Halloween - Bored with it already ?

[Selene Gregoire]

8 hours ago, Phorumities said:

They aren't co incidences, as other have said, the early Christian church co-opted the major pagan holidays to make it easier to convert the populace. Same with sacred glades and springs, cut down the trees, build a church, incorporate the native spirits as saints, presto, done.

Even the virgin Mary was an add on.

The whole Christmas celebration was of zero importance to early Christians, but there was this major pagan celebration concerning the rebirth of the sun, so they said, hmmm let's make that day the day of the birth of Jesus

Tell me something I haven't known for a few decades. 

Edited October 20, 2018 by Selene Gregoire

[Klytyna]

13 hours ago, Drake1 Nightfire said:

As has been already mentioned, Halloween is not just a us holiday.. How do you feel about Thanksgiving? Columbus day? Martin Luther King Day? Valentine's Day?

"Halloween", with the pumpkins, and the obsession with orange, and the trick or treating is very American...

When I wasa kid, we didn't go trick or treating here... Nobody did, except a tiny handful of middle class kids with trendy parents trying to be 'mid atlantic' in their lifestyles.

All the things Americans associate with the 'holiday of Halloween" are relatively recent imports to the UK, and other non American countries...

Thanksgiving... We don't have that un-holiday here...

Columbus Day? Why the hell would WE celebrate an Italian NOT reaching America with an un-holiday, here in the UK?

Martin Luther? Wasn't he some German trouble maker, late medieval era? Nope we don't celebrate that un-holiday either.

Valentine's day... We do have that in the UK, but my family stopped celebrating it as my younger sister grew up... she was born on the 14th of Feb, and our parents thought it would be cute to name her Valentine...

So every year she'd get teased about Valentines Day, and of course, any attempt to throw a birthday party, as she grew up, tended to end in "sorry i am having dinner with my significant other... cos you know, romance..."

She HATES V-Day with a passion... So we don't celebrate it when shes looking...  
 

[Akasha Sternberg]

I LOOOOOOOOOVE Halloween (xept for the Spiders... grmbles), so that´s MY time of the year -...where I find more stuff I actually LOVE without being all "hm ok yeah I can make this work"... I´m easily bored of the other holidays though so I kinda get your point. Well I don´t but I kinda do...

[Fionalein]

3 hours ago, Candice LittleBoots said:

This thread has got nothing to do with religion, at least not as far as I'm concerned, it also has nothing to do with the specifics of any celebration day anywhere in the world. The sole reason I began this topic was with reference to freebies, group gifts, hunt items and event items primarily being wasted on a theme (Halloween) that is very ugly to me.

I don't want bats wings on shoes, blood on a blouse, or even an american flag on a dress or a skirt when that time of year comes to pass.

The build-up and fallout from Halloween will seemingly take several weeks before it ends yet and until it's over I am missing out on otherwise potentially nice items which I enjoy collecting and sifting through, as most have been replaced with ugly stuff.

Maybe you should organize a "What's the Fuzz all about? - We don't celebrate that over here" hunt, It could be held many times year (veterans day etc...)

[Phorumities]

7 hours ago, Drake1 Nightfire said:

So, we should expect threads about Thanksgiving ans the 4th of July from the non Americans, Christmas and Easter among the non-Christians, Kwanzaa from the non-Africans, Hanukkah from the non-Jewish and so on and so forth? How about not ranting about others holidays? If she has such a problem with the " blood, bones, pumpkins and demons" she should rant about the demon/angel RP sims. Or the combat sims. But to pick a holiday? Seriously?

Kwanzaa is NOT a real holiday. It's totally made up and contrived. Many African Americans might be highly offended if you wished them happy Kwanzaa, since many African Americans are in fact Christian. Plus its racist, oh you are Black.. you must celebrate  Kwanzaa.

Fun fact: At the first Kwanzaa celebration there was one more child present that letters in the word Kwanza, so they tacked an extra "A" on the end so every child could take part in the ceremony

Edited October 20, 2018 by Phorumities
changed words for accuracy of meaning

[Phorumities]

4 hours ago, Selene Gregoire said:

Tell me something I haven't known for a few decades. 

I'm sure you do know, but  I was speaking to the entire forum. 

 

[AyelaNewLife]

Halloween is fine. I loved Halloween week/weekend as a kid and through my teens. It's the sim owners/creators/flickrites that turn Halloween into a two-month long tediumfest that need to just stop. I've never actually been bored of Halloween until I started Second Life, although I'm not sure if that's a uniquely SL thing or just American over-commercialisation infecting everything it touches.

[Phorumities]

7 minutes ago, AyelaNewLife said:

Halloween is fine. I loved Halloween week/weekend as a kid and through my teens. It's the sim owners/creators/flickrites that turn Halloween into a two-month long tediumfest that need to just stop. I've never actually been bored of Halloween until I started Second Life, although I'm not sure if that's a uniquely SL thing or just American over-commercialisation infecting everything it touches.

If funny, I never experience Halloween in sl unless  I want to experience it. I have a small display at my place in my entry hall, but it's not distasteful or overpowering. Look, nod (or roll your eyes), then move on.

But like you say, just as in RL merchants over do it so of course it will also happen in SL.

I'm actually more annoyed that I can't find gloves and hats after December 1st, its all swimwear and beach stuff already.

 

Edited October 20, 2018 by Phorumities
added stuff

[Marianne Little]

It is an exaggeration to say there is nothing to buy or no group gifts that can't be used the rest of the year.

It is there, it is just you who has not seen it because you huff and puff over those pumpkins that's for sale now. Sure, it is pumpkins, hay-carts and ghosts. But it's not all. It is even gifts and freebies that's not Halloween themed.

Like Magica, maybe you think she has a hair with witch hat and that's all, when it's just to scroll down and see the same hair without the hat. That's a new release.

I will actually say that the Halloween themed stuff is not taking as much room as you think. Like COCO, she has her gift out, but she has a mainstore release just now and Fameshed release for October. So the gift is not instead of ordinary clothes, but it's an addition.

Same is for every holiday, I might wish that free hair came without reindeer antlers and lightbulbs, but it's what the creator made for his December gift...

And "every" freebie dress I find in February is red. (No, it's not)

It's people who roleplay vampires and succubus all year in SL, so some of the halloween-looking stuff is actually mainstream. Like tails.

 

[Gabriele Graves]

2 minutes ago, Marianne Little said:

It's people who roleplay vampires and succubus all year in SL, so some of the halloween-looking stuff is actually mainstream. Like tails.

I would like to state for the record that I do not resemble this remark ? (:p)

[Drake1 Nightfire]

5 hours ago, Phorumities said:

Kwanzaa is NOT a real holiday. It's totally made up and contrived. Many African Americans might be highly offended if you wished them happy Kwanzaa, since many African Americans are in fact Christian. Plus its racist, oh you are Black.. you must celebrate  Kwanzaa.

Firstly, all holidays are made up. Kwanzaa is indeed a real holiday. There are about 25 million people who celebrate it across the globe. Thats a fairly large number for a "fake" holiday. Funny how you call me racist for mentioning the holiday, but you saying it isnt real is ok.. I never said "oh you are Black.. you must celebrate  Kwanzaa."

5 hours ago, Phorumities said:

Fun fact: At the first Kwanzaa celebration there was one more child present that letters in the word Kwanza, so they tacked an extra "A" on the end so every child could take part in the ceremony

Fun fact: you are full of crap.. Talk about racist. Making fun of a religious holiday celebrated by black people.. Nice one. way to show your true side. 

Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67.

"Karenga was partly inspired by an account he read of the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama. It was decided to spell the holiday's name with an additional "a" so that it would have a symbolic seven letters." 

But hey, keep up the BS.. Its something you are good at.

[Selene Gregoire]

5 hours ago, Phorumities said:

I'm sure you do know, but  I was speaking to the entire forum. 

 

 Heard that one a few times too many.

[Alyona Su]

49 minutes ago, Drake1 Nightfire said:

Firstly, all holidays are made up. Kwanzaa is indeed a real holiday.

I think the counterpoint being made is that Kwanzaa is a "synthetic" holiday - it was made up for no reason other than to make up a holiday, where other holidays are recognition of specific events or otherwise social recognition, like the celebration of parents (Mother's day, for example). What exactly is Kwanzaa the celebration or remembrance of? Serious and genuine question because I don't know and I am curious.

As for holiday greeting, what baffles me is that anyone can be "offended" at them, for example," Merry Christmas" - if someone who celebrates Hannukah wishes me a happy Hannukah, I am thankful for that, even though I consider myself Christain, because they are wishing for me what they deem to be there own highest best wish. If a Hannukah believer wishes me a "Merry Christmas" it feels fake; they are just saying what they think I want to hear, which to me is disingenuous.

Edited October 20, 2018 by Alyona Su

[LittleMe Jewell]

Just now, Alyona Su said:

I think the counterpoint being made is that Kwanzaa is a "synthetic" holiday - it was made up for no reason other than to make up a holiday, where other holidays are recognition of specific events or otherwise social recognition, like the celebration of parents (Mother's day, for example). What exactly is Kwanzaa the celebration or remembrance of? Serious and genuine question because I don't know and I am curious.

It simply honors African heritage.

[Chase01]

10 hours ago, Candice LittleBoots said:

This thread has got nothing to do with religion, at least not as far as I'm concerned, it also has nothing to do with the specifics of any celebration day anywhere in the world. The sole reason I began this topic was with reference to freebies, group gifts, hunt items and event items primarily being wasted on a theme (Halloween) that is very ugly to me.

I don't want bats wings on shoes, blood on a blouse, or even an american flag on a dress or a skirt when that time of year comes to pass.

The build-up and fallout from Halloween will seemingly take several weeks before it ends yet and until it's over I am missing out on otherwise potentially nice items which I enjoy collecting and sifting through, as most have been replaced with ugly stuff. 

Oh god, what will you ever do ... So your post is in reference to "group gifts, hunt items, and freebies." If you care to crack open your wallet and spend some L, there are still a lot of stores and events selling non-Halloween themed merchandise.

 

[Alyona Su]

6 minutes ago, LittleMe Jewell said:

It simply honors African heritage.

Yes, I know that part. I'm not aware of any other holiday like that (and I don't claim to be aware of all holidays) Though how will other react if we create a holiday that recognizes Hispanic heritage or Caucasian heritage and so on? This is my general point; it's synthetic for the reason of feeling special where it is basically self-love (generally and simply speaking, of course) - And to be clear: I have no problem with that at all. I participate in this only because I'm curious about it, that's all.

Edited October 20, 2018 by Alyona Su

[Pamela Galli]

One thing I have learned from SL and global media: The world knows a lot about American culture, and we know very little about theirs. (Like, no matter how many times I look up Boxing Day, I don’t know what it is.)

[Phorumities]

58 minutes ago, Drake1 Nightfire said:

Firstly, all holidays are made up. Kwanzaa is indeed a real holiday. There are about 25 million people who celebrate it across the globe. Thats a fairly large number for a "fake" holiday. Funny how you call me racist for mentioning the holiday, but you saying it isnt real is ok.. I never said "oh you are Black.. you must celebrate  Kwanzaa."

Fun fact: you are full of crap.. Talk about racist. Making fun of a religious holiday celebrated by black people.. Nice one. way to show your true side. 

Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67.

"Karenga was partly inspired by an account he read of the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama. It was decided to spell the holiday's name with an additional "a" so that it would have a symbolic seven letters." 

But hey, keep up the BS.. Its something you are good at.

Oh no.... I denigrated a holiday that was manufactured to tap into the trendy "need" for a greater black identity .

My bad.

Most black people do NOT celebrate Kwanzaa. Your assertion that most do however IS racist.

I would never dream of going up to a black person and saying happy Kwanzaa, however I'm sure you do since you seem to delight in stereotying everyone you meet.

I suppose Encyclopedia Britannica is racist,

Karenga borrowed the word kwanza, meaning “first,” from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, adding the seventh letter, an extra a, to make the word long enough to accommodate one letter for each of the seven children present at an early celebration. 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kwanzaa

[Cindy Evanier]

Just now, Pamela Galli said:

One thing I have learned from SL and global media: The world knows a lot about American culture, and we know very little about theirs. (Like, no matter how many times I look up Boxing Day, I don’t know what it is.)

We celebrate staying in your new Christmas PJ's, eating left over food, an extra day off work (for some) or rush to the sales to get batteries for toys that relatives gifted without thought. 

[Phorumities]

2 minutes ago, Pamela Galli said:

One thing I have learned from SL and global media: The world knows a lot about American culture, and we know very little about theirs. (Like, no matter how many times I look up Boxing Day, I don’t know what it is.)

Boxing day is when you box up the crappy presents you don't want and don't need and return them to the store to get something you really do want.

[Gabriele Graves]

2 minutes ago, Phorumities said:

Boxing day is when you box up the crappy presents you don't want and don't need and return them to the store to get something you really do want.

That was amusing ?

This is origin of boxing day I was taught as a child though:

Why Is Boxing Day Called Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is so called because it was the custom on that day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year. Boxing Day is also St. Stephen's Day. St Stephen was a little known saint who achieved eternal fame by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith by being stoned to death shortly after Christ's crucifixion. He's also named in the Christmas song Good King Wenceslas

[Phorumities]

21 minutes ago, LittleMe Jewell said:

It simply honors African heritage.

Considering that despite the "Roots" story about blacks being stolen from their homes by greedy white slave traders,  that African Heritage you refer to includes the fact that most of the Blacks sold into slavery were sold at slave markets run by other Blacks and also Arabs.

In fact, there are still many countries in Africa where yes, you guessed it, Blacks and Arabs still own Black slaves.

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/17/world/la-fg-wn-slavery-africa-20131017

[Scylla Rhiadra]

11 minutes ago, Alyona Su said:

Yes, I know that part. I'm not aware of any other holiday like that (and I don't claim to be aware of all holidays) Though how will other react if we create a holiday that recognizes Hispanic heritage or Caucasian heritage and so on? This is my general point; it's synthetic for the reason of feeling special where it is basically self-love (generally and simply speaking, of course) - And to be clear: I have no problem with that at all. I participate in this only because I'm curious about it, that's all.

I take it that you're not really criticizing Kwanzaa, and so I'm not posting this to "correct" you in any way.

But I do think that calling it a "synthetic" holiday implicitly imposes a value judgement that suggests that it is "artificial" and hence maybe a little "fake," where others aren't.

Arguably, though, nearly all holidays are "synthetic" in this way, at least to some degree. Christmas and Easter, for instance, may "mark" something, but those "somethings" are hardly verifiably historical "fact," and even if they were, the dates chosen to mark them were quite arbitrarily picked by the Church for reasons that actually have nothing to do with "fact." I'm not a Christian: i don't believe in the resurrection of Christ, and so Easter Sunday is completely synthetic so far as I'm concerned. What separates most holidays from Kwanzaa is mostly the length of historical time that they've been observed (and even that is frequently less, with regard to many holidays, than many of us think).

As for "self-love" . . . well, most holidays are at least implicitly designed to support, cement, and entrench a particular culture/religion/ideology. Columbus Day, which is (so far as I know) recognized only in the US, "celebrates" the so-called "discovery" of the Americas by one particular ethnic/geographical group: it is very explicitly an imposition of a Eurocentric view of the relationship between cultures and ethnicities. And, to many First Nations people, it's not merely "synthetic": it's an outright unethical lie, and pure propaganda.

 

[Pamela Galli]

5 minutes ago, Gabriele Graves said:

That was amusing ?

This is origin of boxing day I was taught as a child though:

Why Is Boxing Day Called Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is so called because it was the custom on that day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year. Boxing Day is also St. Stephen's Day. St Stephen was a little known saint who achieved eternal fame by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith by being stoned to death shortly after Christ's crucifixion. He's also named in the Christmas song Good King Wenceslas

But in a year I will have forgotten all that, and will wonder if it celebrates boxes or boxing.

[Gabriele Graves]

Just now, Pamela Galli said:

But in a year I will have forgotten all that, and will wonder if it celebrates boxes or boxing.

Maybe we will have to necro this thread in a year then!