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Alright, I'm tired of this *(&*.
It's Halloween. You put on costumes, you carve pumpkins, you go to parties, you take your kids trick-or-treating, and you watch the feakin' Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!
My office announced that next friday would be a "60's Theme Day" with no hint or reference to the word, Halloween at all.
I find this weird, as for the decade or so that I've worked there, we've always celebrated Halloween at the office and employees were welcome to wear costumes, decorate their cubicles, etc.
Anyone else experiencing this?
Unfortunately, in the UK, Halloween is now an excuse for young thugs to intimidate home-owners. And in my case, have an egg thrown at one. Yes, it hit. Yes, the trousers were dry-clean only.
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It became politically incorrect when someone realized that there might be some religious aspect to Halloween. My wife works for the Headstart program and the directives that came down to them is that since not everyone is Christian and because diversety must be respected Halloween is not celebrated in the Headstart program. Teachers may have a "costume day" or "pajama day," but they may not decorate for or celebrate Halloween.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Alright, I'm tired of this *(&*.
It's Halloween. You put on costumes, you carve pumpkins, you go to parties, you take your kids trick-or-treating, and you watch the feakin' Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!
My office announced that next friday would be a "60's Theme Day" with no hint or reference to the word, Halloween at all.
I find this weird, as for the decade or so that I've worked there, we've always celebrated Halloween at the office and employees were welcome to wear costumes, decorate their cubicles, etc.
Anyone else experiencing this?
Just go in your costume, and if questioned, say that you're representing the Halloween activities from the 60s.
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It became politically incorrect when someone realized that there might be some religious aspect to Halloween. My wife works for the Headstart program and the directives that came down to them is that since not everyone is Christian and because diversety must be respected Halloween is not celebrated in the Headstart program. Teachers may have a "costume day" or "pajama day," but they may not decorate for or celebrate Halloween.
Wait, I think I inferred your post incorrectly. Are you saying they believed that Halloween is a Christian holiday?
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It became politically incorrect when someone realized that there might be some religious aspect to Halloween. My wife works for the Headstart program and the directives that came down to them is that since not everyone is Christian and because diversety must be respected Halloween is not celebrated in the Headstart program. Teachers may have a "costume day" or "pajama day," but they may not decorate for or celebrate Halloween.Wait, I think I inferred your post incorrectly. Are you saying they believed that Halloween is a Christian holiday?
I hope not...
In Germany the last few years christian churches reacted poorly to the rapidly growing trend to celebrate halloween, because they realized it is an old pagan hollyday and most kids celebrating "dont remember" the meaning of the following (christian) day (that probably has been put on that day by early european christians to make use of the traditional pagan hollyday)...The word Halloween on the other hand is derived from the christian hollyday and stands for All Hallows Eve'
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At my work, we have an annual Thanksgiving Day feast, but we don't call it that...we call it "Appreciation Day". I guess some people are offended by those who give thanks.
And of course it's not "Merry Christmas" but "Happy Holidays".
BTW, "60's Theme Day" seems potentially more offensive/discriminatory than Halloween. Youngin's might take offense because they weren't around back then and old folk might take offense because they might think the young people dressed up in 60's gear are making fun of their generation.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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BTW, "60's Theme Day" seems potentially more offensive/discriminatory than Halloween. Youngin's might take offense because they weren't around back then and old folk might take offense because they might think the young people dressed up in 60's gear are making fun of their generation.
Not to mention that re-enactments of the free love movement might be considered to be offensive at the workplace.
It became politically incorrect when someone realized that there might be some religious aspect to Halloween. My wife works for the Headstart program and the directives that came down to them is that since not everyone is Christian and because diversety must be respected Halloween is not celebrated in the Headstart program. Teachers may have a "costume day" or "pajama day," but they may not decorate for or celebrate Halloween.Wait, I think I inferred your post incorrectly. Are you saying they believed that Halloween is a Christian holiday?I hope not...
In Germany the last few years christian churches reacted poorly to the rapidly growing trend to celebrate halloween, because they realized it is an old pagan hollyday and most kids celebrating "dont remember" the meaning of the following (christian) day (that probably has been put on that day by early european christians to make use of the traditional pagan hollyday)...
The word Halloween on the other hand is derived from the christian hollyday and stands for All Hallows Eve'
...although All Hallows Eve itself comes on the day before Halloween.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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...although All Hallows Eve itself comes on the day before Halloween.It became politically incorrect when someone realized that there might be some religious aspect to Halloween. My wife works for the Headstart program and the directives that came down to them is that since not everyone is Christian and because diversety must be respected Halloween is not celebrated in the Headstart program. Teachers may have a "costume day" or "pajama day," but they may not decorate for or celebrate Halloween.Wait, I think I inferred your post incorrectly. Are you saying they believed that Halloween is a Christian holiday?I hope not...
In Germany the last few years christian churches reacted poorly to the rapidly growing trend to celebrate halloween, because they realized it is an old pagan hollyday and most kids celebrating "dont remember" the meaning of the following (christian) day (that probably has been put on that day by early european christians to make use of the traditional pagan hollyday)...
The word Halloween on the other hand is derived from the christian hollyday and stands for All Hallows Eve'
No. All Hallows Eve comes on the day before All Hallows Day (AKA All Saints Day). AH Day is Nov 1. Hence, AH Eve is Oct 31.
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One of the nice things about being in the US Army--all our training calendars list Hallowe'en, our Garrison Commanders go out of their way to schedule Trick-or-Treating with MP support and road closures; we have Post Christmas Tree Lighting events every first week of December--it's always been this way, and I don't think it'll ever change.
The US Army is one of the most diverse communities in the world--my office alone has representatives from several ethnic and cultural backgrounds, yet no-one gets excited over Hallowe'en, Christmas or Easter, and on the 31st everyone will be more than happy to get off at noon and head home to their families and the night's festivities.
I'm glad I don't work in the corporate world.
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It became politically incorrect when someone realized that there might be some religious aspect to Halloween. My wife works for the Headstart program and the directives that came down to them is that since not everyone is Christian and because diversety must be respected Halloween is not celebrated in the Headstart program. Teachers may have a "costume day" or "pajama day," but they may not decorate for or celebrate Halloween.Wait, I think I inferred your post incorrectly. Are you saying they believed that Halloween is a Christian holiday?
To be honest, I'm not sure what they meant, that is just the way the memo was worded. Which is weird because of the fact that a lot of the Christians around here celebrate "Bible Day" instead of Halloween.
Edit: However, as Andrew and Guy pointed out, Halloween is the Christian name for the holiday. Samhain was the original pagen name.
It became politically incorrect when someone realized that there might be some religious aspect to Halloween. My wife works for the Headstart program and the directives that came down to them is that since not everyone is Christian and because diversety must be respected Halloween is not celebrated in the Headstart program.
That runs totally contrary to my exerience -- where I taught in Virginia, well-meaning parents lobbied to ban Halloween observances (or even mention) in school, because it was a "pagan holiday," and the "decent Christian folk" of the community didn't want the evil godless liberal schools forcing pagan rituals on their innocent darlings.
If diversity were truly respected, everyone's holidays would be OK -- including "pagan" ones. I'd love to see a place where it's OK to have a Christmas tree, a menorah, and a mistletoe display that references the death of Balder -- instead of this weird situation where Christian holidays are celebrated but renamed to avoid "giving offense" to the non-Christians whose holidays are banned outright (unless they have the good fortune to fall on or near a Christian holiday, or were co-opted as Christian holidays in the past -- e.g., Easter).
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It became politically incorrect when someone realized that there might be some religious aspect to Halloween. My wife works for the Headstart program and the directives that came down to them is that since not everyone is Christian and because diversety must be respected Halloween is not celebrated in the Headstart program.That runs totally contrary to my exerience -- where I taught in Virginia, well-meaning parents lobbied to ban Halloween observances (or even mention) in school, because it was a "pagan holiday," and the "decent Christian folk" of the community didn't want the evil godless liberal schools forcing pagan rituals on their innocent darlings.
The next three years it will not be an issue really, because they don't have school on Fiday, Saturday, or Sunday.
...although All Hallows Eve itself comes on the day before Halloween.All Hallows Eve and Halloween are the same night I thought. I understood that all Hallows day (or all saints day) is November 1st.Hallowe'en = (All) Hallow('s) E(v)en(ing)
or
(All) Hallow E(v)en
Because the ancient Jewish and Christian way of counting time put the evening with the day that followed, instead of with the day past. Hence, Halloween and Christmas Eve. The eve(ning) proceeds the day.
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One of the nice things about being in the US Army--all our training calendars list Hallowe'en, our Garrison Commanders go out of their way to schedule Trick-or-Treating with MP support and road closures; we have Post Christmas Tree Lighting events every first week of December--it's always been this way, and I don't think it'll ever change.
We called it Operation: Nighthawk when I was an Air Force SP. The SPs that patrolled base housing during trick or treating were always volunteers and we all recieved a special comendation for doing it. It was always a lot of fun, because people would come up and offer us refreshments or candy or something. Plus I was in England which made it more special to be almost where the whole thing started.
Halloween is the best holiday of the entire year, and I take serious offense with anyone screwing me out of it it.
Devil’s night (night before Halloween) used to be a big problem in Detroit (hello….arson), but they’ve really cracked down on that.
Halloween is the best holiday of the entire year, and I take serious offense with anyone screwing me out of it it.
You got that right. It's a lot of fun for us big kids too.
Gotta love the D.
Darn right. Hey, now that I have my brain back, don't I owe you some clothes? How's the lil' one?
My wife and I were just talking about seeing how Ireland is on Halloween. We've already done Vegas (big fun). Bwahahaha, from downstairs I hear, "I think I'll dress up as Molly Malone."
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Halloween is the best holiday of the entire year, and I take serious offense with anyone screwing me out of it it.
Devil’s night (night before Halloween) used to be a big problem in Detroit (hello….arson), but they’ve really cracked down on that.
Ah, Devil's Night.
Gotta love the D.
F*##ing Devil's Night... It's a real problem where I live because the local kids think it's great to pull shit like drive-by shootings of trick-or-treaters, using BB guns or paintball guns (sometimes filled with rock salt or marbles).
That and the rotten egg -throwings, the beatings given to the Pakistani kids and the Chinese kids, the razor blades in mailboxes, the drunken cops who do nothing...
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Gotta love the D.Darn right.
You know, when I moved out here to the sticks, I didn't realize that Oakland County is still considered Metro Detroit.
It's the very edge, but I'm still technically in the Greater Metropolitan Detroit Area.
Hey, now that I have my brain back, don't I owe you some clothes? How's the lil' one?
The little one is good. Although she does have a cold right now. Not easy on a 3 (almost 4) week old. Or her parents.
Mom's got an infection, and now I've caught the kid's cold. It's been a rough week at our house. But, all-in-all, it's not bad.
My wife and I were just talking about seeing how Ireland is on Halloween. We've already done Vegas (big fun). Bwahahaha, from downstairs I hear, "I think I'll dress up as Molly Malone."
I'd like to see how Ireland is anytime of the year. It'll be awhile, though.
Shiny
Think you'll appreciate this: The Hortlak ,living where you do.
Mom's got an infection, and now I've caught the kid's cold. It's been a rough week at our house. But, all-in-all, it's not bad.
Ah yes, the family illness. Usually I'm patient zero, then I get it back from her later. Tell her she looks like a "mombie" for Halloween. :)
I'd like to see how Ireland is anytime of the year. It'll be awhile, though.
I took my wife for her 30th Birthday this year as one of those "Once in a lifetime" trips. 100% awesome, although we wasted way too much time inside Dublin itself looking for gifty things. Now that the Euro is falling against the dollar (fricking finally), we're talking about going back.
...Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!
It's just not Halloween without it.
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Alright, I'm tired of this *(&*.
Isn't it funny that, the more politically correct we become, the more oppressed we are? In other words, are you enjoying your freedoms, or are you being forced to observe someone else's agenda in an effort "not to offend?"
I love responsibility. I love being responsible for my actions. I cannot guarantee that I will not offend you. Just by wearing a "Yay 4E!" or "Yay Pathfinder!" shirt I'm going to offend someone. Should we really step that far?
Amusingly, I never knew Halloween to be a Christian event, or tied to All Saints Day, or that there even WAS an All Saints Day!
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Nutty. Is it really due to associations of Halloween with Christianity? I'd been hearing stories over the past couple years about Christian opposition to Halloween (though I believe such stories are largely the products of the media and not reality). The stories were typically that we shouldn't be teaching children to dress up as monsters and pan handle. I find it unlikely that that (alleged) movement has started to influence corporations to ban Halloween, but I find that to be more likely than the concept that Halloween is being suppressed because of its religious associations and offensiveness to non-Christians.
Or, to put it another way, I wonder if to the extent that it is political correctness, it's political correctness in favor of Christians (who are, from what I hear, the ones offended by Halloween).
Edit: Another thought. Maybe Halloween is now NSFW (not safe for work) given that the costumes have become more appropriate for a strip club than an office.
Alright, I'm tired of this *(&*.Isn't it funny that, the more politically correct we become, the more oppressed we are? In other words, are you enjoying your freedoms, or are you being forced to observe someone else's agenda in an effort "not to offend?"
I love responsibility. I love being responsible for my actions. I cannot guarantee that I will not offend you. Just by wearing a "Yay 4E!" or "Yay Pathfinder!" shirt I'm going to offend someone. Should we really step that far?
Amusingly, I never knew Halloween to be a Christian event, or tied to All Saints Day, or that there even WAS an All Saints Day!
Alot of our holidays aren't really all that "holy" anymore anyway. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas are all very secularized, which is fine by me (as a christian). I don't mind there being two "Christmases" for example, the secular let's give each other presents, and the religious let's celebrate the birth of christ (even if he was really born in the spring). Some of us can get to participate in both, while others can stick with one or the other or neither (a festivus for the rest of us).
One of the best christmas songs of all time, A White Christmas, was written by Irving Berlin, who was Jewish.
I think it’s possible it’s a safety / liability thing too. Businesses don’t hand out candy because they don’t want to be sued, parents don’t want to sift through mounds of candy because somewhere on your block a freak might lurk (as an aside, Kit Kats go through 4 metal detectors and an x-ray machine before you get to buy one in the store). Sebastian does have a point, Costumes are getting, ahem…hoochier…in the last decade, and it’s totally wrong to restrict that sort of thing to a single day. If my wife wants to wear a latex nurse’s outfit some other day of the year, I’m behind that 100%.
Speaking of Halloween, I got a couple teaser for you.
Halloween Surprise!
Sebastian on his custome, or his true self?
This little surprise will be posted next week for Halloween! yay!
I'd like to see how Ireland is anytime of the year. It'll be awhile, though.
Halloween in Ireland is when we are at our most Pagan- despite Christianity painting a veneer of respectability by associating it with All Hallows, in the countryside it's still Samhain and the idea is still to scare the crap out of kids, not just fill them with sugar. Bonfires will go up, stories told, Halloween games will be played and drunken brawls will happen, and screw anyone who wants to try and tidy it up.
It's bloody, dark and alive and it's the best holiday of the year.
Isn't it funny that, the more politically correct we become, the more oppressed we are? In other words, are you enjoying your freedoms, or are you being forced to observe someone else's agenda in an effort "not to offend?"
I love the way that renaming holidays to avoid giving offense (e.g., "Winter Holiday" instead of "Christmas") is the work of evil political correctness. How dare they ban our holiday, those evil communists! Putting up a some kind of Ramadan display near one of the few remaining Christmas trees is also the work of evil political correctness: how dare they expect us to respect their religious holidays, instead of banning them as they should be!
If you ban Christmas, that's "politically correct." If you ban Yom Kippur, that's "defying political correctness." Does no one else see a contradiction here?
Ideally, we could all celebrate whatever we wanted, including appropriate displays. When I was a kid in New York, we got Christmas and Easter off, and also Rosh Hoshonnah and Yom Kippur. If somebody wanted Ramadan they'd've gotten that, too. The more the merrier. Everybody was happy.
...it's still Samhain and the idea is still to scare the crap out of kids, not just fill them with sugar.
So tempting. By then our Irish should be passable too, as we only have the basics down atm.
Ideally, we could all celebrate whatever we wanted, including appropriate displays.
Call me when it's "White History Month." I get your point, just have to get my sardonic plug in. We actually have quite a few Islamic decorations hereabouts, but then Dearborn is 1/3 Arabic.
Call me when it's "White History Month." I get your point, just have to get my sardonic plug in.
I'd be calling you in 8 days. That's when we all get to learn how the Indians were so impressed that the noble white Pilgrims had come to save them from their benighted state that they winded and dined the said Pilgrims in thanks.
I understand where you're coming from, but sometimes "tyranny of the majority" is very hard to see.
No worries; I was a tad worried I might open a huge freaking mess with such a comment, but luckily most of the people here are quite level-headed. Technically, I'm not white, and neither is my son (we're Olive), but Italians do a swell job of passing. Crap, the Irish weren't even white (in the U.S.) until the 19th century, and I've never seen a paler skinned people.
No worries; I was a tad worried I might open a huge freaking mess with such a comment, but luckily most of the people here are quite level-headed. Technically, I'm not white, and neither is my son (we're Olive), but Italians do a swell job of passing. Crap, the Irish weren't even white (in the U.S.) until the 19th century, and I've never seen a paler skinned people.
I sympathize; I'm German-Irish, but have a Jewish last name. So I'm a "white oppressor" until I introduce myself, then I'm a "dirty Jew;" if I people ask if I'm Jewish and I say no, I'm a "white Christian," unless I tell them I'm Buddhist. By that time, they love me or hate me just because I'm a sarcastic bastard, so it's all good.