By Qanita Riaz
Halloween is a traditional pagan festival, adopted in the Older European times initially in Ireland, which spread when the Scottish and Irish settlers migrated to the USA.
Halloween basically consists of a night spent getting dressed up as something supposedly ‘scary’– just for the night. Getting sweets and fun objects from other people’s doorsteps, however, this was the culture of those in England (Medieval Era) who wanted food in return for prayers of those who had passed away.
Did you know that Americans spend up to $6 million on Halloween every year, making it the 2nd biggest commercial festival annually?
But, in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan today, why are we having a party in Emporium, Lahore, just for these pagan practices?
Is it correct, morally, financially, ethically speaking, to celebrate this festival and encourage it amongst the youth of today and tomorrow?
In Islam, our peaceful religion, we are encouraged to practise Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha. In accordance with the Hadith, we have these two celebrations in a year.
But how can we adopt a pagan festival in our Islamic Republic of Pakistan? Is trick-or-treating going to help us in any way?
Is this really what we should be practising and leaving behind to our younger generation, who only have Western traditions and hopes to aspire to?
This Halloween, let us adopt something good into our lives. Let us teach others to respect their own culture, religion and moral values.
Furthermore, the amount of money we spend on the festivals like Halloween is absurd. Costumes, sweets and decorations galore to the point where our system may collapse under these skulls, get it?
Shouldn’t we be spending all this money on health, education and other facilities that, let’s face it, our country really needs?
Instead, maybe we should learn something positive from the Western culture. We should always adopt honesty, punctuality and good works in our actions, instead of blindly following others. Are they supposedly better than us? Are they achieving more than Pakistanis worldwide, on a global scale?
No, they most certainly are not.
However, they do have some nice views which we could teach our children, such as the punctuality adopted by many people.
This is what we should aspire to be. Not a skull or a skeleton or a witch for Halloween.
Have an awesome October 31 everyone!
