Samhein vs. Christian Hope

 Again, I'm carrying over another post from a discussion board where I post in order to kind of 'archive' some of my thoughts.....

Interesting what ends up in a local paper.  I wrote my weekly article (clergy in the area take turns) on "Waiting eagerly for that day," ending with the words: "He is coming to take us home." It was a contrast with the predicted "long, dark winter" of sin and death and our longing for the glorious return of our Lord and the eternal joy that awaits the believer.  On the facing page was an article entitled "Witches mark Halloween with reflections on death as well as magic," by someone from Brandeis University. The author notes that Halloween is "marked as a sacred day known as Samhain in which death is celebrated," a day celebrated by "contemporary pagans." The author writes that Samhain, "one of the eight major Wiccan holidays," or what are referred to as sabbats, is the most important and "has inspired modern-day Halloween celebrations."  They celebrate an eternal goddess that is eternal and changes through the seasons.  This deity eternally returns but dies before he can age.  "He is sacrificed at Samhain to ensure the fertility of the crops and the well-being of the community in the coming year."  At each sabbat they hold a ritual, and at Samhaim the "ritual focuses on death and includes a remembrance and a mourning."  They celebrate death believing that it is "necessary for the creation of new life." 

Literature and Culture Corner: HIST & MYTH: Samhain & Goddess Tlachtga

What a contrast with the hope I was trying to share about a risen and living Savior returning to put an end to death.  Also, what a contrast to the nature of All Hallow's Eve that ushers in a celebration of life through the risen Christ and a hope of the resurrection to come. 

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