Moscow schools join Russian Orthodox Church ban on Halloween

[emad]

From BBC News:

The Russian Orthodox Church and the Moscow city schools administration are taking a stand against Halloween. The educators say that bringing elements of religion into the classroom is inappropriate, while the clerics condemn its connection with evil spirits. The Moscow education administration has written to schools banning celebrations. "Religious elements in the celebrations contradict the secular part of the education in state educational institutions," the letter said, according to Russia's NTV.

The department is also reportedly concerned that ghoulish elements of the holiday have upset parents. "Parents have expressed their unhappiness that some schools are celebrating this - how do you call it? - event or holiday," a department spokesman told the Moscow Times. The spokesman, Alexander Gavrilov, said parents were distressed to see children pretending to hang each other after Halloween.

A Russian Orthodox Church spokesman, meanwhile, said Halloween was "more than strange". "When people turn to evil forces by way of a joke, when they praise them and flirt with them, it reflects on the fate of the person, because it teaches him that evil is acceptable," Vsevolod Chaplin told the Interfax news agency. "Walking with a demon in life can only lead one to tragedy, unhappiness and self-destruction," he added. Halloween - the night before the Catholic All Souls Day, and incorporating pre-Christian elements - is not widely celebrated in Russia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3230247.stm

Mmmmmm...."Walking with a demon in life can only lead one to tragedy, unhappiness and self-destruction": GOT THAT, JUNIOR?????

[Paschall]

1. The Halloween fad seems to have worn off in France, too

Apparently Halloween goods went on sale at a 50% discount this year in France. The holiday really didn't hit Gaul until the early 80s, when it was an excuse for a party, and it flourished for a few years. This year, Halloween seems to be a dud. Don't think it could be the US-origin of the fête, do you?

[dArKeR]

2. Moscow bans "morally damaging" Halloween - Mirror

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/24by7panews/page.cfm?objectid=13578071&method=full&siteid=50143

You always have to question if the Morons had anything to do with helping this along!

[Classical_Liberal]

3. Read the last sentence

It isn't celebrated much in Russia to begin with. Why is the story imporatant. It is like claiming Jewish synogogues are oppressive for not celebrating Christmas! I am shocked the bbc ran the story.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Yeah, it's not their holiday to begin with

I bet it was introduced by commercial interests as an excuse to sell cheap plastic junk.

(The Baltic and Slavic pagans celebrated the two solstices, but I don't think they did much with the equinoxes.)

In Western countries, it at least has a history.