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Oct. 31, 2004 I am really bummed out. Some silly people are up in arms because Halloween comes on Sunday this year claiming it is the devil's holiday. Well, I have to disagree, it's not. While it's true there are some sinister traditions connected to it I must remind everyone that Christmas and Easter also have customs attached to it which have pagan origins. For instance the Yule log. I will not get too far into that except to say the Easter Rabbit has nothing to do with the Easter story. Many cultures have had a fall festival. Celtic among the rest. Many were incorporated into the early church as it spread across the world. Many things like trick, or treat come from that. Also, the word Halloween comes from All Hallow's Even (ing) which being the night before All Saint's day which was the time the superstitious believed the spirits of the dead walked the earth again. In some countries it was believed to keep these spirits away on had to pay them in money, or food. Children, often from poor families, would dress as spirits to help their family. Later all childern would do this for a treat. They would also carve faces in turnips and light candles in them. This was to fool real spirits into thinking they were like them. No evil intent was meant, just a protection for the times. The devil, of course can warp anything to suit him. Notice how Christmas and Easter, both holy days(thus the word holiday)have become days of materialism and greed? They are not treated as the good days they were intended to be to celebrate events in scripture. There have been a renewed interest in old pagan beliefs. Some of these involve, sadly witches, and devils. This is a short coming of the church at large. If some have turned to witchcraft, or taken an interest in such, it is because the church has failed it's mission. We were told to go forth and announce the gospel to the world, but the church has too often been more interested in the secular. They've ordained homosexuals, and others who shouldn't lead the church. Therefore, don't confuse a day which was originally a church holiday with something to do with the devil. It isn't a devil's holiday anymore then any other holiday is. ------------ About the author: Lee Zelhart is a proud graduate of McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois and the father of two teens (one of which will be getting married in the next couple of years, maybe sometime in 2006) and the author of The Ghost of the Cavalier due out in 2005. Email: graphicsdoctor1@sbcglobal.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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