Trick or treat? It's Halloween!

Marton Saliba

Nov 2nd 2009, 22:32

Besides All Hallow's Eve being close to sacred to me. I anjoy the macabre and an opportunity to dress up in such fashion.
There's no problem with 'paganism' (yes originally it was Samhaim - generically pagan).

marthese mussett

Nov 2nd 2009, 18:01

i take my children trick or treating every year,and they love it.I am always careful and we don t bother people who we know are ill.I am a Swieqi resident and I can tell you that alot of the kids you see roaming the streets on Halloween,are not all from Swieqi.Other people from all around Malta come here,because in their areas they can t be bothered to celebrate Halloween.Or are too tight to hand a few sweets.They do however collect money for this and the other when it suits them.Having said this,I would like to pass on a message to everyone,please have fun without hurting other people.or damaging their properties.Especially if they are sick or elderly.Don't spoil the fun.

Sarah Camilleri

Nov 2nd 2009, 15:05

@ C. Busuttil... "Speaking English in itself is not wrong however the question should be why certain people speak english when we have our own language? The answer is very simple it gives a sense of superiority on the rest who speak Maltese."

This is a very superficial reading of the situation. English is widely spoken in Malta as a result of our heritage - 200 years of British rule - which cannot be wiped out overnight, just as many countries in North Africa speak French apart from Arabic.

Halloween is an import which is mainly due to US influence (cultural imperialism) which is reaching our shores through cable TV, cinema and the net. It's very recent and didn't even exist in Malta in the eighties or early nineties, when we were mainly influenced by Italian TV.

Sera Dalli

Nov 2nd 2009, 14:18

@ Joseph Zammit
Thank you Mr. Zammit I was about to write the same thing!

@ Emmanuel Spiteri
Mr. Spiteri it is up to us to educate our children to our traditions! Do not blame the kids. The kids do what they see us doing! We are their role models - so if you want them to be model citizens & follow our traditions, it begins with our behaviour! It is up to us to teach our children OUR traditions. In my family we all celebrate San Martin & we all have our embroidered bags!

We "christians" - swear at the top of our lungs, we complain from sunrise to sunset. Then when you ask someone politely to refrain from swearing especially in front of kids, you get more abuse! Then when it comes to something like this "Le ta, ghax mhux kattolika!" We're all saints then! Let's not be hypocrites, shall we? We're supposed to be civilised & open-minded, if there is such a thing in Malta!!!!

@ Paul Barrett
Please!! Satanism??? Aren't we going far?!!

If the children are accompanied by an adult, it would be all good fun in a civilised way.

EMicallef

Nov 2nd 2009, 13:41

@ Danika Vella.. this is an English paper.. so replies should be in English ... if this upsets you; you should read the Maltese newspapers on line .... Another thing .. Maltese and English are our offical languages ..

Claire Micallef

Nov 2nd 2009, 12:58

In M'Scala Halloween Trick or Treating is very much celebrated. However, children knock on doors that have some type of a Halloween decoration seen. They know that households without decorations are to be left in peace.

The celebration is always a huge success with hundreds of children managing to get loads of sweets and goodies.

C.Busuttil

Nov 2nd 2009, 11:29

@Kevin Borg
Speaking english in itself is not wrong however the question should be why certain people speak english when we have our own language? The answer is very simple it gives a sense of superiority on the rest who speak Maltese.
Just like Halloween, its alien to these islands, however we are trying artificially introduce it when we have its counterpart, carnival, however since this belongs to the Maltese tradition, we refrain from it since anything thats Maltese should be destroyed. The people of this country are becoming so void so empty....

Joss Galea

Nov 2nd 2009, 10:21

@Emanuel Spiteri.
I agree totally with you. I remember me waking up to a Borza ta' San Martin and mum telling me that san Martin came and left me this bag of goodies (it's like a Maltese Santa Clause). I think that Halloween is nice too...as long as children are having fun by not bothering others and behaving well. After all every excuse is good to dress up :)

R. Mallia

Nov 2nd 2009, 08:58

@Kevin Borg
obvioulsy there is nothing wrong about English-speaking persons. What is wrong is that these little kids have a terrible English accent (entirely due to the fact that linguistically they ARE Maltese) and the vast majority of them will grow up with a sub-standard level of Maltese knowledge (especially written). The result is a future generation unable to speak well at least one language. Being unable to speak and write correctly in your own mother tounge is a shame.

Paul Barrett

Nov 1st 2009, 16:11

@ Christian Azzopardi

To you it may be only kids having fun but to us it was not fun. Not when when you have gangs of kids roaming the streets incessantly ringing on the door bell throughout the evening and even one of the groups who when not getting an answer, tried to open the front door in frustration, to get in.

Roderick Peresso

Nov 1st 2009, 14:10

I think halloween is a sweet feast. It is fully pagan, as in has nothing to do with religion, but is definitely NOT against religion. My wife and I, together with another family in our street in Attard took time in preparing a jack-o-lantern so as to welcome with more than just sweets the little children dressed in sweet costumes. However, both our facades where targeted with eggs thrown by some boys in their teens, while teasing girls. Now, as i sad, I have nothing against this celebration, on the contrary i believe that it's becoming one of the nice memories of the new childhood, but more discipline should be thought and the councils in localities like Attard and Swieqi, where this feast is most popular should liven up the night with decorations and live bands, for example, and patrol the roads to avoid and damages to people's properties.

PM Camilleri

Nov 1st 2009, 11:49

Here is an interesting and informative article.

http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/784/Truth_about_Halloween.html

JOSEPH ZAMMIT

Nov 1st 2009, 10:05

I wish to explain very briefly what Halloween means--its a beautiful and meaningful natural tradition which was eradicated by the Catholic Church long time ago.
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

Emanuel Spiteri

Nov 1st 2009, 09:20

What about the feast of San Martin? These lovely children know about halloween!!! do they know about our MALTESE traditional feast made especially for them? Are they going to receive the BORZA TA SAN MARTIN u jkantaw, GEWZ ,LEWZ, QASTAN,TIN KEMM INHOBBU L SAN MARTIN

Kevin Borg

Nov 1st 2009, 08:53

@ Danika Vella

Please refrain from such comments. What's wrong if a person speaks in English?

Mark Scerri

Nov 1st 2009, 08:46

Another nonsesne event which is promoted my moneymakers who manipulate the minds of those who want to 'celebrate' by selling costumes,sweet,organising parties etc etc.

Christian Azzopardi

Nov 1st 2009, 08:37

Why do we have to be so touchy about every single issue in this country. Come on! It's only kids having some innocent fun!!

I think that as long that the kids behave, this is a very beautiful tradition from all over the world.

No wonder that our kids don't even know how to have some real fun nowadays, with "us adults" complaining about everything they do.

Danika Vella

Nov 1st 2009, 08:15

Dan zgur Malta qeghdin? Kulhadd bl-Ingliz beda jitkellem!!!

marlene galea

Nov 1st 2009, 07:03

Nonsense.

Joseph Schembri

Nov 1st 2009, 06:34

The trick-or-treaters need to be taught some basic etiquette - namely when the outdoor lights are off and there are no jack-o-laterns in sight the people inside are NOT handing out candy and it's pointless knocking!!!

Nigel Lawrence

Nov 1st 2009, 05:44

Nice to see paganism is on the up-and-up.

Paul Barrett

Nov 1st 2009, 01:39

An interesting article in the UK Times regarding Halloween is at:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6897422.ece

I am really surprised that there has been so little reaction here against the growing popularity.

a abela

Nov 1st 2009, 01:12

Its a pity they dont let certain maltese people enter clubs on haloween in the uk.