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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | October 2007 
Mexico's Catholic Church Slams Halloween
 Mark Stevenson - Associated Press
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| | Passengers on a German train mistook a Halloween reveller dressed up as a gore-covered zombie for a murder victim and called the police. (Reuters/Mick Tsikas) |
Mexico City – Mexico's Roman Catholic church slammed Halloween as “damaging and against the faith” on Monday, and conservatives called on Mexicans to halt the steady encroachment of the gouls-and-goblins holiday and return to the country's traditional Day of the Dead ceremonies.
The fast-encroaching U.S.-style holiday has made inroads in Mexico, with monster costumes almost as widely sold as the marigold flowers traditionally used to decorate relatives' gravesides during the Nov. 1-2 Day of the Dead celebrations, when families erect altars and leave offerings of food, drink and flowers for the dearly departed.
“Those who celebrate Halloween are worshipping a culture of death that is the product of a mix of pagan customs,” the Archdiocese of Mexico published in an article Monday on its Web site. “But the worst thing is that this celebration has been identified with neo-pagans, satanism and occult worship.”
The archdiocese urged parents not to let their children wear Halloween costumes or engage in trick-or-treating.
It suggested instead giving Sunday school classes “teaching them the negative things about Halloween,” holding costume parties where children would dress up as a character from the Bible – with prizes for the best costume – and giving children a bag of candy and instructions to give away one piece to each of their friends with the words “God loves you.”
The church suggested holding these activities on Nov. 1 – All Saints' Day – but didn't endorse the Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican holiday that also appears to have 'pagan' roots.
Pre-Hispanic cultures celebrated a similar holiday in August, but after the Spanish conquest, historians say the date was changed to Nov. 1 to coincide with the Catholic holiday.
Meanwhile, the conservative Internet magazine “Yo Influyo,” some of whose staff have ties to the governing National Action Party, called on teachers to “eradicate” Halloween and “defend our culture.”
“Halloween has not only invaded our daily lives, but what's worse, our workplaces,” wrote columnist Roger Aguilar, referring to Halloween decorations becoming more frequent at offices and schools, which he said “should assume their responsibility to defend and preserve our culture.”
In another “Yo Influyo” article, Onesimo Herrera-Flores complained that “Halloween, for a variety of reasons, has imposed itself in other nations, displacing native customs.”
Herrera-Flores cited a church authority as saying celebrating Halloween was “like inviting Satan into your home.” |
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