Should we really celebrate Halloween?
Pumpkins lit up with candles, children begging for sweets and spooky costumes: American Halloween, celebrated on the eve of the Catholic All Saints' Day on 1 November, has been gaining ground in European countries for some time now. Commentators are confident that the trend does not portend the West's downfall.
A broad-based cultural web
Kristeligt Dagblad calls for a more differentiated view:
“Of course once can be critical of the many American traditions that are taking hold in our country today, often driven by commercial interests. ... But this is not the case with Halloween, which is based on an extensive historical, cultural and religious web of meanings and customs associated with the religious festival All Saints' Day. This originally Catholic tradition also survived the Protestant rebellion against the veneration of saints in Denmark, and spurred on by the Danish appropriation of Halloween, the Danish National Church is currently experiencing a genuine boom in All Saints' Day services in which the congregation can come together to commemorate the dead.”
No harm in a little fun
Children should learn about traditional holidays as well as new ones, writes Új Szó:
“Halloween parties are becoming more and more popular, and children love dressing up and wearing masks and make-up that are as frightening as possible. ... There is no reason to forbid them from celebrating Halloween, it's a time for having fun. Nevertheless it's important to treat both holidays [Halloween and All Saints' Day] appropriately, and make sure children know the difference between them.”