My daughter's birthday is on Halloween (Oct. 31st)(she's going to be 9).

[Maat]

It is my understanding that the holiday is based upon the ancient pagan holiday of Samhain.

I would appreciate any information on Samhain. I'm trying to emphasize the positive aspects of the holiday; I'm trying to DE-emphasize what nutty fundies have told her.

Any information you have would be so helpful, and I thank you in advance for it.

I'm raising her as a Religious Scientist, which means that we honor and affirm all spiritual paths ( www.rsintl.org ). We are a progressive, welcoming, and affirming belief system, and get the pleasure of exploring many different spiritualities.

Again, thanks in advance for any information.

On edit: I did get a few tidbits from this DU thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x31925
.

[Dead_Parrot]

1. A couple of suggestions:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallowee.htm might be the best place to start: They're neutral, have a lot of info and have some links out to other sites.
Or, try http://www.witchvox.com/_x.html?c=holidays&offset=34 for a mixed bag of neo-pagan points of view.

Hope this helps...

[Maat]

2. Thanks (n/t)!

[Arianrhod]

3. How cool. :) Very briefly,

Samhain (pronounced "SO-when") was originally part of a three-day celebration of the Celtic New Year, which took place over Oct 31-Nov 2. It was the last day of harvest; anything still on the stalk on Nov 1 was left there, perhaps as a gift to the gods (or the animals). The one thing most people do know about the holiday is that the barriers between this world and the Otherworld were said to be at their thinnest, permitting crossings over. It was a time when certain social rules were relaxed or even broken, thus giving rise to the modern idea of "tricks". For example, a rich but unliked neighbor might find his garden ransacked. In some Celtic cultures, better-off neighbors would offer food to poorer ones--thus giving rise to the idea of "treats".

Spiritually, Samhain is a time for deep reflection, for thankfulness for the year past, and hope for the year to come.

[Maat]

5. Thanks! Just saw this (catching up).

This is VERY positive and I will definitely quote it her (it is beautiful): "Samhain is a time for deep reflection, for thankfulness for the year past, and hope for the year to come."

Thanks again!

[Arianrhod]

7. I hope your daughter had a wonderful birthday.

She must be very deep, at that age, to understand these things. I love it that you are teaching her in this way. :)

We were fortunate this year, in that Samhain fell on a New Moon--also a time of inward contemplation and waiting for rebirth. It is a very powerful time for those of us who follow the seasons.

[Maat]

8. Hey, she did, Arianrhod!

And thanks to the posters here.

I adopted her; she came to us at 2. She had been seriously physically abused. We gave her all of all love, and she has very healthy self-esteem. The reason is this is very important is because I cannot have her having a negative perception of her birthday (due to some nutty members of the Religious Wrong).

The DUers who posted here are very special; blessings to all of you!

[LostinVA]

4. The nutty Fundies know NOTHING about Samhaim

The Chic tract is bogus -- it's our "New Year's," when the turning of the wheel is celebrated, and those who have passed are honored. The harvest is in, the Earth will soon be dark and cold, and we wait for the green time to come. It's a lovely holy day.

And Druids did NOT leave pumpkins next to the houses of sacrifice victims. There isn't even any non-0Roman proof the Celtic Druids even practiced human sacrifice. Remember: the Celts kicked Roman ass, and almost drove them from Briton... they had an axe to grind.

You could make a nice altar and place some harvest stuff on it, and maybe some pictures of people or pets she's loved who have died -- if you're Christian, you could pray, or just talk about what you loved about those who have passed. That's IF you want to do something Samhaim-like -- then have a harvest feast! Or go trick-or-treating. That way, you could have some of everyone's beliefs.

[Maat]

6. Thanks.

"Those who have passed are honored."

That sounds wonderful - we will remember her great-grandmother (my grandmother) AND her deceased pets.

And it would be nice if the division between this world and other existences really was the thinnest - we have a couple of deceased relatives and friends we would like to contact via meditation.

I like the idea of a harvest feast - we had some good squash tonight; we'll make some great squash on her birthday!

We'll have fun trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.

But you guys have helped so much; I can tell her that modern customs are fun. The important thing is that the origin of the holiday is not 'bad,' and she doesn't have to listen to nutty beliefs from members of the Religious Hardright.

We're Religious Scientists by the way. We are Universalists, and we honor all spiritual paths. So, we are relatively free from self-destructive dogma.

We participate in Native-American-style drumming, with Native Americans present; we do this monthly.

I love reading posts in this group; they are enlightening.

[Auntie Bush]

9. Are you native American? Just wondering.

I have a friend who practices several Native American customs and she isn't Indian...just has great respect for them. The funny thing is she's actually British.

By the way my birthday is Oct 30. I loved it because we could decorate so nicely and have great parties. One year we filled the living room knee deep with Fall leaves and had a party to remember. My mother was sooo cool to do that.

[catchnrelease]

10. Just now found this thread

Quite late, Maat, but I wanted to add a couple of things I love to do on Samhain.

When you have dinner on that night, set a place in honor of those who have gone before us. Some people actually place some items of the dinner on the plate (if you do it is considered correct to burn the offerings later, not just throw them in the trash) or leave the plate empty. But the idea is that you are including them in the celebration.

My favorite thing, which I learned at a dinner with a group of Gaelic Traditional friends, is that everyone brings a picture of a loved one...human or pet...and places on a table. Then during dinner we go around the table and each of us talks about the person etc. whose picture they brought. Some story or memory of that individual to honor them.

And some people will place a light in a window as an invitation to any passing by, indicating that they are welcome.

It sounds like you are doing a great job with your daughter. You are aptly named!