Society & Culture

Halloween in Australia

Society & Culture

Posted by: 3lions

22nd Oct 2018 11:25pm

Hi
Just curious as to what you think.
I don't understand why we all of a sudden are celebrating Halloween?
I understand the commercialized opportunity for shops alike.
I just don't understand why?
We are Australia, not America.
Would any Australian know the origin of the concept.
Interested to know your thoughts.
Thanks :)

Comments 12

annie
  • 10th Nov 2018 08:38pm

I agree i do not think we as Australians should celebrate Halloween.When my children were little when this night turned up i would put them off going trick or treating.Even now in the area where I live we do not have many children participating in Halloween

annie
  • 10th Nov 2018 08:38pm

I agree i do not think we as Australians should celebrate Halloween.When my children were little when this night turned up i would put them off going trick or treating.Even now in the area where I live we do not have many children participating in Halloween

Summer
  • 7th Nov 2018 07:44am

Same applies for St Valentine's Day. Another American tradition that we shouldn't celebrate either .

Gypsycat
  • 2nd Nov 2018 12:09pm

Halloween stems from the Pagan celebration of Samhain (pronounced sa-wen, or sah-ven).
This was originally one of the eight festivals in the Wheel of the Year, this festival celebrating the end of harvest, and also a time when the veil becomes thin between the worlds of the living and the dead. It is, of course, timed to the Northern Hemisphere - here in Australia Samhain is celebrated at the end of April.
With the coming of Christianity, many of their celebrations were placed at the times of Pagan festivals, given new names. & basically re-wrapped & packaged. So Samhain, to most, is now known as Hallowe'en, or the evening before All Saints Day.
As a Pagan, I continue to celebrate Samhain (in April). But here in Australia, we have just celebrated Beltaine, the beginning of Summer :)

Maddiew
  • 6th Nov 2018 12:09am
Halloween stems from the Pagan celebration of Samhain (pronounced sa-wen, or sah-ven).
This was originally one of the eight festivals in the Wheel of the Year, this festival celebrating the...

Thank you so much for sharing! I knew it was a pagan tradition but never looked into it more, very interesting that the timing is all wrong due to the seasons. Amd here I thought it was just fun to dress up!

Rose
  • 1st Nov 2018 11:10pm

I can't understand why we would encourage our kids to go bothering strangers to practically demand they be given lollies and chocolates. And if they don't, they might do something feral back.
Even worse, we try to bring our kids up to be wary of strangers but then many young school kids go house to house on their own. What if they knock on the wrong door?
It's a silly tradition that has nothing to do with us nor with the values that sensible parents try to instill in their children.

Nicholas31584452
  • 1st Nov 2018 06:09pm

I think you have hit the nail on the head in mentioning the commercialisation of it. I think that is 100 percent the reason it has gained traction in the past few years.

GK31610191
  • 30th Oct 2018 12:45am

It's not Australian festival

GK31610191
  • 30th Oct 2018 12:45am

It's not Australian festival

creeker
  • 26th Oct 2018 03:15pm

It is ridiculous that we are encouraged to celebrate a harvest festival in Spring.

Mat76
  • 25th Oct 2018 12:56pm

It’s ridiculous,
We are loosing our own identity
And it makes me sad that most Australians don’t seem to care

3lions
  • 25th Oct 2018 01:02pm
It’s ridiculous,
We are loosing our own identity
And it makes me sad that most Australians don’t seem to care

Hi Mat76,
Thanks for your thoughts. I'm glad it's just not me who thinks it's ridiculous. That's very true, we are loosing our identity.
Cheers :)

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