So Halloween is now not Politically Correct?

[D-Rock]

This is the problem: http://www.crawfordsworld.com/rob/HEG/HEG_Government/HEGBostonLegal/HEGReligion.htm

I was looking for the actual case, but this is the best I could do real quickly.

 

[jlprk]

http://www.crawfordsworld.com/rob/HEG/HEG_Government/HEGBostonLegal/HEGReligion.htm

Religious Right, just like I said.

Halloween and the First Amendment
National Education Association
October 28, 2005

Turning the tables on church-state separationists, the religious right has filed a series of lawsuits claiming that various public school districts have violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by promoting witchcraft--which they refer to as the religion of "Wicca"--during Halloween.

...The NEA was named as a defendant in a Federal, class-action lawsuit seeking to enjoin Halloween celebrations in both Arkansas and Florida public schools.

The plaintiffs in Guyer v. School Board of Alachua County complained that the "depiction of witches, cauldrons, and brooms" in Halloween decorations placed in the county's public elementary schools, as well as the practice of "teachers dressing up as witches in black dresses and pointed hats" on October 31 each year, endorsed and promoted the religion of Wicca in violation of the Establishment Clause.

Wilhelmina Ripple --author of several holiday books, including ''Halloween School Parties: What Do I Do?" --said school districts nationwide are changing the name of parties to make the celebrations more palatable for those who want to avoid having school-endorsed ghouls and goblins.

...''It's not good," said her 7-year-old son, Jake, who is planning to dress up as a Ninja and go trick-or-treating after school. ''Last year we got a Halloween party and it was really fun."

 

[MARIS61]

Besides most likely blatantly lying about them not showing up for school because they were offended by what is the most fun and exciting day of the year for most kids, why is a school principal calling American schoolchildren "Russians"?

 

[MARIS61]

I'll look, but I thought that All Hallow's Eve is a Catholic invention.

Schools often make stupid misapplications of policy for really stupid reasons, generally falling at the feet of really stupid administration. (See things like Flag Day shirt)

Halloween originally was and still is a pagan holiday.

Other religions piled on later creating it's arch-enemy (All Saint's Day).

Halloween History

Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.

All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic church honored saints on this designated day.


Origin of Halloween

While there are many versions of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistent by all accounts. Different cultures view Halloween somewhat differently but traditional Halloween practices remain the same.

Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.

Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.

The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.


http://www.halloween-website.com/history.htm

 

[Denny Crane]

So the kids dressed up in costumes and went door to door for candy 2000 years ago?