Christianity, Paganism, and Secular Halloween

October 31, 2002

Source: Star Tribune

On October 31, 2002 the Star Tribune reported that "Halloween is having a tough time hanging on in some Twin Cities schools as parents contend that the scary holiday conflicts with their families' religious beliefs. In religious traditions ranging from conservative Christian to Jewish to Muslim, Halloween is looked down upon among some adherents as a pagan observance or a celebration of evil spirits. Other parents say the real point of Halloween is the candy and the chance for children to pretend they are someone else. Some of the public and private schools that still mark the holiday consult parents before scheduling celebrations. Many parochial schools leave Halloween observances to parents entirely."