Speaking out for this day
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October 31st. A day which has many names including Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Samhain, etc. A sacred day for many. A day which holds multiple meanings and ideas for those respectful of it. However, it seems that the intolerance for its existence increases each and every year. That this ancient festival celebrated by many different cultures before us for many different reasons is somehow evil. Why is that?
The exact time and place of Halloween's (this is how I shall refer to it from here on) birth is unknown. No single culture can take credit for its creation. Perhaps they are all responsible. The ancient peoples didn't celebrate this day out of respect for a malevolent manifestation, though. Gods no. They were giving tribute to the forces about them, whether they be benevolent entities, their ancestors, or even to the harvest of crops they had acquired for the year. This was by no means evil. This was and still is honourable.
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Yet, I digress. There have been many that have said such things better than I, and so I provide links to such pages if you, dear reader, wish to go and be educated by what this day was to the ancient peoples. I am, for the moment, a bit more interested in the effect 'tis having now. Yes, now. I look about and many are speaking out against this day. They declare it and those that respect its existence to be worshippers of a sinister entity, and more specifically, the Judeo-Islamic-Christian entity known as Satan. Dare I laugh at such a declaration? Satan and devil worship is a part of the Judeo-Islamic-Christian religions (whether they admit to it or not). Now, how exactly did this being become attached to Halloween? The religions responsible for the existence of Halloween didn't even have such a figure in their faiths. Most faiths outside of Judeo-Islamic-Christianity don't even believe in an absolute evil.
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'Tis true that some of the older faiths once allowed for human sacrifice. What is not said by most that use this to attack the existence of this holiday is that sacrifice was an honour for those that gave their lives for it. The slain were respected for this. Modern Paganism in general no longer allows for human and/or animal sacrifice. We do not admit to the old ways of sacrifice being wrong, 'tis just that we believe a human life is of better service to the gods and goddesses (which do differ depending on which faith one follows) if one is allowed to remain alive for as long as possible.
Now, I'm not asking for all people to put their faith into this holiday. I'm not even trying to promote it, even though seems as if I am. I just ask that people stop trying to eradicate the holiday. Show tolerance for those that respect this day and everything it now stands for. 'Tisn't an evil day. 'Twas never evil. That is just an aspect that modern media and close-minded religions tried to place upon it. Try looking at it from another perspective: Would you want someone telling you that 'tis wrong to respect Rosh Hashanah or Christmas or any day important to your religious faith?
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