Thread: All Hallows Eve - is that better?

Do Russians do anything for Halloween??

My sister thinks its satanic but I like the candy.

No, I don't think they do. My Russian teacher insists upon it. But we celebrate Cinco De Mayo, so I don't see why they can't have the same appreciation. Anyways, Halloween is the only time of the year when we can fill ourselves with candy and other unhealthy foods, and not have to pay for it! Whoo-hoo!

Im pretty sure holloween is a strictly american 'holiday'.

As far as I Know some Russians, actually, celebrate it but there aren't too many of them. Of course, it's not so popular as in USA.
And what is the date of Halloween?

Halloween is on October 31st.

Biancca, you look scary!!!

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Halloween is on October 31st.

Biancca, you look scary!!!

I promise to take the hideous picture away after Halloween

In Utah if Halloween falls on a Sunday people celebrate it the Saturday before, we wouldn't want to spoil the sabbath

Halloween. It is a pagan holiday Samhain marking a quarter-year, so I would imagine that European pagans including Russians do something for it. There are also cross-quarter holidays, making 8 in all.

Read about it, for example, here:
http://members.tripod.com/~TaraMiller/halloween.html

Notice how Christian holidays fall amazingly close to former pagan holidays. Now why would that be, do you suppose??

1. It "All Hallows Eve" not hallowed
2. We do it in the UK too.
3. The old woman who I lived with in Russia knew what it was.

I think Russians know what it is, but not necesarily do anything for it.

Originally Posted by chaika

Halloween. It is a pagan holiday Samhain marking a quarter-year, so I would imagine that European pagans including Russians do something for it. There are also cross-quarter holidays, making 8 in all.

Read about it, for example, here:
http://members.tripod.com/~TaraMiller/halloween.html

Notice how Christian holidays fall amazingly close to former pagan holidays. Now why would that be, do you suppose??

Cos Christians are fucking morons.

A lot of Russian consider Helloween as just an american version of IVANA KUPALA Day (why? who knows...)

[color=darkblue]Ivan Kupala Day is a holiday that has existed since pagan times. Originally, it was known as “Solntsevorot Day,” which refers to the day of the Summer Solstice, the longest day and the shortest night of the year. This year, Ivan Kupala Day was celebrated on 23-24 June (according to the old calendar). The ancient belief was that the sun is forced down from his way and the girl with beautiful eyes, Zarya (Daybreak), helps him on his way again. She washes him with the early-morning dew from the grassy fields. People believed that water on this day had a specific cleansing force. That’s why many rites of this holiday are connected with water. The word “Kupala” has the same root as the Russian word kupat’sya, meaning “to bathe.” Originally, the holiday was called just “Kupala,” in the name of the pagan goddess. But also on this day the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the birth of St. John the Baptist (whose name is pronounced in Russian as “Ioann” or “Ivan”). This is the origin of the first part of the holiday’s name. Two holidays – the birthday of St. John and Kupala’s Day – merged into one, but the celebrations remained mostly pagan in nature.

According to the modern calendar, Ivan Kupala Day is celebrated on 7 July, but the festivities start during the night, from 6-7 July. The holiday was especially loved by young people – it was a time for wild fun. Young men often used this occasion to gain the attention of beautiful young ladies. One of the most important attributes of this holiday is Kupala’s bonfires. These fires, prepared by rubbing wood together, were named “living fire.” The fire was the symbolic representation of the sun’s power and the ritual worship based on the increasing reproductive activity of both humans and Nature (fertility of the land and fruiting of the trees). People gathered around bonfires, sang songs, danced, played noisy games, and jumped through the fire, believing that it cleansed them from all sin. Couples jumped through the fire holding their hands. If they managed not to unclasp their hands when they jumped, it was thought to be a sign that they would stay together for a long time.

As mentioned above, most rites of this holiday has something to do with water. Young guys and girls used to bathe in the rivers and lakes together in the night. Girls made beautiful diadems from flowers and then threw them in the water, which they used to guess their fate. Whichever direction the diadem drifted, that is where their fianc

Originally Posted by chaika

Notice how Christian holidays fall amazingly close to former pagan holidays. Now why would that be, do you suppose??

The same reason we still have Soviet holidays. Just with other names.
People don't like changes. Especially in such important thing as holidays are.

Originally Posted by chaika

Notice how Christian holidays fall amazingly close to former pagan holidays. Now why would that be, do you suppose??

I see that you want me to start some more trouble around here! It is because the Roman Catholic church called for the observance of all the Christian holidays to be made out of already existing Pagan celebrations. They did this because the Roman Catholic church was political and corrupted. They were able to get away with this even though there is no scriptural basis because they killed anybody caught with a copy of the Bible.
Betcha didn't know that!

Originally Posted by chaika

Notice how Christian holidays fall amazingly close to former pagan holidays. Now why would that be, do you suppose??

Halloween isn't a christian holiday!

Halloween ist mein Gubertstag (or is it 'bin mein Geburtstag'?)

Like this:

Ich habe Geburtstag am 31. Oktober.

Originally Posted by Biancca

Like this:

Ich habe Geburstag am 31. Oktober.

Danke Mein Deutsch ist nicht sehr gut Oh well, it will be some day.

I misspelled Geburtstag.

Originally Posted by Biancca

I misspelled Geburtstag.

I had the same problem a couple days ago

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Originally Posted by chaika

Notice how Christian holidays fall amazingly close to former pagan holidays. Now why would that be, do you suppose??

Halloween isn't a christian holiday!

No, no, it's not a Christian holiday. But DDT is correct about Christian holidays falling close or on the pagan holidays...the Roman Catholic church did this to facilitate the conversion of pagans into Christianity.

That's a big reason why the Virgin Mary became effectively, if not in Orthodox reality, a diety. She began to be worshipped, in order to replace the "Mother Goddess" of the pagans.

Digressing now...I've never understood the actual Catholic theological explanation of worshipping her on the same level as Christ, and treating her as THE intermediary. For me it seems to go against the grain, the spirit, of the Bible.

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Biancca, you look scary!!!

Hmm...not so much scary...but sleepy!

Must have been a great party.