The Symbolism of Halloween

[@dranglerdwyer1170]

“The ladies dressing up in the sexy stuff” -Jonathan Pageau, 2019

[@compookiie]

Jonny P x Halloween spooky scary type beat 🎃 a e s t h e t i c s y m b o l i s m

[@shotinthedark90]

"Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise -- why destroy yourself?" Ecc. 7:16

[@michaeldavidnvitales]

shotinthedark90 Exactly the verse I was thinking

[@conantheseptuagenarian3824]

@@michaeldavidnvitales same here.

[@jadonharper1493]

What exactly are you on about?

[@shotinthedark90]

@@jadonharper1493 The time tag was accidental, if that's what you're referring to. I was referencing a verse from Ecclesiastes in relation to the theme Jonathan is talking about.

[@shotinthedark90]

@@fairygrant5097 It does say that, but of course there's debate about what it means. Here's the context: In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise- why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool- why die before your time? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

[@michaelpisciarino5348]

0:00 Halloween: The Last Carnival Left 1:12 Currently, it is an American Holiday, Including - Frights -Macabe - Tricks and Treats -The Undead 3:17 Sahwain, an ancient celtic holiday 7:04 What came before Decays, Residue 9:09 Elements of Halloween - Monsters (Vampires, Ghosts, Ghouls) - Spooky Stories, Movies, Novels (secondary causes) 10:58 "The Darkness Manifests Itself" , solution +Pray for The Dead 12:08 Trick or Treat. Dealing with Darkness coming to your door 14:00 A little treat placates demons. 16:16 A little darkness allowed to halt it from further encroachment 17:24 Revealing Inner Demons 18:57 Should you celebrate Halloween? 20:30 Laughing at Death

[@YKDSGN]

Don't agree with the last part. Death is serious matter which doesn't play games with anyone, should be treated like such.

[@marcobaratta]

There is always the good dude who does that for everybody, thank you Michael!

[@joecristina3461]

13:48 - the classic "Pageau Laugh" - Jonathan has the gift of laughing at the most opportune times!

[@danil.6667]

Hi Jonathan! I didn't know you had a KZbin channel. I saw you at the Jordan Peterson documentary screening. Just wanted to say thanks for hosting! I had fun. :)

[@carlotapuig]

I didn't know Jonathan existed outside utube

[@danil.6667]

@@carlotapuig So we complete each other in a weird, trivial, cyberspace way, lol.

[@jameswatza649]

Just started listening to these yesterday and already I'm like 6 hours in. You have been saying so well what I have thought for years about art, entertainment and culture....Yet I couldn't verbalize it. You did. Thank you for that.

[@ScottsShots]

I really wanna see Pagaeu analyze Twin Peaks. The series is loaded with cryptic symbolism and it's incredibly weird and enjoyable too.

[@spritecut]

Beautifully explained. I can see you struggling to explain complex, sociological, psychological and theological ideas into layman’s terms. Really well done, thanks. (By ‘struggling’ I mean thinking very hard and making careful choices about which words to use and trying not to oversimplify things too much while still getting your ideas across.)

[@ScottsShots]

12:56 Interesting connection: if someone refuses to give trick or treaters candy, or if they're rude towards them, or give out toothbrushes or something, their house gets egged and TP'd.

[@linusyootasteisking]

2:34 " in theory they get a trick, but of course, nobody does that anymore." we used to egg the houses that didn't give us candy.. one guy we especially hated we egged a few times a year at random..

[@TheAnadromist]

As a very long time horror film buff I can say that I have for years been disturbed by the growing alternative religion in Halloween celebrations. It does indeed take on carnivalesque dimensions, with more and more Brazilian flavors. But I would actually prefer it if they took it more seriously as a time to reflect on the darkness. You are right about the loss of All Hallows Day.

[@barefootanimist]

Hallowe'en has become commercialized, and it's an individual's responsibility to do with it what s/he will; for many, that means tapping the Shadow for a season, preparing for the return of the sun at the Winter Solstice. In many parts of Europe, the night attributed to witches and "evil" falls in the opposite season. The night before May Day, called in Germany "Walpurgisnacht," is the night of spooks and witches, while the 1st of May is a day honoring life and sexuality. Only in the New World have we burdened October 31st with all the fear and loathing of mortality, while simultaneously demonising sexuality and vitality on the first day of May. I'm sure we can blame the Puritans, past and present, for that...

[@allisgrace1313]

Labyrinth Spirituality I personally like to blame the Puritan's as often as possible ; )

[@radaroreilly9502]

Labyrinth Spirituality so what you’re saying is I should plan my trip to Germany around 1 May?

[@barefootanimist]

@@radaroreilly9502 Depends... Do you wanna see parades of goat-demons (Krampusnacht), in early December (the 5th?), or travel up onto the Brocken on April 30th?

[@barefootanimist]

I think it's important to recognize that the celebration of Samhain and Hallowe'en are, in a sense, an act like whistling past a graveyard; they serve as a means to safely confront the inevitability of our own death, and to look (by jack-o'-lantern light) into the dark corners of our own psyches. The only real "danger" of doing so is the same as the danger of constantly looking toward the light: living your life exclusively in one extreme or the other reduces your ability to see when confronted by their opposites. We develop aversions to what we refuse to acknowledge, as in the case of Christians wagging their fingers about the "evils" of Hallowe'en, or Neopagans and Militant Atheists scorning Christianity, without looking at the deeper significances of either of those things. Humanity has always feared what lurks in the darkness beyond the edges of the firelight, but the monsters in the dark are the inspiration for our hero-tales, as well. Without the Minotaur, Theseus might have become the ancient world's equivalent of a postal clerk. Without Grendel, Beowulf just boards a ship and heads back home. Likewise, Siegfried without Fafnir, is an orphaned child who becomes a blacksmith's apprentice, and nothing more. Bathed in the blood of the monster, he attains kingship, wealth and magical power. It's through the reconciliation of the opposites that we become whole, and thus are able to become truly ourselves. Without a ritualistic way to explore the darkness of our psyches, and the reality of our short lives on Earth, people live with an unacknowledged Shadow that feeds on their fears. I appreciate your perspective, Jonathan, and recognize that you're coming from a belief-system different from my own, which is no less valid. It's always interesting to hear from you on subjects like this.

[@RunninUpThatHillh]

Can I share your comment? I love it and it describes exactly what I was thinking. But better. ha!

[@barefootanimist]

@@RunninUpThatHillh Feel free... :)

[@KnjazNazrath]

As a Thanatologist, I approve of this comment.

[@MrRoundthetwist]

Labyrinth Spirituality extremely well said! Thank you

[@MrRoundthetwist]

Wolfhound evil needs good and good needs evil One does not exist without the other 🍻 What you are describing are all states of mind (consciousness)

[@marjorie619]

This was so enlightening. I m an 83 year old Catholic woman who loved Halloween and attending catholic school we also celebrated all Souls and Saints day. But you gave a much deeper explanation of the reasons behind the rituals. Thank you.

[@marcuswoods4131]

That was a great presentation of Hallowe'en. That Hallowe'en is a day of doing it incorrectly followed by two days of doing it properly is incredible. Thank you!

[@Alex_Plante]

You forget there are 2 death festivals in the Fall - Halloween, which is the fun one, then Remembrance Day on November 11th, which is the serious one.

[@VincentTamer]

Halloween was always my favorite Holiday. As a child I was always so anxious that I would be able to see a ghost and as I grew into an adult I was incredibly dismayed at the lack of meaning. As much as I enjoyed dressing up when I was young it was always the possibility that something supernatural would happen that motivated me on the day. Now in adulthood I still embrace this holiday as a time to embrace the darker aspects of life. I often do things that may put me in a fearful place, like take a walk in nature at night. An important aspect proposed in this video is the return to prayer around this time.

[@mnorth1351]

A great irony of modern Halloween is that the children in costumes are supposed to be the scary things, and yet parents are often so afraid of who might live in some of the houses, that they don't even let their children go trick-or-treating door to door anymore.

[@billtimmons7071]

Great video. I'm a Jungian and the whole inner "shadow" concept resonates with me. How we dress reflects our ego in some ways - excluding societal requirements of course. The "subtle body" comment is intriguing. It reminded me of Jonathan's previous video about principalities and powers ... around the tooth fairy and Santa Claus time frame? A spirit may not totally embody itself but must manifest itself - maybe partially become embodied maybe? Through culture or organizations? I live near Denver and I've lived near Chicago. Two different city "spirits" or cultures. I can "see" the difference. When the goth kids trick or treat, I can "see" they are trying to manifest something. I love these videos because I'm trying to get from under my materialistic and literalistic culture.

[@m2sotolopez]

That blends so well with the Day of the Dead in the Mexican tradition. You go and pray to the saints, November 1st is the angelitos, for the children that have died and November 2 is for all the dead. We love making altars to our deceased relatives in our schools. This continues the Halloween tradition in the Mexican American traditions along the border.

[@0oDanngaro0]

I did quite like the new intro Jonathan, especially the glowing at the end. Seems like the image fills the screen with glory.

[@ronanp100]

I always understood Halloween to be the night that the spirits of the dead were free to roam the earth.They went in search of the living so that they could inhabit their bodies and so come back to life. The reason people dress up as ghosts is so that the spirits of the dead will mistake them for other spirits and so will leave them alone.This was especially important for people who went out after dark.

[@harrisjohnson3554]

Oh my goodness! I love the new intro!

[@ericfaith2810]

Yohanan, your explanations from a cultural/historical perspective are brilliant.

[@JamesStevensTEXALTA]

Fantastic analysis! This video on Hallow's Eve really helped me think through all of the noise about this holiday.

[@brennasiver3928]

Re: laughing at death/using death to defeat death... Maybe it's more appropriate than I thought that my son wants to be Batman for Halloween. Batman's whole thing is turning fear and darkness against the monsters who inhabit fear and darkness. Cool stuff. Thanks.

[@Pete_L77]

Thanks for the insightful video!

[@skdewolf7606]

Whoa. So glad I found your channel. Compelling.

[@2oleaves843]

Good advice about being attentive. Thanks again, Jonathan. Keep up the awesome content, your material is helping me through a tough time.

[@laurelin3422]

I been looking at various videos by various Christian of various denominations about Halloween. This was by far the most interesting, and I think the most helpful, to me at least. Thank you

[@WhiteStoneName]

The idea of placating demons is good. This is something that I've not thought much about. I think you're very correct, "Everybody placates demons." Additionally, I think it's very important to be aware of the balance of darkness and light within ourselves. What current movies like The Joker are telling us, is that we have a huge problem with the repression and hiding of our darkness.

[@xiooix7986]

The thing about keeping the monsters on the porch is brilliant. Happy Halloween 2019.

[@rosafalls8068]

For me, this ties in very well with Vervaeke's Ep. 40 on The Meaning Crisis, where he talks about The Irrational and The Rational. He didn't say it outright, but what I got out of that lecture and this, is that there has to be a balance and a kind of acceptance of both, yet, not an obsession or fear with either side, a Critical Detachment.

[@notsure9802]

I think Halloween has definitely changed over the years and decades. I like what you said about giving the demons just a little so as not to succumb completely and that prayer is the ultimate answer. I always saw halloween as just playing like acknowledging the scary things that used to be or were perceived to be or even not the scary but just different. As I grew up it also was about celebrating those we lost and the cycle of life and seasons. And I liked Halloween because it didn't have the present giving anxiety I felt around Christmas. I grew up poor so I always wished I could give more and eneded up feeling guilty or ashamed around Christmas. Halloween we could gather and play without the stress of present giving. I don't have that stress anymore and feel very blessed for that.

[@janetbolden597]

I'd love to see a video on The Nightmare Before Christmas. Maybe some things are obvious, but it'd still be fun.

[@michaelparsons3007]

“Jonathan Pageau and the subtle bodies”

[@spritecut]

By commenting you bump the algorithm a little to get videos like these into other people’s suggestion/recommended lists.

[@bmc8871]

Wonderful video. Thank you.

[@JonathanCarterSchall]

The new opening is superb.

[@alecperdeau650]

After all this analysis, I really want to see how Johnathan analyzes the symbolism of Castlevania and other horror franchises to show the greater meaning within them.

[@WhiteStoneName]

Everybody wants to feast, no one wants to fast. All fun, no fallow. Interestingly this relates to The Joker.

[@10hawell]

Halloween and Dziady (Elders) are the same holiday, and arose independently in two different parts of Europe, which indicates that Indo-Europeans had their holiday which preceded both.

[@Crashdown88201]

I noticed the new opening right away - great stuff! Overall this video had great visuals, definitely a step up. Thanks for sharing your valuable thoughts! See ya!

[@RByron]

It was so good that I watched it twice. Thank you for your work.

[@DanaJumper]

New intro is stellar!

[@figgypreserves]

This might be a silly question but can you explain more about how and why prayer is the answer to the problems presented by Halloween?

[@juanjo667]

Brutal video, and finally i get to understand that Bible passage! Thanks and keep up the good content!

[@RSanchez111]

Thanks Jonathan, Halloween does make a lot more sense in the proper context of Hallowtide. I've never heard it explained that way. So many problems exist because we either deny the problem or deny the solution.

[@invin7215]

Thank you for helping me understand this better.

[@Popscotch328]

Intro is great Jonathan! Thanks a lot for this vid.

[@MrCRACKINSKULLZ]

Hands down, Some of your best work definitely.

[@ezekiel3791]

About the intro. When I watched the part first, I actually did not hear the music. I think that has nothing to do with the sound but to the fact the new intro is somehow more complex. A bit distractive I might say. The old one had certain simplicity filled with elegancy and combined with rich music evokes abundant tranquility.

[@NothingHumanisAlientoMe]

I agree. The intro got me here. It is excellent as you say - it is evocative. The possible promise of a mystery answered...

[@joanebf]

I agree that the new one is a bit too much. Maybe because the sky in the back has a different iconic level then the main image. It is possible to find a balance and improve the original intro.

[@HubertofLiege]

The lyrics to the tune in the church are “let God arise, let all his enemies be scattered”

[@thewitheredfigtree]

Is there a third oblivious category, where the celebrators have no idea of the symbolism behind it and just do it as a matter of a fun cultural celebration? Or is the symbolism inherit and archetypal such that one might be consciously oblivious but not subconsciously?

[@acanthony]

16:20 The picture of the overgrown theme park - does anyone know where that image comes from? The 'Whacky Shack" in the background looks like the one I remember in a now defunct amusement park.

[@joshuamcdonald3415]

New opening is amazing!

[@tworivers3518]

Nice, as an Irish person I'd like to thank you for pronouncing Samhain correctly.

[@NothingHumanisAlientoMe]

Aye the Canadians are better at being English than the bloody English.

[@beyondfirstthought6814]

Beautiful. Well articulated, as always. Thank you for sharing this, my mind has been on this topic. You rock.

[@franko2886]

Originated in Ireland (Samhain) and brought to the USA by Irish Catholic immigrants where it became commercialized and spread throughout the world.

[@lucdubras]

It's becoming something of a tradition of mine to watch this video around Halloween lol

[@noblegamer8740]

I really hope I can explain this stuff to my kids in a way they understand as they grow up. You and Jordan have helped me make so much sense of the world and how Christianity is the answer.

[@calebshoemaker]

11:51 I think of the Ave that overcome A Night on Bald Mountain in Fantasia

[@a1cRobertson]

@JonathanPageau have you done your video explaining Subtle Bodies?

[@lindahill9677]

Heh, I've recently been to an educators' conference and I am currently exploring the Dual Coding technique - basically decoding words and information to build into long-term memory schemas. The first thing the guy delivering this seminar said was "we live in a world made of metaphors". Having studied semantics I see how this works but I've instantly thought of Jonathan and his channel.

[@MadFrenzy582]

Ok i laughed at the 'placation of the demons part.' Now i just wish Alex Jones would say something like that.

[@ironadamjohn5376]

If you don't think you are placating your demons, you may be ruled by those demons.

[@AdamPalatine]

License to sin? I don't hear someone like Cassian or Antony the Desert in this. We're not to placate (appease) but to combat.

[@kisslena]

Beautiful Teaching!👏🏾🔥🙏🏾 😘

[@leedufour]

Thanks Jonathan.

[@juliepaine532]

We do not celebrate Halloween(do not decorate the home, do not exalt the macabre, do not dress in scary costumes) BUT, we do walk my parent’s neighborhood in silly/sweet costumes and go trick or treating. This compromise feels right to us, may the Lord forgive us if we are not aligning ourselves with His Holy will. I love how you exposed the truth that who we allow ourselves to become during a day of chaos says a lot about what might be going on in our inner life.

[@kungphilfu38]

I admire your honestly. Check out the channel Truthunedited video the history of halloween. It gives a clear view on how Christians should approach halloween. Very challenging to our world view and traditions.

[@davidmorris5212]

You could always do what was done in the past on holloween, sit down and remember you'll die oneday

[@kungphilfu38]

@@davidmorris5212 A lot of things were done in the past on Halloween. Things that are not mentioned that would we would probably find repugnant and disturbing. I thought I was clear in my reply David. As Christians, how can we celebrate something that is clearly contrary to God's word? I don't believe that I was rude, I was trying to give her some more clarity on the subject of Halloween that may help her feel more confident in her decision to "passively" celebrate this unholiday. Please if you are convicted to seek a clear truth give the history of halloween by Truthunedited a look.

[@kamkam4976]

@@davidmorris5212 "You could always do what was done in the past on holloween, sit down and remember you'll die oneday" Hmmm. Didn't know that. As on Ash Wednesday, about six months (and the other equinox) later. Good.

[@davidmorris5212]

@@kungphilfu38 Just do what Christians have done with most holidays from other people... make it your own. Take Passover for instacne. Jews on Passover calibrate the deaths of Egypt's first born and their first born not dying. It's a celebration, that at its heart is about death. Christians celebrate Christ and the last supper and salvation. This is very different from the Jewish celebration of dead children.

[@ravissary79]

This was excellent.

[@OdinComposer]

Can you explain how prayer works as a better alternative to placating demons? Having grown up in an atheist family in a secular community I'd like to understand more about prayer in general.

[@sanda1924]

He is talking about prayer in in the last Q&A (just at the beginning, one of the first answers).

[@boopdewoopde7169]

Mr Pageau, have you seen the movie 'The Squid and the Whale'? I found it interesting and would love to hear what you'd have to say about the symbolism in the movie. Since divorce and fleeting relationships are so prevalent today I'm curious what those things mean symbolically. What does divorce between parents do to the symbolic world?

[@TheAlison1456]

The intro was pretty fitting.

[@Alex80000]

Great video @Jonathan Pageau Also Samhain is pronounced like "Sow-in".

[@allisgrace1313]

As a convert to Catholicism from neo-pagan witchcraft & vodou I feel this is a beautifully balanced look at All Hollows Eve. My only concern is the talk of turning the deities of the past occupants into demons. All the gods of the nations ARE demons! I know this, unfortunately, from personal experience. It is not a relative thing, the state of these beings. Jonathan, I'd be so grateful if you could further clarify what you meant by that group of statements. What are your beliefs on the topic of deities of the nations etc. Also, what is your profession of faith? Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic? Thank you for your time. I'm very much looking forward to the other videos you will release this month! May God bless you!

[@dadoq1052]

Do you pray to Mary?

[@allisgrace1313]

Jeremy Milford Thank you Jeremy. Are you Eastern Orthodox as well? Are Eastern Orthodox called to believe that all the gods of the nations are devils?

[@dadoq1052]

@Jeremy Milford Jesus said: I am the Way; I am Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through me...Mary doesn't do that you've been tricked into polytheistic goddess worship

[@dadoq1052]

@Jeremy Milford asking Mary to pray to God for you doesn't make any sense.Thats like asking a random dead person to pray for you.

[@dadoq1052]

@Jeremy Milford exactly he's not God of the dead.Mary is dead,y'all asking a dead person to pray for you.

[@maciejtedeque8096]

At 5:04 polish names at graves! Are theese of some polish community in US/Canada?

[@thomasgodoy4620]

You said about not engaging in that kind of monstruous imagery and why it can be dangerous. But what about the opposite?When can one know he has engaged too far in that kind of imagery and what are the dangers of that?

[@barefootanimist]

I think you have a couple of good questions here, Thomas. There is, indeed, a danger to living in fear of the "darkness," and of death, precisely because it creates an unhealthy, unbalanced psyche, to constantly look toward "light and life" all the time. From what I've seen of "cradle Christians," there's a tendency to fixate on "what might happen" as a result of never having looked into their own Shadows. Depending on the individual, this can result in false connections between causes and effects, resulting in superstitious paranoia. In other cases, it results in projected fears and scapegoating. They begin to see the Devil everywhere. Predispositions to schizophrenia, dissociation, and anxiety, exacerbate the problems. One of the best tools out there to begin to deal with the issue is to start journaling, and then as you get comfortable with that, to do what's called "Shadow-work." These become conscious efforts, on the part of an individual, to delve into those untouched elements in oneself, and to bring them into the light. You might find "Iron John," by Robert Bly, or Timothy Roderick's "Dark Moon Mysteries" to be useful guides to the first steps into (or out of) the cave...

[@thomasgodoy4620]

@@barefootanimist What a coincidence! I've just finished reading a chapter of James Hollis' "Under Saturn's shadow" in wich he talks about the book "Iron John"!

[@barefootanimist]

@@thomasgodoy4620 Bly's book is a tool that made its way into the public consciousness in the 1980s or early-1990s, so I'm not surprised to hear someone else has mentioned it...

[@nicolesimonealexander4639]

Is what you say about subtle bodies the same idea you explained in your video about why Santa exists?

[@neversurrender6112]

I thought that was the eyes wide shut theme at the begining

[@Countcordeaux]

My favorite holiday

[@vlafed4690]

What is trick part of trick or treat? Can you provide an example?

[@grosiradu]

In my country in the last years Halloween started to get popular, but only for parties.

[@bigboi9452]

Your channel is really cool. You are worthy of being proclaimed punk rock 😎

[@arthurhudson2]

Hi Jonathan, I'm trying to find the bible verse you referenced about the demons and the clean house. Would you or someone else point me in the right direction? Thank you!

[@SweetImmaculateHeart]

Matthew 12:43-45

[@arthurhudson2]

@@SweetImmaculateHeart thank you!

[@arthurhudson2]

@@SweetImmaculateHeart thank you!

[@SweetImmaculateHeart]

My pleasure.

[@ceo8733]

Makes sense why there are always church service during Halloween, I've always thought it was somewhat contradicting.

[@jbsweeney1077]

Happy Halloween 2023.

[@Randaed]

Make Halloween Catholic again! Catholics have always had a close, weird, macabre relationship with death and dying. We have the memento mori, but also the defeat of death, the universal equalizer of inevitable demise and the triumph of heaven. We laugh at death, but fear meeting it unprepared. You can't win the fight without first preparing for it seriously and you can't be serious about a threat you ignore and hide. That's why we need Halloween and the Hallowtide. It's a time to contemplate death, face and remember the deaths of our loved ones, and prepare ourselves. It's a beautiful thing! I love it, but I'm glad we have a graveyard at our church because I would hardly want to delve into the festivities if we couldn't, as a family, also go out and pray for the dead, attend the mass, and perhaps pull a weed or two from a tiny grave. As Catholics we ought to embrace all of it, I think. That's how we take back the culture. Nit by surrendering our holidays to neo-paganism, but by refusing to accept their bastardization and having fun doing it, while also expressing and demonstrating the deeper importance of the festivities.

[@aramis9692]

Really? Come on that is traumatic ☹

[@Randaed]

@@aramis9692 What? Visiting the graves of our family and parish and praying for the dead? That's traumatic? You are WAY too western sterilized because that's 100% Dia de Los Muertos.

[@Randaed]

@@aramis9692 Also, are you unaware that the Church offers an indulgence for a soul in Purgatory for prayers said in a graveyard during the octave of All Souls?

[@user-kw9hg9o]

Do the symbolism of the Ricardo Milos phenomenon.I'm dead serious.

[@jdleland]

Jonathan, it seems that some people in the comments section are concluding from this video that, since we DO often placate demons in our everyday life, we therefore SHOULD placate demons, or celebrate placating them. Is this what you mean?

[@djonez85]

If you don't placate them they will break you.

[@jdleland]

Can you explain what you mean? Or give examples where Christ advocates placating demons?

[@djonez85]

@@jdleland Leviticus 16:8 "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat." Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 "Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?"

[@jdleland]

@@djonez85 Thanks Ned, but can you explain how those verses can be interpreted as saying that we should placate demons? Maybe I am not understanding the meaning of the word "placate." When pagans would offer up food to idols/false gods, that would be an example, I think, of placating the demons; you give a gift to them in hopes that they will be satisfied with you. But this is clearly a practice that is forbidden, and it is not because they were being "over righteous" or "over wise." What do you think--am I understanding this word incorrectly?

[@djonez85]

@@jdleland When autumn comes you start to see the signs that winter(death and all things associated with death) is near and to survive the winter you have to give a sacrifice. You take your time and energy to prepare firewood and food and this is your sacrifice. You take a short amount of time and a small amount of energy now to give to the winter and instead of dying you get repaid with months of rest.

[@kaufmanat1]

The notion of the costume and laughing at death reminds me of you're a video about the talisman

[@janvisagie231]

As a South African who never really participated in Halloween, since it's not really apart of our culture, it was so strange for me to see how Polish people celebrated all saints and all souls day, around this time.

[@pocenha]

Fantástico!

[@alexandercamlin8889]

One of the pedagogical functions of trick or treating is to reward children for overcoming their fear of strangers and the terrifying unknown. Absolutely essential for a pluralistic society of diverse people living in close proximity.

[@tabinekoman]

In the same spirit is Mexican day of the dead, Japan Setsubun, Hungry Ghost celebration.

[@gregdefriese7206]

Check out Randal Carlson's Halloween video. Don't know how accurate it is but interesting.

[@JAMESKOURTIDES]

I'm reminded of harm reduction techniques like Vaping instead of smoking, using Kratom instead of Opiates etc to give a treat to the demon instead of inviting them in full bore. Happy Halloween!

[@firebrandpacific6967]

JAMES KOURTIDES Vaccines are another one. You let in a little bit of the virus so that it doesn’t kill you.

[@victorst5997]

And there's also the biblical aspecto of it. For that, one has to compare the Gregorian calendar against the Jewish calendar. As it turns out, the Jewish calendar has two ways of looking at the year: the sacred calendar and the secular calendar. For the secular Jewish calendar the second month is Hesvan, wich goes from the middle of October to the middle of November, because both calendars are offset by six onths, therefore, the end of October and the beginings of November in the Gregorian calendar, is around the same time as to the middle of Hesvan in the Jewsih calendar. So one could properly say that the Halloween eve and All Saints day are around the middle of Hesvan, which is the second month in the Jewish calendar. Now, in Genesis 7:11,12 we read: "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in THE SECOND MONTH, THE SEVENTEETH OF THE MONTH, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark." That's the flood story. And for Moses, who wrote Genesis, the Jewish calendar was naturally his time reference. I truly believe both events, the flood and halloween/saints day, are related if not the same. How did I learn this? Because I'm from Mexico. The land of "Dia de Muertos".

[@theserpentshaman5027]

In terms of yen, Halloween just became the biggest holiday in Japan.

[@kamkam4976]

Really? Can you say more? Serious.

[@theserpentshaman5027]

@@kamkam4976 Commercially, Valentines day was the biggest holiday, but in recent years, more and more people are decorating and more children are participating in Halloween activities. Of course, Japan's holidays were never as commercial as those in America. But starting in September, there are plastic pumpkins and ceramic skulls littering the corners of every store.

[@davebeech236]

The origins of Samhain, as I understand them is that the ancient Celtic peoples of Europe separated the year into eight parts and each transition had its own festival. Midwinter (Yule) and midsummer, marked by the solstices, the equinoxes, and the halfway points between. They also started marking the beginning of a new day when the sun went down, not when it rose, which is why the end of the day to us in modern times is still called the evening - eve, first, beginning, before - and so Samhain marked the beginning of the new year. They also believed in 2 worlds - the land of the living and the land of the dead. When you die here, you're born there and vice versa. When it's day here, it's night there, because the sun disappears in the west and gives light to the underworld then comes back up in the east to give us light. At the feast of Samhain, the door between this world and the world of the dead is open for one night and we can communicate with our ancestors. This is why Catholics in Eastern Europe (and maybe the west, I don't know) put a candle on the graves of dead family members; to light the way for their souls to visit. When Christianity came to Europe, the early church elders had to demonise pagan beliefs but they were smart enough to put their Christian festivals at a time and in a manner that the Celtic people could understand. That's why Christ's birth, the return of the sun, is celebrated at Yule/Christmas and the resurrection, the rebirth, is celebrated at the festival of the goddess of spring, Eostr, which became Easter.

[@gpower9572]

I'm in Ireland and the Gaelic for Halloween is Oiche Samhain which means night of Samhain.

[@Frauter]

Is there a parallel with the tripartite structure of the divine comedy? I'm thinking of the little bit of schadenfreude the reader is allowed to feel, and that Dante allows himself by torturing his personal rivals, before purgatory and heaven?

[@ainternet239]

"Halloween, last carnival in the west" Come to German-speaking countries during Fasching/ Karneval before Lent and you may be surprised 😉 Edit: add link en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_in_Germany,_Switzerland_and_Austria