Brothers, love is a teacher, but a hard one to obtain: learning to love is hard and we pay dearly for it. It takes hard work and a long apprenticeship, for it is not just for a moment that we must learn to love, but forever.
(Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
In case you had a burning desire to know my thoughts on Halloween . . .
I love Halloween - I have a late October birthday and so EVERY childhood party involved costumes and dry ice.
Several years ago, I asked our (Anglican) priest what his thoughts were on the whole Halloween/trick-or-treat thing - His litmus test was always "does the activity separate us from God" ...he answered something to the effect that having fun with our families in goofy outfits and eating candy could hardly be considered demonic, and assigning it deeper meaning was looking for trouble (not that I would ever do that, of course). I appreciated that.
Oh, E, did you really thing I'd be a Catholic Halloween-denouncer? :)
Oh, not at all! But finding this post was like expecting random "fun-size" candy (which is always good) and then getting the biggest size of my favourite chocolate bar, if you take my meaning. =P
+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteWell, I didn't have that burning desire to know that about you, but now that I do, I like you so much better! =D
Oh, E, did you really thing I'd be a Catholic Halloween-denouncer? :)
ReplyDeleteYes. Thank you.
ReplyDelete(That is, yes to the post, not yes to "Did you really think I'd be a Catholic Halloween-denouncer?")
Sally, that made me laugh! Yes.
ReplyDeleteI'm always glad to know more about you!
ReplyDeleteI love Halloween - I have a late October birthday and so EVERY childhood party involved costumes and dry ice.
Several years ago, I asked our (Anglican) priest what his thoughts were on the whole Halloween/trick-or-treat thing - His litmus test was always "does the activity separate us from God" ...he answered something to the effect that having fun with our families in goofy outfits and eating candy could hardly be considered demonic, and assigning it deeper meaning was looking for trouble (not that I would ever do that, of course). I appreciated that.
Makes sense, Cottage Child. Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip! I was just reading Margaret's delightful rant on the subject here:
ReplyDeletehttp://margaret-zakachurina.blogspot.com/2010/10/in-defence-of-celts-again-and-again.html
Oh, that's good, GretchenJoanna; thanks for posting it.
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteOh, E, did you really thing I'd be a Catholic Halloween-denouncer? :)
Oh, not at all! But finding this post was like expecting random "fun-size" candy (which is always good) and then getting the biggest size of my favourite chocolate bar, if you take my meaning. =P
Speaking of candy, this was a good read:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/dining/27candy.html?_r=1&hpw