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October 31, 2005
Wiccans Offended by Halloween
Among those who get themselves worked up by missing the point of Halloween are certain Wiccans who are offended that the whole thing can't be more reverential. A devil costume in a local store "was like a slap in the face" to a Wiccan named Morning Dove, who didn't like that it included a pentagram. It seems that in addition to appearing in countless horror movies and in the elaborate logos of death metal bands, pentagrams (aka pentacles) are also the symbol of the Wiccan religion.
"How am I supposed to protect my son from that, that pentacles represent evil," Morning Dove wanted to know.
To Wiccans, October 31 is Samhain, allegedly a sacred occasion in pre-Christian Europe. But to everyone else, it's a time to lighten up.
Hat tip: ex-expat.
Posted by Van Helsing at October 31, 2005 9:43 PM
Comments
I sure hope the poor boy doesn't have to be treated for a non-descended pentacle.
- Eric
Posted by: Eric S. at October 31, 2005 10:08 PM
See, this is why wiccans so get on my nerves. The pentacle is *not* par of their "faith". It *is* part of ancient mid-eastern religions and was used in some pretty vicious ceremonies. Claiming that it's part of wicca is historical revisionism at its finiest. But, then, wiccans reckon that their "faith" is millenia old, when it was invened in the 1920s or something.
Posted by: Archonix at November 1, 2005 5:08 AM
The pentacle is not evil in origin. It was used as a symbol for goddess worship, primarily Venus. Thanks to Hollywood, it is portrayed as a satanic symbol.
Posted by: Rob B. at November 1, 2005 9:41 AM
Rob B I beg to disagree. The pentagram like the Seal of Solomon are from the Levant/Mesopotamia area. The pentagram, according to occult traditions, can be used for either good or evil depending upon a few conditions. As for the reference to Venus, do you mean Ishtar or Inana or perhaps the Caananite goddess of fertility/prostitution/child sacrifice Ashtoreth? All of whom predate what the Romans called Venus.
Posted by: Anna at November 1, 2005 1:16 PM
Came here through Blog Explosion, and stayed to visit GREAT site!
Ahem - don't ask me how I know this, but the Pentagram SHOULD be upside down. Sort of like how the swastika has a different meaning e=when the arms go the other way.
Moonbattery, indeed!
Posted by: Peter Porcupine at November 1, 2005 3:48 PM
I mean Venus as similar to Aphrodite, both of whom symbolized love. The pentagram at one time was a symbol indicating the movements of Venus. My point was that the symbol mentioned is not evil by default.
Posted by: Rob B. at November 1, 2005 7:43 PM
I knew Robbie was a friggin Pagan! ;-D
Posted by: Vonster at November 2, 2005 11:20 AM
