Halloween cancelled

In my city Christians stopped the celebration at school. Funny, the Catholic school in my neighborhood has ghost and goblins and Halloween decorations plaster all over their windows.

Too bad. When I was a kid we had a costume contest every year. My Dad would make the greatest costumes for me. I remember to girls dressed as Bonnie and Clyde complete with toy Tommy guns. Cannot do that now.

School Afraid Of Offending Real Witches Cancels Halloween

POSTED: 12:46 pm EDT October 21, 2004

PUYALLUP, Wash. -- There will be no Halloween parties at one school district in Washington state.

Puyallup School District spokeswoman Karen Hansen said school officials have been reviewing the Halloween tradition and decided that time could be better spent.

According to a Seattle TV station, Hanson said there were three reasons that the parties will be canceled. The first reason was that Halloween parties and parades waste valuable classroom time. The second reason was that some families can't afford costumes. The third reason is that it may offend real witches.

She said schools have had complaints from followers of the Wiccan religion who are offended at the way Halloween is celebrated. Hansen said schools are teaching students to be respectful and take account of the discomfort felt by others.

She said that witches with pointy noses are not "respective symbols of the Wiccan religion" and that their district wants to be respectful of that.

She said any students who show up in a costume might be sent home.

The school district [Des Moines, Iowa] has the following reminder on its Web site:

HALLOWEEN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! Remember, Halloween masks, makeup and costumes ARE NOT ALLOWED at any time on campus.

You guys don't need Halloween, you've got Dick Cheany to scare you. :D

What an absolute load of shit!!!!

But students can still bring in razor blades and butcher's knives right.

Halloween 'Trick or treating' is just another example of American cultural imperialism that is smothering the rest of the world. Lets hope the ban spreads.

Originally posted by James Thomas Halloween 'Trick or treating' is just another example of American cultural imperialism that is smothering the rest of the world. Lets hope the ban spreads.

Err.... the yanks didn't develop Halloween, the Irish did. Many many many centuries before Europeans knew what the landmass that is America is...

Whichever country Halloween is certainly European, but certain aspects of it were developed in the States, particularly the commercial aspect.

As a country with so little culture of its own it rips off anything it can commercialise and then bestows the bastardised version back on the world. Unfortunately this then becomes the accepted norm or in the worst cases fact, see virtually any historical hollywood film.

Or even worse Barney videos, they even change bloody nursery rhymes - Itsy Bitsy spider my arse.

So will I ever be 36?

Yes, and its been 'celebrated' over here likewise. But going back to childhood it was celebrated in a different manner, as I say it is now like a Barney video with the emphasis on fancy dress and turning up at strangers doors asking them for stuff. That was never done 20-30 years ago.

You may guess, I'm not a fan of strangers at the door asking for things.

Originally posted by James Thomas Yes, and its been 'celebrated' over here likewise. But going back to childhood it was celebrated in a different manner, as I say it is now like a Barney video with the emphasis on fancy dress and turning up at strangers doors asking them for stuff. That was never done 20-30 years ago.You may guess, I'm not a fan of strangers at the door asking for things.

We've had the kids coming round the door in Ireland for, oh, 60 years. Maybe more. Before Ireland KNEW what US culture was.

Me thinks James' house will be pelted with eggs this weekend.

Sure its commericialized, what the fook isn't? Perhaps this is why US unemployment is lower than Europes. But that is not the point. People like to celebrate and have a good time. Pre-harvestfest. The weather is going to get worse why not one last chance to go outside at night and visit your neighbors? Children find it fun. College kids like the excuse for a party. And if it helps retailers, so be it.

This year I will passing out cigarrettes and beer. I plan to dress as a lighter.

US's unemployment might be lower than most of Europe, but when you take away France, it isn't. Ireland and the UK definately have lower unemployment, our levels are so low that the unemployed = the unemployable.

Yep, some folks are non-employable.

How many kids are really Wiccans? Not many, I bet. And, what's one day? In Philadelphia, we didn't do anything for the last two weeks of school because grades went in then, and no one bothered showing up until the last day to get report cards. True, Halloween is commercialized in the US, but so is Christmas and Easter. I haven't dressed up for Halloween since I was 13 (and then, I wrapped myself in newspaper and said I was the comics just to get candy from the neighbors). I guess times have changed, although, what's wrong with wearing a costume to school, unless it's offensive?