What are your genuine thoughts concerning Halloween and it's significance? Do you like it or dislike it? And why?

[thegreenyogi]

[HawkPerception]

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrated the end of summer and the harvest, and was a time when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to thin. This pagan festival, celebrated over 2,000 years ago, involved lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off spirits. In the eighth century, the Christian observance of All Saints' Day on November 1st incorporated some of Samhain's traditions, and the evening before, "All Hallows' Eve," eventually became Halloween.

I think because of this origin, I think the concept of Halloween is pretty cool and it's also pretty cool that we celebrate something the ancient Celts did in a slightly different way.

I think it's a fun event for kids to make memories and adults to have fun with if they go out to party.

[Lliam]

I like it. It's a fun tradition with an interesting history.
I particularly like that fact that it goes back to my Irish ancestral roots. The Samhain tradition was significant. It had similarities to the modern Latin, dia del los muertos.

But I even like the modern adaptation that is all about fun. I like jack o'lanterns, decorations, costumes, haunted houses, parties, and kids trick or treating.

It's also the one day out of the year when people can shed their serious work/school/day to day personas, engage in fantasy and express playfulness.

It cracks me up that certain Bible thumpers think it is a celebration of Satanism.

[Lliam]

@thegreenyogi. Thank you for the MHO. :D

[thegreenyogi]

@Lliam You're very welcome!!

[Anonymous]

absolutely love it. we're not worshipping anything "evil". We're celebrating the harvest. Farming is big where I'm from, so this time of year is a big deal for us. Not just Halloween.

With Halloween specifically, what's the difference in dressing up and handing out or collecting candy, and watching horror movies? Which one gives off more... evil vibes? Sure decorations can go too far, but that's up to individuals. The entire holiday isn't everyone worshiping that demon on their neighbor's front lawn. But the people here who are anti-Halloween have no problem with gruesome, movies with gratuitous blood and guts, witches, demons, satan and evil spirits all year long. I'm not gonna say it's hypocritical, but it's hypocritical.

I guess it really depends on what you choose to celebrate it for. But no holier than thou sheep will convince me that what I celebrate is evil. Or else, they can just give me back all the food they eat throughout the year, since a lot of it comes from this harvest season. 😁

[Simslover92]

I love everything about it. It's the one time of year I can really be a kid again even if I'm not going out trick or treating, just dressing up and giving out candy to kids is enough for me to feel nostalgic and all giddy like a kid.

I never want to lose that part of me. I already have to adult every other day of the year. Halloween is one holiday where you can truly be a kid again.

[purplepoppy]

My honest opinion is I think American consumerism spoilt it and it's lost its true meaning. I think it's sad that celtic versions such as Samhain and nos galan gaeaf are being eclipsed and merged into what's essentially a mockery. I'd go as far as to say the modern version is racist yet we've all some how embraced it.

[Cidknee]

I don't like it. October 31 i thought my dog Tina was stolen or worse. She disappeared the night of October 31st 1989. Finally on November 5th my folks informed me they had received a phone call from a family who had her approximately 10 blocks from my house. She was fine.
Then the following October 31st I was jumped by 13 guys a half of a block from my home. There was a terrible fight. After being kicked in my head and being knocked out twice I regained consciousness and wibbled to my house. I could here them talking lowly as I went. A few seconds later I returned firing a pistol and they were running up the street. I walked back to the yard and upon encountering what I thought was another one I threw the gun down and punched him. He went over the rail of the porch and I looked for another and the cops pulled up and tossed me in jail. I stopped going out on Halloween after that.

[Anonymous]

I’m in my 30s, i don't care about Halloween, whats so special about it? Sure, as a kid, you dress up and get free candy. There are many countries around the world that don’t celebrate it, Halloween is a western concept. I can get my own bag of candy from the store and watch a movie. Even then, I don’t care much for half naked girls wearing “scary” costumes or parties. Nor do I care about celebrating Halloween. I know part of its historical roots is fairly demonic and that’s why I stay away from it not participating in it. I know if kids go to elementary school or people go to work they’ll do Halloween themed things in the office but again after elementary school was over I didn’t care much for Halloween.

[DonaldDarko]

It's a cool holiday, an old pagan festival making the start of winter. It's very macabre because people knew they were in for a shitty time. Food could be scarce, cold, disease, suffering. Now it's an excuse to dress up in all kinds of outfits. You can make a statement this time of year.

[Chazmatazz269]

I luv Halloween! It’s my favorite holiday by far! I luv everything about it and i wished movie studios would time the release of their spookiest movies for the month of October. I can do without the trick or treating, but i otherwise luv the decorations. And i luv haunted houses! Seems like you can only get them this time of year.

[Communicationisking]

I think it signifies different things for different people.

People not in the know (I assume they don't know because I think if they knew exactly what the origins are they wouldn't participate) it celebrates candy and costumes and for people in the know it celebrates very old traditions that well um I'm not going to explain but maybe google "wiccan Halloween" or the word "salwin" (possibly wrong spelling I don't know).

[Miristheiss]

I don't really think anything other than it was fun as a kid to dress up and trick or treat and get candy. Scary movies and pumpkins and fall time are just fun.

That is as far as I consider Halloween. It doesn't have "significance" to me.

[AvaRay]

Halloween, for me, isn’t about fear or chaos, it’s about embracing imagination, creativity, n transformation on my own terms..

While others get lost in costumes n theatrics, I appreciate the elegance of choosing how I step into the story..

[Zack-Bann]

I like that most people don’t take it seriously and genuinely let loose and have fun with it


I wish we had more of that throughout the year


Most holidays are a drag if you think about it

[Wuai201]

I hate it, nothing's wrong with cosplaying, but this holiday is celebrating the creepy and wrong and they're teaching the youth that's it's ok to be like that one day a year.
Might as well bring on the purge...

[beefcakebradybatson]

It's all right, but after I became a man, I attached no particular significance to Hallowe'en.(In the 1980's and 1990's, there were LOTS of TV commercials about adult Hallowe'en parties, which don't seem to be a thing today as most of those folk, like Yours Truly, are now seniors.)

[WindAtMyBack]

I like handing out candy to the kiddies. There is no significance other than kids enjoying themselves.

It seems like very holiday there are people wanting to read more into it than there is.

[Natasha1995]

It was great when we were kids. But I think it's gone way too commercial. As is Christmas when they try and sell you Christmas decoractions in October.

[OneViewpoint]

It a fun pagan holiday for kids. And adults can have fun at a costume party too. I think it's one of the better holidays. No stuffy Christian religious overtones. Just fun.

[PeachyPie93]

I loved it since I was kid we would be out for hours going to like all the streets.. Now days I like staying in with candies and snacks and watching scary movies..

[Unap0logetic_]

I like Halloween when I’m not thinking too deeply into the origin and the facts of the whole thing. It’s a very fun time for me. I love seeing all of the different costumes and way that people celebrate it.

[Xawyx-2]

It's an ancient Celtic holiday, I really like it... I like Celtic mythology in general.

Unfortunately, in my country it's not so popular.

[Lavandin]

There is no tradition of Halloween in my country. I only know about Halloween culture from what I've seen in movies, TV shows, and videos. I just wish Halloween were celebrated here too.

[AgentG111]

Absolutely Love it on the basis, Irish / Gaelic Druids / pagans pretty much invented it.

These other religions don't understand it and play it off as a game.

[MemeSupreme]

i've loved it since i was a kid

like its whole atmosphere is just cool

[Gwendoline]

Part of a religious event in the catholic year and minor cultural if fun event.

[Antarr_999]

I like the overall atmosphere that generally accompanies the fall and then later on Christmas time is even more magical aesthetics-wise 🎁

[Agape93]

Doesn't bother me. Do as thou wilt, and blessed Samhain.

[dragoblack]

I prefer it over the other holidays. Spooky is my vibe, cool autumn solstice weather, good night sleep, good selection of goth wear & cosplay supplies, bonfires, bugs dying off, knitted sweaters, thick blankers, cool pillows, and caramel apples.

[aceleon]

love it but they don't celebrate that day where i live.

[AMS700CX4u2]

Hawk Perception has the story I have nothing more to add.

[Shiprex]

I like it.

It's a time of year that gets away from the stable boring normal into playful nonsense.

[exitseven]

It was a cool holiday when I was a kid. Now it has become too commercialized.

[DrPepper12]

It's fantastic for all ages!!! Trying on new identities risk free in the autumn weather? What could be finer?

[seeyounexttuesday]

I love Halloween. It's a fun holiday and is significant to bring communities together. Unfortunately it's a shadow of what it was in its heyday. It's fun dressing up and going to Halloween parties.

[Dargil]

All hallowed eve ushers in All Saints (the hallowed) Day.

[art84]

Never cared for it now though as a kid enjoy dressing up for Halloween at school when we had costume parades.

[RedInnocent69]

I like candy, costumes, and scary movies, if that counts?

[Rosemaiden]

If I were younger, and born in the us, i would have definitely dressed up and went for trick or treat

[QuietRunner]

Not significant once they stopped making entertainment and focused more on messages.

[slatyb]

It's a very fun holiday, one of my favorites.

[beenherebefore]

Honestly I'm indifferent.

[Bloodparadise]

I love dressing up and having fun

[Allmenrsick]

It's just show how terrible humans are