I've always wondered how a pagan feast like Halloween has found its way into American culture as a Christian nation. Some historians hold that the Roman Catholic Church moved All Saints' Day or All Hallows' Day to the day after this festival which was celebrated in pagan Northern European countries. Gradually the secular aspects of this holiday obscured the religious one and Hallow's Eve changed to Halloween making this a national American holiday. And unlike Christmas where people greet each other saying Happy Holidays, few people are apprehensive to mention the real name of this holiday.
Nevertheless, like any other holiday, stores would be happy selling stuff (candies and costumes) to their faithful customers. What I find interesting as a sociologist is this "trick or treat" thing. Basically, this is a blackmailing practice for children at that early age. You either give them treats or they may play tricks on you. In the past, such tricks could include soaping your car, throwing things at your window, smearing paints, and whatever else that could come to their creative mind.
Tonight, I had a very short time between my last two classes to ride my bike around the neighborhood to the north of UT campus to make some quick observations. This neighborhood is middle (or maybe upper-middle) class. It appears that we live in a more civilized time and adult people don't like children to resort to uncivilized measures or violence to get their rights. I could see many people waiting patiently with their treat baskets at their door for little masqueraded (or at times without costumes) goblins to come and pick whatever they want. This way, traditions would be upheld without uncivilized behavior.
We have a similar feast in Iran called Chaharshanbe Suri with a few major differences:
First, the festival does not have pagan roots and is traced back to Zoroastrianism. That's why some ultra-orthodox Muslims are unhappy about it being celebrated nationwide. On the other hand, ultra-orthodox Zoroastrians too are not happy with jumping over fire on another ground: fire (as the sustainer of life and a symbol of God's light) is a sacred element in their religion and they consider it a disrespect to jump over fire.
Second, the trick part of the tradition is not so tricky as in Halloween; at most, kids make so much noise with their spoon-pan set to get their treat. However, if you get very pestering, you could be treated with a bucket of water poured over your head. Well, Iranians are generally generous and kind, but they don't like to be blackmailed (even over such a tradition which is all about giving and receiving).
Third, there's no pumpkin carving. In Iranian culture, produce, vegetable and fruits are revered as God's blessing for eating not for wasting. This year, they put sales tax on pumpkins in Iowa. And the rationale? Pumpkins have become more of Halloween decoration than foodstuff (which is tax-free). However, as a taxo-phobic person, I suspect that has been more of an excuse to make a new tax revenue out of a profiting $100 million business. Right on Halloween night, Iowa Governor repealed the tax order.
Anyway, I liked one church playing with this night's famous principle:
God's love is all treat and no trick.
Amen.
Nevertheless, like any other holiday, stores would be happy selling stuff (candies and costumes) to their faithful customers. What I find interesting as a sociologist is this "trick or treat" thing. Basically, this is a blackmailing practice for children at that early age. You either give them treats or they may play tricks on you. In the past, such tricks could include soaping your car, throwing things at your window, smearing paints, and whatever else that could come to their creative mind.
Tonight, I had a very short time between my last two classes to ride my bike around the neighborhood to the north of UT campus to make some quick observations. This neighborhood is middle (or maybe upper-middle) class. It appears that we live in a more civilized time and adult people don't like children to resort to uncivilized measures or violence to get their rights. I could see many people waiting patiently with their treat baskets at their door for little masqueraded (or at times without costumes) goblins to come and pick whatever they want. This way, traditions would be upheld without uncivilized behavior.
We have a similar feast in Iran called Chaharshanbe Suri with a few major differences:
First, the festival does not have pagan roots and is traced back to Zoroastrianism. That's why some ultra-orthodox Muslims are unhappy about it being celebrated nationwide. On the other hand, ultra-orthodox Zoroastrians too are not happy with jumping over fire on another ground: fire (as the sustainer of life and a symbol of God's light) is a sacred element in their religion and they consider it a disrespect to jump over fire.
Second, the trick part of the tradition is not so tricky as in Halloween; at most, kids make so much noise with their spoon-pan set to get their treat. However, if you get very pestering, you could be treated with a bucket of water poured over your head. Well, Iranians are generally generous and kind, but they don't like to be blackmailed (even over such a tradition which is all about giving and receiving).
Third, there's no pumpkin carving. In Iranian culture, produce, vegetable and fruits are revered as God's blessing for eating not for wasting. This year, they put sales tax on pumpkins in Iowa. And the rationale? Pumpkins have become more of Halloween decoration than foodstuff (which is tax-free). However, as a taxo-phobic person, I suspect that has been more of an excuse to make a new tax revenue out of a profiting $100 million business. Right on Halloween night, Iowa Governor repealed the tax order.
Anyway, I liked one church playing with this night's famous principle:
God's love is all treat and no trick.
Amen.
