Stop the Republican War on Halloween

[Ezlivin]

The hell with wimpy "Harvest Festivals" and the like.

We need one holiday where we can get positively medieval.

[Tripper11]

1. Amen!

:evilgrin:

[Kikosexy2]

8. I still...

say...dress up as the Bush Twins...naked body suits with breasts and big bushy, hairy vaginas...guarantee to win 1st Prize...

[SoCalDem]

10. Amen²

:evilgrin:

[Kazak]

2. Heh.

:thumbsup:

[Raine]

3. Yeah

it's NOT a Harvest Festival it's Halloween!

[brentspeak]

4. George Bush masks are a popular item at party/costume stores

If nothing else, Bush has helped galvanize Halloween.

[KamaAina]

12. Go with someone else. You wear the Bush** mask.

S/he wears a chimp mask! It'll be a laff riot!

[tsuki]

5. It's dress up day at work. I am going as a witch. I wanted to do V,

but I could not wear the mask all day.

[Hardrada]

6. Anyone remember Nixon masks?

They really were scary. I wish they had Kissinger (Dr. Strangelove) masks.

[liberal N proud]

7. The Christofascist have been trying this for several years

[Deep13]

9. If we don't appease the evil spirits by dressing up...

...and getting stinking drunk, they will make the Republicans win!

We have a right as rational, intelligent people to take one day out of the year to worship the gods of evil cults, light fires, conjure ghosts, turn our lawns into unholy ground and scare the living shit out of each other.

[Marrah_G]

11. Oops..... some fundie didn't quite think this through.

You Call It Hallowe'en... We Call It Samhain

Hallowe'en has its origins in the British Isles. While the modern tradition of trick or treat developed in the U. S., it too is based on folk customs brought to this country with Irish immigrants after 1840. Since ancient times in Ireland, Scotland, and England, October 31st has been celebrated as a feast for the dead, and also the day that marks the new year. Mexico observes a Day of the Dead on this day, as do other world cultures. In Scotland, the Gaelic word "Samhain" (pronounced "SAW-win" or "SAW-vane") means literally "summer's end."

Other names for this holiday include: All Hallows Eve ("hallow" means "sanctify"); Hallowtide; Hallowmass; Hallows; The Day of the Dead; All Soul's Night; All Saints' Day (both on November 1st).

For early Europeans, this time of the year marked the beginning of the cold, lean months to come; the flocks were brought in from the fields to live in sheds until spring. Some animals were slaughtered, and the meat preserved to provide food for winter. The last gathering of crops was known as "Harvest Home, " celebrated with fairs and festivals.

In addition to its agriculture significance, the ancient Celts also saw Samhain as a very spiritual time. Because October 31 lies exactly between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice, it is theorized that ancient peoples, with their reliance on astrology, thought it was a very potent time for magic and communion with spirits. The "veil between the worlds" of the living and the dead was said to be at its thinnest on this day; so the dead were invited to return to feast with their loved ones; welcomed in from the cold, much as the animals were brought inside. Ancient customs range from placing food out for dead ancestors, to performing rituals for communicating with those who had passed over.

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=holidays&id=2204

Harvest Festival is fine with me. I wonder if those trying to change the name even realize they are changing right back to one of the original meanings of the day.

Nothing wimpy about this Harvest Feast!

Happy Samhain all :)