Hi Trish, Thanks for telling me. I had no idea about the Pagan holy days of Oct. 31st-Nov. 2. Actually, I dislike using the word "Pagan" to describe your faith, because of the history of the connotation. I've always associated paganism with Greek and Roman mythology and emperor worship, not to the Druids. Sometimes I think Fundamentalist Christians need to remember that for the first 300 years or so C.E., Christianity was oppressed by the Romans. Now the shoe is on the other foot, and what happens? Instead of tolerating diversity as Jesus did, we do the exact opposite. By that fundamentalist Christians show that they are no better than the rest of mankind. -----Original Message----- From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Trisha Cummings Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 10:02 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: was no subject now Hallowed/Halloween Hi Mike Sorry Mike, Halloween has a purely Pagan begining. It is our "New Year" Celebration, the third and last harvest, and the day we honor our beloved dead. It is the New Year because it is the end of the growing season for that cycle. It is the last harvest, so there are bon fires and feasting, and it it the day the veil is thinnest between the workds and we can contact the dead - the table is set withtheir pictures and they recive plates of food and their pictures are put out and tales of them are told. It is a good night to do magic. Last Halloween - all the Pagans in the US and the world that wanted to participate - spent Halloween - helping the dead from 9/11 cross-over and did binding spells on Ben Laden. I have included 2 write ups from pagans about Halloween. I must also share Fundementalist Christians are trying to do away with Halloween - go to local Christian bookstore and look on the shelves and you will at least one chapter in at least one book decrying the Holiday as pure evil. Truth - Amber and I went into the Jesus Bookstore to get a gift for one of her friends - and browsed thru the books - Amber was truly shocked when she read the part about Halloween and stuff about Pagans. She didn't understand how they could lie like that. I pointed out to them that was the truth and what they believed, and are not to try to change their view becasue that is considered harming them. She wanted to write the authors!! LOL I must apologize here for talking about Pagans stuff, but Mike ask - I recieved a very nasty letter the last time I mentioned Pagan. And was told basically to never mention it agian and just frankly my very persence would upset you guys and I was not to upset ya'll. Was completely shocked. I let Amber read the note and she said - this is stupid and untrue, and then I thought about all the things I knew about his person and how they speak ill behind peoples backs and constantly get rid of their friends becasue the are "forcing" them to things - the whole rant thing suddenly became very clear. Hence the apology to those who will offended both by the stuff about Paganism and my very presence. Goddess Bless - Trisha