And free settlers? Don’t you mean white people who committed genocide against Aboriginals?

I guess the thing with people spending beyond their means is the fact that they shouldn’t have to, that they should have more. Hence why when people want more, they often fight for it.

But I find the seasonal thing very interesting and it makes a lot of sense. I’d never thought of it that way. I guess it’s a Northern Example more than an American example because other Northern cultures would practice it that way too.

I find it hard to stomach and of the commericalised holidays. While you say people have the right to enjoy, the capitalist machine hoodwinks/guilts people into spending beyond their means, so it becomes the consumers burden and the industrialists boon. Granted no one is going to go broke having fun on Hallowe’en – getting back to the original point.

My main thrust was – it is cool (and fun) to celebrate Hallowe’en if that’s what you want to do (I didn’t stop my son dressing up last year with friends and going trick or treating because it’s something he really wanted to do) but doing it in October *is* following the American example because it is a seaonable holiday (pumpkins, apples etc) and given my continual flirtation with paganism annoyed and fed up with having to follow a Northern Hemisphere blue print (as if that is the only hemisphere in the world)

OK – off my soap box. I spend all day worried that I’d been a right pain the arse by leaving the previous comment.
Jodi Cleghorn´s last blog ..#23 Fingers of God

Like Christmas, and really anything, things in capitalist society are always produced for profit so in a sense, yes, these holidays are commercialised but as nearly everything is commercialised, it’s a bit hard to avoid it. I personally don’t feel we’re committing any sin by buying into this as the real crime is with those who profit off this not those who choose to buy the stuff.

In fact, I think people are quite right to want things and to be able to earn enough to enjoy as much of their lives as possible. And wanting these things can motivate workers to fight for better wages and conditions to enjoy these holidays.

Of course, this is no disrespect to those who choose to celebrate these holidays in their traditional capacities because socialists are also for freedom of religion and other beliefs.

And it’s just another commercialised holiday (which I would have thought prickled your socialist consciousness!) John Pender – it is not all about candy (just like Christmas was never intended to be all about presents) – it was meant to observe and remember those who are no longer for us. Traditional Samhain activities include lighting candles to remember those who have passed over. Maybe you can remember that as your gorging yourself with sugar.

Sorry to be a complete naysayer but to me it *is* just blind following.
Jodi Cleghorn´s last blog ..#22 City Morning Views

I love Halloween. Granted, I don’t really celebrate it, because I don’t socialise much but if I could have a halloween party with fellow readers/writers, that would be grand. Still, I enjoy walking past all the Halloween stuff in the shops, and enjoy it when a skeleton crawls towards me, or a witch cackles…yes, it’s commercial, but it’s also fun, and if we actually take the time to research its history, it’s totally fascinating as to how many different myths and beliefs and traditions there are for Halloween.
Lost Wanderer´s last blog ..Do you just write your book or your world?

Can’t wait to see the picture of zombiefied Ben!
Carol´s last blog ..Melancholy Monday

It’s amazing how a worldwide annual holiday can be seen as threatening to another country, when it is experienced differently by people in different cultures all over the world. I think at the end of the day it is your choice to make with it what you will, and enjoy the experience in whatever form you feel. Have a wonderful party!