by adamah 26 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
We used to have a sign, "We don't celebrate Halloween", leave the lights off and be quiet. Oh, sometimes we had magazines left out that talked about holidays being bad. I HATED it. I was so jealous of the normal kids. It was one of the worst days of the year for me.
Now I do more and more with each passing year. Tomorrow I'm going to a zombie walk. When Halloween falls within a week, you get to celebrate it on 2 weekends! Next weekend I'm going to a costume party.
Oh yes, I recall... doors shut, lights off and silently hiding untill all the kids were gone again. I always felt so stupid doing that!
Last year I dressed up as a witch, had lots of candy and decorated the front door with a devilish laughing and moving (electronic) witch doll with lit eyes... Soon as the kids rang the doorbell I opened the door, clapped my hands and the witch doll would start her laughing... hahahaha, the looks on those little faces! They loved it and didn't want to leave, just clapping their hands over and over again to hear that laughter...
I don't think we'll see anyone this year, since we're living in the outback now... But instead we'll have a wonderful Samhainparty, just me and my hubby.
I have told my jw about some jw's quite literally sitting in the dark on Halloween but he doesn't believe it.
There have been a number of cartoons going around facebook lately- 'jw's don't celebrate Halloween? guess they don't appreciate random people coming to their doors'. Something to that effect anyway.
Rebel said-
We used to have a sign, "We don't celebrate Halloween", leave the lights off and be quiet. Oh, sometimes we had magazines left out that talked about holidays being bad. I HATED it. I was so jealous of the normal kids. It was one of the worst days of the year for me.
So YOU were the uber-JW family that handed out WTs and Awakes to witness to the little monsters, then!
You all who really get into it (braincleaned, Bruja, etc) are creating memories for the little ones; pretty cool, IMO, and an important aspect of being a part of the community, which is part of the World.
Sure, it's a small token to do something for the kids of strangers (such as buying candy to give away), but it's sure a more-adult way to approach life than hiding and dreading that knock on the door in fear that they might hear you inside (although perhaps some JWs think of it as annual training for simulating the Great Tribulation, with a need to avoid the secular authorities, after JWs have been outlawed and "they" come knocking at your door to take you into custody for questioning).
Adam
It would be so funny to stand at a jw's door with a FS slip and say really aloud,
"Elijah, check the box that says 'not at home' and slip a tract in the crack of the door. We'll make a return visit Saturday morning at 7 a.m. for our candy."
Upon return visit,
"You are not interested? Is that because you have your own religion? We aren't here to change anyone's religion. We are here to share the good news that it's Halloween, time for fun and candy!"
The policy in my town is to turn on the lights if you are participating. People with children usually light up their door but many non-jws do not participate for a variety reasons, There are some Protestant religions that are just as strict as jws in not celebrating seeing it as pagan but others just don't or can't afford the expense or want the hassle. There is no reason to assume that a lights out house is inhabited by a jw family.
Rebel said-
Upon return visit, "You are not interested? Is that because you have your own religion? We aren't here to change anyone's religion. We are here to share the good news that it's Halloween, time for fun and candy!"
I'm guessing JWs must be jealous of the kids, envious of the fact that every householder is welcoming and gives them candy, but most importantly: NOT rudely slamming the door on their faces, telling them, "I'm not interested, as I celebrate OTHER pagan holidays!"
Blondie said-
The policy in my town is to turn on the lights if you are participating.
I think that's the policy in EVERY town, pretty much?
People with children usually light up their door but many non-jws do not participate for a variety reasons, There are some Protestant religions that are just as strict as jws in not celebrating seeing it as pagan but others just don't or can't afford the expense or want the hassle. There is no reason to assume that a lights out house is inhabited by a jw family.
Yeah, I'm aware that there's many reasons why someone might not choose to participate in Halloween, but the overwhelming majority are not those who have a nasty habit of knocking on their same neighbors doors as if expecting to be greeted with a warm welcome (rather than cowering inside, waiting for them to just go away).
Adam
This Year they hand out the Halloween Awake
You might be onto something emeth, since maybe the JWs will be encouraged to stay home and answer the door, but hand out those cool new animated Bible stories books and maybe a few Caleb/Sparlock DVDs with a treat inside?
