Something to celebrate!

[girlyswot]

I don't like Hallowe'en. Sorry, everyone, but it does make my inner curmudgeon rise to the surface. I would rather be able to go to Tesco without being served by a man wearing fangs in his mouth. And although I enjoy my fictional wizards and witches, there's something about Hallowe'en that is just too close to the reality of the occult for me to find it fun. Also, I think that Trick or Treating is an extraordinary thing to encourage young children to do. Extorting sweets by threats? Um, why would you want your kids to do that? Possibly I feel this more strongly, since a boy I once taught was killed in a car accident while out trick or treating a few years ago.

But October 31st is nonetheless a special day that I like to remember in the year. It was on this day, nearly 500 years ago (1517) that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses against papal indulgences to the door of the church at Wittenburg, prompting the series of events across Europe which we now know as the Reformation. Incidentally, did you know that some of the earliest things to be printed were papal indulgences? Almost literally a licence to print money.

So, anyway, that's what I shall be celebrating today. Happy Reformation Day, everyone!

Comments

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I really hate that Undead Journal strip they've done.

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Yay! Happy reformation day! And while I think some parts of this country has a rather exceptional amount of protestant doom and gloom, I'm quite happy we're not catholic. And of course, when the reformation game, the king grabbed the opportunity to confiscate the papal properties and make it a state church. I don't really mind that either. :-) Celebrating Martin Luther's 95 theses makes much more sense than celebrating Halloween. I told the kids it's OK to "go Halloween" as they call it, as long as they'll go julebukk as well. Besides, here they don't say trick or treat, they say "søtt og godt, stort og smått" (sweet and good, big and small), which admittedly is begging but at least isn't threats. Julebukk (yule billy-goat) is an ancient tradition, and quite fun. A bit like carol singers, but you dress up and should not be recognizable. Grown-ups bring their own glass and get a dram, kids get sweets/biscuits/fruit. And of course, you have to sing.

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

Happy Reformation to you, and may any child who bothers your door have a Diet of Worms. :)

[crumplehornedki.livejournal.com]

I'm a history major and I didn't know the day (or make the link) he posted the 95 *shakes head*

[tdu000.livejournal.com]

That's why you applauded Little Tyke! Happy Reformation Day. I'll tell her that for next year. I've only ever had one child knock on my door trick-or-treating and that was when we were still in England so I guess it hasn't caught on particularly round here. I think it is probably better than Mischief Night, which was a popular event when I was a child but I've never heard of since so I don't think it could have been a widespread thing.

[owl]

Happy Reformation Day!

[girlspell.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I knew about Martin Luther. When ever Halloween comes around, I think of him! LOL...

I like Halloween though. Churches in the US are not thrilled, but they go along with it. Just about all schools including religious ones have their kids dress up and go tick or treating. Very secular in feel here. It's just like Thanksgiving, very American.

[alkari.livejournal.com]

I'm with you about Halloween generally, and especially the Trick or Treating thing with kids. Seems very strange behaviour to encourage, especially when they are also taught 'stranger danger' and to be careful of their own safety! My previous place was in a security block of flats, so I only ever had one group of kids come round (I escorted them out again, yes, mean and grumpy old me!) and my current place is tucked down a concealed driveway. But I worry about my elderly mother, though she assures me she only opens her door to the various neighbours' kids she knows.