would ever think of playing a trick.

From one gang the greeting at the door was simply to make scary noises. I offered chocolate in return at which point the party grew from three to seven as the bored hangers on ran up the drive too. For those of you who think I should have offered copies of John's Gospel and a prayer, this is not the time to be making enemies.

Later a father brought his two young children to the door, one in a skeleton outfit (sweetest bag of bones you ever did see) and the other dressed as a fairy. As Liz dropped sweets into their bag they said, 'Happy trick or treat.' What?

Well the son has risen on a new day and nothing went bump in the night. The commercialisation of Halloween is a great way to rob it of its power and kids love to dress up. Thin end of the wedge? I think there is a wedge (some of my readers don't, I know) but let's not get over excited by people paying attention to the thin end.

Happy labours rest day.

Halloween

There is an article in the Church of England Newspaper this week wherein David Gillett suggests we lambast Tescos for their commercialisation of Halloween. It seems we want to have our cake and eat it. Let's join up our thinking a bit.

We complain that the commercialisation of Christmas draws attention away from the real meaning of the festival. We demand more glory to God in the High Street. How can we then say that the commercialisation of Halloween does anything but blunt its power and distract attention from its real meaning?

Come on Christians. Think things through.