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Original post: winged one

Alright, I'm putting this question in here...Sorry if there's already the same topic elsewhere. I did search.

Lately I've been noticing how many commercial brands are changing their packaging from saying Halloween to "Fright Night". It's freaking me out. I Love Halloween. Is this some sort of reaction by American capitalism to the religious right?

Do other countries even have this issue? When I was a kid (I'm 28 now) we had Christmas pageants and Halloween parties alike. Of course there were the christians who bitched back then about the evils of Halloween, but by and large most of the kids and families celebrated and enjoyed it.

I hate the idea of people trying to mollify fundamentalist....whatever kind they are. But maybe that's not what the trend's about. Any input?

Original post: deviadah

Halloween is an American event, but has been adopted by other countries due to American pop-culture. In Sweden Halloween is really All Saints Night and is all about visiting loved ones graves.

I don't think any nation, that does Halloween, has any religious problems with it like what you describe... and if some nation does I bet they don't celebrate it at all!

Original post: Kath_

The people who made the movie Fright Night should sue.

probably make more money than the movie did.

I certainly hope it isn't more right wing christian nonsense. I swear, this country is turning more and more into a friggin theocracy every day. Why are we even pissing in Iran's cheerios? We could just have them come over and show us how to better oppress free thought here.

sorry, that was a bit rantish.

Original post: Gala

Here (England) I haven't seen anything saying Fright Night or anything other than Halloween. Only Christmas is being butchered here because apparently it could be offensive (ignore the fact that nobody has actually complained about it...it's just assumed).

Original post: Kylara

I haven't seen anything about fright night...although I do know a lot of the churches around here hold events on Halloween to provide an Christian alternative (though *snicker I think they still call them Halloween events LOL)

Original post: winged one

Gala;287293 wrote:Here (England) I haven't seen anything saying Fright Night or anything other than Halloween. Only Christmas is being butchered here because apparently it could be offensive (ignore the fact that nobody has actually complained about it...it's just assumed).

I love the way we celebrate diversity by supressing it so that no one is offended.

Kath wrote:I certainly hope it isn't more right wing christian nonsense. I swear, this country is turning more and more into a friggin theocracy every day. Why are we even pissing in Iran's cheerios? We could just have them come over and show us how to better oppress free thought here.

sorry, that was a bit rantish.

Rant on!

What's funny is Halloween is the only time of year I feel religious. (I am absolutely not a relgious person normally). That's why I put this in Paganism.

deviadah wrote:Halloween is an American event, but has been adopted by other countries due to American pop-culture. In Sweden Halloween is really All Saints Night and is all about visiting loved ones graves.

That's totally interesting. Do any of you dress up? I always admired the Mexican holiday of El Dia De Los Muertos. In fact when I celebrate Halloween I celebrate it with aspects of that holiday. For me it's the Fun of Halloween, signifigance of Samhain, and about remembering and honoring the dead like El dia de los muertos.

Original post: Odin

I've never noticed this, but I have heard they're contemplating changing Christmas to 'Winter Festival'.

Original post: Khaemwese

It's the first I've heard of it.

Original post: winged one

Odin;292365 wrote:I've never noticed this, but I have heard they're contemplating changing Christmas to 'Winter Festival'.

That's lame. I'm all for all the religious holidays keeping their frickin' signifigance...and being able to be celebrated as a non-religious holiday.

Original post: She Demon Wolf

Oh yeah, in the UK we're like, banned from putting up Xmas decorations in work-places, in case it offends any people of a non-christian faith.

How ridiculous. PCness has gone totally nuts.

Original post: Astral Tempest

Is that actually true? I thought it was just Daily Mail bollocks. Perhaps not! :-o

Original post: deviadah

[QUOTE=winged one;287397]That's totally interesting. Do any of you dress up?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE]
Yes, some do but more at certain Halloween parties. There is no door knocking. But Easter in Sweden is more like Halloween. Kids dress up as witches and go around asking for candy.

Original post: Odin

[QUOTE=winged one;292465]That's lame. I'm all for all the religious holidays keeping their frickin' signifigance...and being able to be celebrated as a non-religious holiday.[/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly, everthing's just being blown out of proportion now. Do people really get so offended at seeing others celebrating a different faith to them to justify stuff like this? If they do they're just intollerant.

Original post: Eretik

Here in the West of Scotland,we have guising[ disguising/dressing up] - similar to trick or treating but without the trick part,usually the children say 'the sky is blue,the grass is green,can I have my halloween?' Traditionally nuts and apples are part of the food given.In the old days hazelnuts, because they can be used to trick 'Auld Nick' The Christian devil, who is compelled to stop and pick up the nuts,wherever he finds them [I think he is a bit OCD,as seen here] thus enabling his intended victim/s to escape safely. Nowadays the cheap and plentiful monkey nuts are substituted for the now expensive hazelnuts.We used to hollow out turnips for lanterns, but again thanks USA for the oh so simple to carve pumpkins. Lanterns are lit and in our house,at least, the living room ,entrance hall,front door and the corridor are dressed up and spookily lit-all my neighbours join in with this.We make a big effort.The kids love it.We dress up spookily too,it adds to the atmosphere. Later , when the wee ones are asleep,us adults meet up with friends -at one of our houses - and I read tarot for those who see it as their New Year,I know a lot of the old folk tales , so we'll sit by candlelight and I'll tell a few.[I was told these stories by my grandmother ,who learned them from hers and so on] We'll have various divinations[apples are used in a lot of these] a ritual or too [this can be interesting as we are a mixed company,of various traditions] and then sit and enjoy the company of friends,family and some decent malt whisky and treacle scones
......................................................................................

#My post from the Samhain thread in Witchcraft. I don't understand your remark,Deviadah,about Halloween being an American holiday, and being taken up by other countries .We have many customs going back hundreds of years here,and in Ireland [England too] in relation to Halloween.

Original post: Venefica

We had the Christmas decoration problem here in Norway to, but here the reason was that if someone was sad about the holly day it would make them more sad to see the decorations, i think it is stupid, i am all for caring for the feelings of others but within reason.

As for Fright Night vs Halloween. I like the name Halloween better, but since both are made up and is about the same it do not really matter to me.

Original post: Odin

We should go for neither, And have Halloween officially named Samhain :p

Original post: winged one

Odin;292920 wrote:We should go for neither, And have Halloween officially named Samhain :p

Lol. Although then there would be a sudden outpouring of mispronounced holidays.


"Sam Hane? I've never heard of that before?" That's the problem with those pagan holidays..can't pronounce them phonetically.

Original post: sacredherbals

I havent seen anything here that says "Fright Night" . I'll be on the lookout! I love Halloween too! Hopefully theyre not changing everything to "Fright Night"!

Original post: endor957

winged one;287174 wrote:Alright, I'm putting this question in here...Sorry if there's already the same topic elsewhere. I did search.

Lately I've been noticing how many commercial brands are changing their packaging from saying Halloween to "Fright Night". It's freaking me out. I Love Halloween. Is this some sort of reaction by American capitalism to the religious right?

Do other countries even have this issue? When I was a kid (I'm 28 now) we had Christmas pageants and Halloween parties alike. Of course there were the christians who bitched back then about the evils of Halloween, but by and large most of the kids and families celebrated and enjoyed it.

I hate the idea of people trying to mollify fundamentalist....whatever kind they are. But maybe that's not what the trend's about. Any input?

I'm sorry but I don't understand the question. Are you talking about the movies or that people in general are trying to change the name of the day?

Original post: Testament

[QUOTE=Kath_;287291]I certainly hope it isn't more right wing christian nonsense.[/QUOTE]
Magic Eightball says: "Signs point to yes."

Original post: winged one

endor957;293999 wrote:I'm sorry but I don't understand the question. Are you talking about the movies or that people in general are trying to change the name of the day?

It would appear that seasonal products that were once labeled for halloween (costume makeup, decorations etc) are now carrying the label "Fright Night". As in someone is renaming Halloween to Fright Night to be more PC since a lot of religious people have problems with the holiday of Halloween as they assume it's a Satanist holiday (and I mean the human sacrificing kind. Not any modern form. Not that it would matter).

This is happening in America...where we are also apparently phasing out Merry Christmas stuff to say Happy Holidays instead so non-christians won't be offended. :rolleyes: That's me rolling my eyes at our PC insane society.