"really?! How would we go about that?"
"Well we would get flowers, cookies and pictures of our loved ones who have died and we could remember them and celebrate them."
"Well, I love this idea, but you none of our relatives have died since you have been alive, who would we celebrate?"
"Well there was that lady at church who recently died, who loved all us kids and well you have a grandma that died and daddy must have had a grandma that died."
And how does one argue with that? Each year Halloween seems to be getting a bigger and bigger holiday. Everyone dresses up and even at schools there is participation. Yet, there are still many Christians who don't participate. In fact, from Oct 31-November 2 the church often just doesn't know how to respond; or has attempted to over take and recreate the day (All Saint's Day).
In reading some Rabbinic writings about the Jewish Holiday Purim, I found it very interesting that one (and I wish I could remember who) Rabbi long before Christ said of the Messianic Age that the only holiday that would continue after the Messiah would be the Holiday at Purim. Some of you reading this may be confused as to how I went from a rant on Halloween all the way to Purim (which is celebrated usually around March) but I assure you this isn't a far stretch. Purim is the holiday in which the Jewish faith celebrate Esther and how the Queen saved them. During this holiday they get drunk, eat a feast and get dressed up in disguises. It is said that traditionally people wore costumes that went along with the story but as time went on it was any sort of disguises. It was thought to represent the fact that miracles can be hidden, sometimes God can be hidden from. Also during this day of charity is important and gifts are given freely. The disguises help those who are in need stay anonymous. Yet, this Rabbi was wrong; after Christ Purim did not stay on as a holiday of the Christians. Perhaps because they simply rejected all Jewish holidays; perhaps because it falls during lent; perhaps we will never know.
This brings us back to Halloween. A thought to be pagan holiday that at least the RC church tried to bring into the church through All Saints Day. Should then all Christians boycott this holiday? Should Christians embrace this day? Should Christians condemn those who celebrate it?
I think these are questions we all answer for ourselves. For us, I see no harm in dressing up once a year and celebrating this holiday but as we embraced the "day of the Dead" this year. Celebrating our loved ones I had a realization this Holiday can be Christian. This Holiday can also be a great way to talk about death and understand the life to come. This day is a great way to spend some time sharing in the memories of those who don't always get spoken about. This holiday can and does fit right along with our theology.
So here is my rabble for the week. Halloween isn't completely outside the realm of our Christian heritage and the day of the dead is good for all in the healing process of death. So we might not accept the pagan aspects of the Holiday we we surely can celebrate this days as true reminders of our faith and how God continues to work in our lives, without us always knowing and even when our lives on this earth are done.
Just as those who are not Christians celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus and not a Christ child; we can use just about anything around us to teach our children the principals of Christ and the hopes we have for them in their relationship with the Divine.
