The War on Halloween. Fall Festival vs Halloween/Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas!

2015-11-09T22:24:06-05:00

You always here about how there is a "War on Christmas" but what about war on Halloween. You always hear about how everyone get all offended if you don't say "Merry Christmas" how is it just about every church doesn't agree with Halloween but they have a "Fall Festival." The issue is that no one really has an issue with it. But if you ever say "Happy Holidays" or if a business does this then they are wrong. Wouldn't those that do a Fall Festival have a double standard?

In realty does it really matter. I have always lived by a simple philosophy that your faith is between you and your deity. If you want to pray to the Goat you can. I don't really care. What bothers is when you tell me the Goat is the only way to salvation and that I am wrong for not believing.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 9 at 2015 10:27 PM

2015-11-09T22:27:19-05:00

However they do it I just appreciate people wishing me a happy anything.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Nov 9 at 2015 10:59 PM

2015-11-09T22:59:41-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member - Wishing you a non-denominational and totally generic and politically correct holiday known only by a title of your choosing, or not. (P.S. Goat worship is so passe.)

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 10 at 2015 1:02 AM

2015-11-10T01:02:45-05:00

Well, Merry Christmas CPT Private RallyPoint Member. Now, enough with the dang pleasantries, when is the last time you cleaned your damned weapon Lieutenant?

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Nov 10 at 2015 9:27 AM

2015-11-10T09:27:09-05:00

LOL. "Happy Fall Festival, Winter Solstice, Spring Break, and Summer Bash." And "how's the weather treating you?" What could be more meaningless? Happy generic mush.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Nov 11 at 2015 6:28 AM

2015-11-11T06:28:23-05:00

Traditions, in part, define our culture. Just like the Marine Corps has traditions that are honored/remembered/celebrated so does a country. By remembering and honoring those traditions, we honor our history/culture/experience.

It has become en vogue now to go after more historical, especially religious, traditions. While no one would suggest religious observation is compulsory it is part of the fabric of the country. We have lots of traditions and holidays, some official, others not. Today is Veterans Day, Halloween just passed. We can see Thanksgiving on the horizon and Christmas and New Years Day are not far away. We also Have Memorial Day, Labor Day, Easter and a few others.

There has been a move, admit it or not, to attempt to take the religious observance out of many of the actual religious holidays. Christmas and Easter being the most obvious. Easter is mostly squashed. Most celebrate an egg laying rabbit rather than the resurrection of Christ. Christmas is pushed out of schools and many look to push a "happy holidays" as not to offend those that celebrate Hanukah or the completely fabricated "holiday of Kwanza. Christmas is when most of Christendom recognizes the birth of Christ. I know these days many worship a tree with gifts made from cheap labor and wrapped in cheap but colorful paper.

If your study our history, especially early American, you come to understand how significant and important our religious holidays were to us. Again, not suggesting compulsory participation by any stretch but we know from whence we came and we know what the significance of those days were/are to many.

If you don't like that, Happy Festivus.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 11 at 2015 6:44 AM

2015-11-11T06:44:24-05:00

I personally don't care for Halloween. I never have. But there's no reason why people who want to celebrate it should not be able to. Saying happy Halloween Merry Christmas or any other holiday salutation should be up to the individual.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 9:20 AM

2015-11-11T09:20:11-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Well said! Is it really a war on Holidays though? Could it be that it is a war on religion? What is wrong with telling someone, Sameach Pesach, Eid Mubarak, Happy Easter, .... I'm happy people are strong in their faiths, in most cases this is a good thing. That said no one group should be forcing it's beliefs on another.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-11-11T11:43:46-05:00

I agree. I hate how people try to make you feel like an idiot for having a different belief system or set of traditions. I feel like of you believe in Christ you should feel free saying Merry Christmas. I the other person doesn't they can respond with Happy Holidays. We will all live!

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Nov 12 at 2015 8:45 AM

2015-11-12T08:45:28-05:00

I always felt like, you do what pleases you.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 24 at 2015 11:40 AM

2015-12-24T11:40:19-05:00

Merry Christmas to all. Enjoy the other holidays, But MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2015 11:52 AM

2015-12-24T11:52:11-05:00

Goat meat makes a pretty good kebab, when you're fresh out of lamb!

Response by PO3 David Fries made Dec 25 at 2015 12:36 PM

2015-12-25T12:36:56-05:00

It's just like politics; I don't care one bit what you believe. If you do your job and have my six when it counts, to quote Metallica, "nothing else matters "!

Response by SSG Jessica Bautista made Oct 31 at 2016 3:31 PM

2016-10-31T15:31:31-04:00

Maybe because they don't want to limit a festival specifically to a holiday if it has nothing to do with that holiday. Fall is commonly celebrated across many cultures as a sign of gratitude for the harvest. So instead of costumes and candy, this festival is more centered around the harvest of fall.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Oct 31 at 2016 6:00 PM

2016-10-31T18:00:52-04:00

I used to work with a fellow who was heavily fundamentalist Christian. He firmly believed that Halloween was indeed a pagan holiday for devil worship of one kind or another. Even if they changed the name to be PC it would never rub off on folks like my friend. It would take generations for the ostensible pagan origins of the day to be forgotten.

Response by PO2 Cyrus Barberia made Dec 26 at 2020 12:19 AM

2020-12-26T00:19:57-05:00

I agree with you 100%. Your belief is between you and who you believe in or what you believe in. Thanks for posting