Opuscula Halloween’s Pagan past Not for Jews

HALLOWEEN, ALWAYS ON THE LAST DAY OF OCTOBER (albeit sometimes moved to the nearest Friday or Saturday)

* Is NEITHER a national holiday nor a Jewish holiday.

* Is NOT a non-Jews variation of Purim; the only similarity is wearing costumes.

To be fair, some non-Jews have special religious services on the day after Halloween, what is termed “All Saints Day.”

A little Halloween history

There are many articles^{1, 2, 3, 4} on the Internet that claim to tell the origin of the event. All of the articles come to the same conclusion: Halloween started off as a pagan holiday.

CBN², borrowing from Encyclopaedia Britannica concludes that (I)n ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic Festival of Samhain was observed on October 31, at the end of summer…. The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, goblins, black cats, fairies and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes.

Why on the last day in October?

Take a look at sunset times in late October/early November.

Will the sun ever return?

The Celts are not the only people to have a “Day of the Dead.”

Mexico is famous for its Day of the Dead. According to The Travel Leaf ⁵, The day before Dia de los Muertos, October 31 is a preparation for the upcoming celebration and also a Halloween celebration. Halloween is not the same thing as The Day of the Dead though.

November 1st is the day that’s when “Angelitos” or little angels returns to the earth. It’s also called Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels). These are the souls of all babies and children who have died at the young age.

The next day on November 2nd all the adult souls visit their loved ones here on the earth. Spirits are welcomed with a joyful celebration, specially built altars and the their favorite meal from back when they were alive. It’s common belief that the spirit arrives mighty hungry and thirsty after having to travel from the spirit world back to the living world.

U.S. News³ contends that Halloween coincides with Christian celebrations honoring the dead. In the autumn, Christians celebrate All Saints' Day – a day to honor martyrs who died for their faith and saints. They also celebrate All Souls' Day – a day to remember the dead and to pray for souls more generally.

The history of how these dates came to coincide is worth noting: It suggests ways in which the pagan holiday may have been absorbed into Christian observance. Starting around the seventh century AD., Christians celebrated All Saints Day on May 13. In the mid-eighth century, however, Pope Gregory III moved All Saint's Day from May 13 to Nov. 1, so that it coincided with the date of Celt’s Samhain.

In the United States – and elsewhere – those who died for their countries have a day set aside for remembrance. Sadly, most Americans ignore the reason for the day. Israel, in addition, has Yom HaShoah.

Some differences between Halloween and Purim

Purim, despite its pranks, costumes, and general silliness still is a religious holiday.

Jews are commanded – not in the Torah or Talmuds, but in the Book of Esther --to remember that happened on 13 Adar, 357 Before the Current Era (BCE).

To that end,

* Jews fast on the 13th of Adar (Fast of Esther) and feast on Purim day (14 Adar).

Pur, as everyone knows, means the casting of lots, which Haman did to determine the date to exterminate all the Jews of the world. (Sound familiar?)

* Jewish men are obliged to hear the story (the whole megillah) twice; once at night and once on the following morning. Women also are obliged to hear the megillah twice, but most women only attend the night reading.⁶

* Unlike non-Jews who go door-to-door demanding a trick or a treat from the resident (or perhaps “give us a treat or we’ll “trick” you – damage your property). Jews, often children, go from Jewish home to Jewish home with gifts, meshloach manot with at least two food items.⁷ Details of what to send and to whom to send (including sending to the home of a mourner) are provided by Aish.com.⁸

* Jews give “tzdaka,” incorrectly translated as “charity.” The OU⁶ reminds that there is a prophetic precept to give at least two gifts to two poor people on Purim; that is, one gift to each. And even a poor person who himself has to ask for Charity, is required to do so. This obligation is fulfilled through any type of gift; whether of money, of food or drink, or even of clothing. One should, however, try to give a substantial gift. For if one gives a gift of money it should be sufficient for the recipient to buy bread weighing at least three eggs. At the very least, however, one must give a pruta or its equivalent value to each of two poor persons.

A few words on lo yadah (לא ידע) .

“Rava said: It is one’s duty levasumei, to make oneself fragrant [with wine] on Purim until one cannot tell the difference between ‘arur Haman‘ (cursed be Haman) and ‘barukh Mordekhai’ (blessed be Mordecai)” (Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 7b). ⁹

Rabbenu Ephraim ibn Avi Alragan, an 11th-century North African halachist, rejects the statement of Rava, and it is wrong to act in such a way ”to become so inebriated that we murder someone as in the story of Rabbah getting up and slaughtering R. Zeira."

Rambam, however, rules that one should eat meat and prepare as nice a meal as one can afford and drink wine until one becomes drunk and falls asleep from drunkenness. (Laws of Megillah 2:15).

After a big meal and hearing the whole megillah, taking a small amount of potent potable at home might just be enough to meet Rambam’s requirement to fall asleep.

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

2. http://www1.cbn.com/the-pagan-roots-of-halloween

3. US NEWS: http://tinyurl.com/y7z8yh7y

4. Jehovah’s Witnesses: http://tinyurl.com/yaq29tjs

5. Travel Leaf: http://tinyurl.com/ycnve46y

6. https://www.ou.org/holidays/purim/purim_mitzvot/

7. Chabad: http://tinyurl.com/ydbwxj4c

8. http://www.aish.com/h/pur/m/48968806.html

9. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/drinking-on-purim/

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Halloween is not a Jewish Holiday

P U R I M

Purim - What it is not

Purim is NOT a Jewish version of halloween, a pagan-cum-Paulist holiday. According to Tomorrow's World, a Jesus-focused web site:

Centuries before the birth of Jesus, pagan Rome celebrated February 15 (beginning the evening before, February 14th) as a sensuous festival in honor of the idolatrous worship of Lupercus — the deified "hero-hunter of wolves."

The ancient Roman practice especially encouraged young persons who were "going steady" to indulge in licentious acts of fornication. Church leaders in the late fifth century sought to infuse into the festival of "Lupercalia" a Christian value by renaming it "Saint Valentine's day." On the pagan Lupercalia, "handed down from the Roman festival of the Lupercalia, celebrated in the month of February... names of young women were put into a box and drawn out by men as chance directed," (Encyclopedia Americana, article, "St Valentine's Day.")

Roman church leaders in the fifth century debated the inclusion of the festival Lupercalia in "Christian Rome." Due to the immense popularity of the holiday with the pagan "cum Christian" Roman citizenry, it was decided to include the holiday—except for "the more grossly sensual observances." In 496 A. D. Pope Gelasius "Christianized" the pagan Lupercalia by changing the name and day of observance from the 15th to the 14th of February.

Moreover, on halloween, people threatened neighbors and strangers alike with "trick or treat" the meaning being either you give us a treat or we'll give you a trick (as in tipping over an outhouse, beating up a person, or otherwise causing the reluctant giver distress. Purim, on the other hand, sends, preferably at the hands of a child, gifts to neighbors and friends.

Purim - What it is

Purim is a post-Biblical story that came to life during the reign of Persian King Ahasuerus אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, better known by his Greek name, Xerxes I, who ruled over 127 counties, "from India to Ethiopia." He lived between 486 to 465 BCE. (Source: Bible.org.)

NOTE: All transliterations are from "The Book of Esther" Illustrated by Arthur Szyk, published by the Maariv Book Guild & American-Israeli Publishing Co.

Ahasuerus, in the third year of his reign, wanted to show off his riches so he threw a party. Meanwhile, Vashti, Ahasuerus' queen, was putting on a party in her quarters.

Ahasuerus ordered his queen to appear before all his guests so they could look upon her beauty. Vashti took exception to this and refused.

It may not be nice to fool with Mother Nature, but it could be fatal to refuse a king's command. Encouraged by his counselors to consider that Vashti's refusal would send a message to other women to disobey their husbands, Ahasuerus had to do something. What he did - at his counselors' instigation - was to take away all of Vashti's properties and her right to come to the king. He also ordered a search for a new queen.

Enter Hadassah, a/k/a Esther.

According to the Megelah (scroll), Esther was "of beautiful form and fair to look upon."

Somehow, and the story is silent here but it seems to have been a round-up of good-looking women, Esther ended up in the custody of Hegai, the keeper of the women.

Esther was an orphan, but she had an uncle, Mordecai, who hung around the gate to Shushan, Ahasuerus' capital.

To condense the story, Esther becomes queen and the evil Haman plots to murder all the Jews, starting with Uncle Mordecai who seems to best him at every turn. Haman cons the king into declaring a day when Jews across his kingdom can be massacred.

Mordecai learns of Hamen's plan and convinces a reluctant Esther to show the king Haman's true colors. She does; Ahasuerus sees, Haman (and sons) is hanged, and Ahasuerus issues a decree that Jews can defend themselves.

As the story goes, we are attacked, we defeat the enemy, we eat.

Now, go read the whole megillah (which, incidentally, is but one of five, the others are:
Ruth רות
Song of Songs שיר השירים
Lamentations קהלת
Job איכה)

The story of Ruth is read on Purim evening and again on Purim morning. Men have an obligation to hear the megillah twice. Source: ילקות שמ''ש קצד

Purim practices

For most people, Purim falls on the 14th day of Adar (Adar Bet/Adar 2 when there are two Adars - leap year). However, for Jews in Jerusalem and all other cities that had walls when the events in the story unfolded, the megillah is first read on the evening of the 15th of Adar and again on the morning of 15 Adar (remembering that the Jewish day starts in the evening). Source: ילקות שמ''ש קצג

The reading may begin anytime AFTER three medium stars are visible. Source: קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו הלכות מגלה

A mourner in the first 7 days (shiva) treats Purim as if it is a Shabat. Source: קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו הלכות מגלה

Women may read the scroll for themselves with the blessings. ). Source: הילקות שמ''ש קצג Women are allowed to chant the Scroll of Esther on behalf of men if no competent men are available, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the late Sefardi chief rabbi, ruled in February, 2009. Source: HaAretz.

Only the hazan must stand as the blessings are recited and the megillah is read; all others may sit for both. Source: ילקות שמ''ש קצו

If there is a brit melah on Purim, the brit takes place before the megillah. Source: הוד יוסף חי קנג

A woman may write a megillah if she has the knowledge. Source: הוד יוסף חי קנד

When Purim falls on a Sunday, the pre-Purim fast is pushed back to Thursday. However, if there is a brit on Thursday, the meal should be postponed for everyone until after the fast ends. Source: קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו הלכות מגלה ג

To honor the day, people should dress in clothes suitable for Shabat. Source: קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו הלכות מגלה ד

Mishloach Manot and Matanot La’Evyonim

The day after Purim, Rabbi Meir Shalom of Porisov would invite the town’s poor to his home and give them a sum of money and other help. His students asked him: “Didn’t they receive a considerable amount of mishloach manot and matanot la’evyonim (money distributed to the needy on Purim) only yesterday? Why is it so urgent to give them charity now, the day after Purim?”

The tzaddik (righteous man) answered, “On Purim everyone knows it is a great religious obligation to distribute matanot la’evyonim, but they might think such a mitzva (good deed) applies only to Purim, rather than year-round. Therefore, I took it upon myself to remind the community that it is obligatory to give charity the rest of the year too.”

Purim is one of several times during the year when Jews have added incentive to be generous to the poor. As the rabbi in the story above ponts out, " it is obligatory to give charity the rest of the year too.”

In addition to giving tzdekah - which actually translates to "justice"; the gifts to the poor are owed to them; it is there due, and giving is a mitzvah, which may be why we learn that the poor always will be with us.

As far as mishloach manot, there are some basics from קצור שלחן ערוך השלם של ר מרדכי אליהו .

Everyone is obliged to send a gift to at least one person.

The gift must include at least two different items; two of the same, e.g., drinks, would count as only one item.

Everyone, including the poor that receives community support, must send two items to at least two (other) poor people. The gift to the poor must be money sufficient to purchase a meal.

The gifts should be given on Purim day (the 14th or 15th of Adar, depending on the location of the person giving the gift.

Halloween Is Not a Jewish holiday

 

Nor is it an "American" holiday;
It is a Christian holy day

If costumes are what you want, wait for Purim.

The name "halloween" is a corruption of "All Hallows Eve."

That event was "borrowed" by early Christians in Ireland from the local pagans who, on that time, communed with their dead.

Neither pagans communing with their dead not Christians "adapting" the superstitions is unique to Ireland; Mexico has its Día de Muertos, the day of the dead.

The difference between halloween and Purim? We send gifts on Purim; on halloween, people demand treats or there will be "tricks" - such as defacing property and other vandalism.

Samhain - Halloween's foundation

Samhain was halloween's predecessor in Ireland.

In its ‘dark' aspect, Samhain marked a period of destruction and chaos. Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of this was the ritual killing of the Irish kings of Tara.

According to Irish mythology, November 1st marked the day that the demonic Fomorian race oppressed the people of Nemed. During the festival, bands of men, women and children dressed in masks and costumes embodied the havoc-causing divinities and inflicted their own terror and chaos on the neighborhood.

This combination of darkness and light, fear and hope, order and chaos gave Samhain its particular coloring of a merry time of misbehaving.

According to the article, some Samhain traditions are maintained in today's halloween:

• The symbolic kindling of fires in the lit pumpkin
  
• Games of worth in the popular ‘bobbing for apples' – a water ordeal.
  
• The havoc wreaked by deities and the dead in modern movies like Halloween, Scream, Dracula and vampire stories, American Werewolf in London and other horror classics;
  
• The identification of the living with deities and the dead in Halloween trick-or-treating and costume-wearing
  
• The sacral fear surrounding the Samhain celebration survives in urban legends of ‘razors hidden in apples' to harm children.
  
• The tradition of Samhain feasts in Halloween parties, trick-or-treating and Halloween candy;
  
• Mischief survives in the mild "tricks" played on those that do not propitiate the costumed revelers
  
• Abolition of traditional hierarchy is still present in the ascendance of children over adults during the Halloween season.

From Wikipedia we read: Today's Halloween customs are also thought to have been influenced by Christian dogma and practices derived from it. Halloween falls on the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day (also known as All Saints', Hallowmas or Hallowtide) on November 1 and All Souls' Day on November 2, thus giving the holiday on October 31 the full name of All Hallows' Eve.

"Souling", the custom of baking and sharing soul cakes for all christened souls,has been suggested as the origin of trick-or-treating. The custom was found in parts of England and dates back at least as far as the 15th century.Groups of poor people, often children, would go door-to-door during Hallowmas, collecting soul cakes, originally as a means of praying for souls in purgatory. Similar practices for the souls of the dead were found as far south as Italy. The custom of wearing costumes has been explicated by Prince Sorie Conteh, who wrote: "It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognized by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities"

In France, Christians, on the night of All Hallows' Eve, prayed beside the graves of their loved ones, setting down dishes full of milk for them. On Halloween, in Italy, families left a large meal out for ghosts of their passed relatives, before they departed for church services. In Spain, women, on this night, made special pastries known as “bones of the holy” (Huesos de Santo) and put them on the graves of the churchyard, a practice that continues to this day.

Could any of these customs have led to leaving a glass of milk and a cookie out for "Santa Claus" or carrots for the "Easter" bunny?

Dia de Muertos

Once a year the Aztecs held a festival celebrating the death of their ancestors, while honoring the goddess Mictecacihuatl, Queen of the Underworld, or Lady of the Dead. The Aztecs believed that the deceased preferred to be celebrated, rather than mourned, so during the festival they first honored los angelitos, the deceased children, then those who passed away as adults. The Mictecacihuatl festival lasted for an entire month, starting around the end of July to mid-August (the 9th month on the Aztec calendar), during the time of corn harvests.

After the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs in 1521, they tried to make the Aztecs adopt their Catholic beliefs.

What the Spaniards accomplished was more like a compromise; a blend of beliefs. The Spanish conquerors succeeding in shortening the length of the Mictecacihuatl festival to two days that conveniently corresponded with two of their own Catholic holidays: All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, which take place on November 1 and 2 of each year.
The preceding text is copyright protected © Thaneeya LLC: http://www.celebrate-day-of-the-dead.com/dia-de-los-muertos-history.html#ixzz2ikRLijU0

According to Wikipedia, "Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased."

American holidays for all

There ARE holidays Jews and non-Jews alike can celebrate together.

Thanksgiving is one, although there are a few in the Ashkenazi Orthodox community who forbid celebrating this day. On the other hand, at least one Gadol b'Dor approves of the holiday. (See http://yohanon.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanksgiving.html)

Fourth of July, America's Independence Day. Unlike Thanksgiving, it has no obvious religious aspect.

Memorial Day, honoring those who served in the military.

Labor Day, honoring those who earn their daily wages.

There are minor holidays as well; Columbus Day, and Presidents' Day (Jeff Davis Day in some places in the South) to name two.

Are Jews lacking holidays?

We have holidays on top of holidays.

There are The Big Three, the שלוש רגלים: Passover, Sukot, Shavuot. Not only do we have The Big 3, but they all are multi-day events.

There is Purim where we dress up and send, often at our children's hands, food gifts to our friends, relatives, and neighbors.

And Hanukah, an 8-day feast.

On a more somber note, there are the two days of Rosh HaShana and the long day of Yom Kippur.

Finally, we have our 52 times-a-year holiday - Shabat.

Do we need to borrow holidays from others?

In a word: No.

We have our Jewish holidays and our American holidays. If we need more, we can add Israeli holidays to our list.

For me, I'll skip halloween and go directly to Thanksgiving.

By the way, Christmas, New Years, and Easter also are not "American" holidays; they are strictly Christian. (OK, New Years marks a Jewish event; the melah of their god.)