posted on October 16, 2004 05:14:07 AM new
Oct 16, 6:40 AM EDT
By KRISTEN WYATT
Associated Press Writer
NEWNAN, Ga. (AP) -- Across the Bible Belt this Halloween, some little ghosts and goblins might get shooed away by the neighbors - and some youngsters will not be allowed to go trick-or-treating at all - because the holiday falls on a Sunday this year.
"It's a day for the good Lord, not for the devil," said Barbara Braswell, who plans to send her 4-year-old granddaughter Maliyah out trick-or-treating in a princess costume on Saturday instead.
Some towns around the country are decreeing that Halloween be celebrated on Saturday to avoid complaints from those who might be offended by the sight of demons and witches ringing their doorbell on the Sabbath. Others insist the holiday should be celebrated on Oct. 31 no matter what.
"Moving it, that's like celebrating Christmas a week early," said Veronica Wright, who bought a Power Rangers costume for her son in Newnan. "It's just a kid thing. It's not for real."
It is an especially sensitive issue for authorities in the Bible Belt across the South.
"You just don't do it on Sunday," said Sandra Hulsey of Greenville, Ga. "That's Christ's day. You go to church on Sunday, you don't go out and celebrate the devil. That'll confuse a child."
In Newnan, a suburb south of Atlanta, the City Council decided to go ahead with trick-or-treating on Sunday. In 1999, the last time Oct. 31 fell on a Sunday, the city moved up trick-or-treating to Saturday, which brought howls of protest.
"We don't need to confuse people with this," Councilman George Alexander said.
In Vestavia Hills, Ala., a suburb of Birmingham, a furor erupts every time Halloween falls on Sunday. Local officials decided not to take a stand this time.
"About 15 years ago, we decided to have Halloween on Saturday instead. People went crazy. We said, `Never again,'" recalled Starr Burbic, longtime secretary to the mayor. "It messed everybody up to move Halloween. Some people don't like having it on a Sunday, but we just couldn't find a way to make everyone happy."
The patchwork of trick-or-treat zones could work to children's advantage: Some might go out on both nights to get all the treats they can.
With so many towns split over when Halloween should be celebrated, many are going with a porch-light compromise: If people do not want trick-or-treaters, they simply turn off their lights, and parents are asked not to have kids knock there.
posted on October 16, 2004 06:18:21 AM new
Nothing like the Bible Thumpers to deprive some kids of fun. Are they goingto deprive children of presents when Christmas falls on a Sunday next year.
There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
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Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
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On This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld declares: "the area… that coalition forces control… happens not to be the area where weapons of mass destruction were dispersed. We know where they are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat."
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The only thing scary about Halloween is this ludicrous protest which reveals growing fanaticism, ultra conservatism and ignorance throughout our country. People who equate little trick or treaters with real witches and demons need their heads examined.
posted on October 16, 2004 06:26:01 AM new
I truly can't believe they think that it's celebrating the devil. This is an example of how odd the christian right thinks.
Halloween is observed by the people of the wicca faith.
People who equate little trick or treaters with real witches and demons need their heads examined.
Another good one Helen!
Bigots are miserable people. Prevent Bigotry through Education.
posted on October 16, 2004 07:01:01 AM new
We're having it where I live on Saturday this year, and THAT'S getting a lot of debate as well. As far back as I can remember we've NEVER had 'beggar's night' on a weekend.
It has historically always been on a schoolnight. The logic being that kids are inside when the Halloween parties and drunks hit the road. This sounds like a good idea to me. I just don't understand why they would want to do it on Saturdy Night, a.k.a. "drunken party night."
And as far as the religious viewpoint goes, I agree with most of you guys- it's all done in play and is for entertainment of the children.
However, the fundamentalists do see this as "glorifying the enemy" much in the same way as if our politicians started wearing turbans on their heads or started calling our own military "baby-killers" or something.
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
Prevent Bigotry through Education.