{"id":489,"date":"2016-10-31T00:01:48","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T00:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/?p=489"},"modified":"2021-01-07T20:32:27","modified_gmt":"2021-01-07T20:32:27","slug":"happy-halloween","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/happy-halloween\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Halloween!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Showing this picture to a few online groups, I learned that Halloween<\/a>, our version, is a somewhat “American” holiday.<\/p>\n

Today is also the feast day of St. Wolfgang of Regensberg<\/a>, AKA The Almoner. He had a good reason for throwing his ax into a thicket, and that’s another topic.<\/p>\n

In the (Roman Catholic) liturgical year, Allhallowtide<\/a> starts today. It’s a three-day thing: All Saints’ Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day<\/a> (All Hallows’) and All Souls’ Day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I’m not sure why some folks get upset over this holiday. Maybe it’s the scary, and occasionally disturbing, costumes. Or the arguably-unhealthy opportunities to eat too much candy. Or maybe it’s where some Halloween traditions apparently came from.<\/p>\n

I don’t doubt that my Gaelic ancestors, and their Welsh neighbors, brought some of their pre-Christian customs over here. It’d be odd if they didn’t. The autumnal equinox is important to quite a few folks, my ancestors included.<\/p>\n

Some seasonal traditions, like divination games, are not good ideas. “Game” isn’t the problem. “Divination” is, no mater what day it is. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2116<\/a>)<\/p>\n

I’ve seen ‘adult’ costumes that are in dubious taste, and that’s a topic for another post.<\/p>\n

But getting upset over jack-o’-lanterns<\/a>, Christmas trees<\/a>, or Easter eggs<\/a>? I don’t see a point to that. On consideration, I could complain that my Norwegian ancestors are disrespected, because lefse<\/a> isn’t part of the traditional Thanksgiving menu, but that would be silly.<\/p>\n

Then there’s the notion that evil runs rampant tonight. More than usual, that is.<\/p>\n

I’m not happy about destructive behavior on any day, but found this interesting:<\/p>\n

“No fear, crime stays normal on Halloween<\/a>”
\nElizabeth Rembert, The Daily Nebraskan (October 28, 2016)<\/p>\n

“Despite what some may think of Halloween\u2019s relation to increased criminal activity, University of Nebraska-Lincoln police department\u2019s daily crime logs from the past 10 years show that crime on the last day of October is actually below average.<\/p>\n

“Oct. 31 has an average of 4.7 reported crimes, a number hovering just below the daily average of 5.2 in the same amount of time.<\/p>\n

“UNLPD Captain Jerry Plessel said while daily averages of all crimes may be lacking on Halloween, statistics do indicate an increase in intoxicated persons and minor in possession charges….”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Back to Halloween here in central Minnesota \u2014 I can’t, or shouldn’t, eat candy these days. But I can enjoy seeing families having fun this evening, and I rather like the look of most jack-o-lanterns.<\/p>\n

I hope you enjoy Halloween, too.<\/p>\n

More of how I see faith, culture, and getting a grip:<\/p>\n