Mulling over LEE LOFASO to STEVE ASHER 19 Nov 2004

G'day Lee!

>>   3. Noachides may not observe any religious holidays outside the
>>rabbinical traditions of Torah -- most especially including such
>>Christian holidays as X-mas, Easter, Halloween, All Saint's Day, Good
>>Friday, Ash Wednesday, and probably even the "new year"
(January 1st).
>>Alien religious holidays are forbidden even under the minimum of the
>>Noachide code; these are violations of the commandment against
>>idolatry.

>MP>I never have really thought of Halloween as a
"Christian" holiday.

SA>Neither have I. Each year, commercial interests (not pagans / wiccans
SA>AFAIK, just retail chains) sell various bits & pieces like witches'
SA>hats, costumes, lollies etc for kids to wear, but most adult Australians
SA>(like me) resist Halloween because it is primarily a US celebration,
SA>not relevant here.

 LL> Well, it is the Vigil of All Saints.  :)

I'm just looking at the Wikipedia entry - //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
& it is apparently a contraction of "All Hallow's Eve", the
day before the
Catholic All Saints Day, as you say, but again that has little relevance
here, AFAIK - not something that the general public is aware of. Apparently
also known as the Day of the Dead & a celebration for Wiccans and modern
pagan traditions ... but no religious connotations for the general public.

We used to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day ("Guy Fox Day" or Bonfire Night) in Oz 
on November 5th, in memory of the terrorist who tried to blow up the
British Parliament a few hundred years ago, so Halloween might creep in as
a close replacement. GFD fell out of favour in the 1970s, as we used to
erect heaps
of wood & the like with an effigy of Guy Fawkes in backyards &
vacant land & 
set fire to them, with firecrackers, skyrockets etc. It resulted in too many
eye injuries & property damage, & unrestricted sale & use of
fireworks was 
banned. 

There was always mayhem if a skyrocket landed in your box of crackers. :)

SA>I will make a point of singing carols at Christmas, and reflecting on the
SA>birth of Jesus Christ, even if it is not the actual birthday.

 LL> December 25 is almost certainly the correct date, given the account
 LL> noted in the gospel according to Matthew.  Want details how the
 LL> date is described and ascertained?

Yes, go ahead & post them.

Cheers, Steve..

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