Yeah, I drew from 'The Berenstain Bears' (TBB) long ago ...and I deleted that drawing because I hated it. ^^
So, here's another ...that I'll probably delete later if someone manages to convince me Halloween is entirely 'of the Devil' (which wouldn't be hard ...so enjoy while you can)!.
This ACO shows the character *Widow Jones, somewhat as she appears in the show we'll be looking at. The difference is, on the show, Jones was shown (in this pose) in silhouette. My card shows roughly how I think she would look without being obscured by shadow.
*I know it's officially spelled as 'W-I-D-D-E-R', but that's silly. :P
As for the pencil... I drew this with my Zephyr, and delineated the subject with this pumpkin pencil ...which has to be about THE worst pencil I've ever used (even worse than the Food Lion pencil)! This pencil is objectively cheap, in spite of its weight---it's drag is waxy and sometimes doesn't leave a mark behind. :P
Anyway...
I was somewhat surprised TBB had a Halloween *episode. Why?
I can't judge; I'm a Christian, yet here I am drawing Halloween stuff. Then again, God and I aren't exactly 'tight' (to use a 90's term), so the rightness of anything I do should be taken with a grain of salt (and/or with a lemon drop---because Halloween and candy). ^^
Anyway...
Let's have a look at TBB's 'Trick-or-Treat' story. :3
Digressing, but I find it amusing that COPPA makes so many paranoid demands and restrictions regarding kids content on YouTube, but hasn't a qualm about including the above advertisement alongside my kiddie recommendations. :P
And, yes, this is so even with me logged out of my account, and with cookies cleared: https://sta.sh/02f8oiu2wg0
Then again, I'm watching a Halloween story; maybe this is a sign the holiday really is about the Devil (if it's not obvious, I despise Family Guy---I had to take a jab at it here). ^_^
Our tale begins on Halloween day, with Brother and Sister (presumably) walking home from school. The two are excited about going trick-or-treating, but each agrees there's one doorbell they should avoid ringing: that of the dread Widow Jones! D:
BROTHER: "I hear she flies around on her broomstick at night!"
Then she wouldn't be home tonight anyway ...right? <_< >_>
SISTER: I hear she cooks up magic spells in her witches cauldron"
That's rough---I'd just use a microwave.
BROTHER: "I heard it from Freddy, who heard it from Lenny, who heard it from Fuzzy, that she turns cubs into statues!"
SISTER: "Statues?"
BROTHER: "Huh-uh---statues!"
*poses like Mike's 'David'* Gimmie your best shot, Jones! ...Wait, would that count as cub porn? :P
Anyway...
We cut to later in the day, at the home of the Bear family. Mamma arrives home from grocery shopping, to find the cubs dressed in their Halloween costumes. Papa, also, enters dressed in his costume, frightening the cubs (who weren't expecting it),
PAPA (to the cubs): "It's just your old pa, trying to give you a Halloween scare"
SISTER: "Well, it was kinda scary at first"
MAMMA: "It just goes to show you how appearances can be deceiving ...that's just a grown-up way of saying that things aren't always what they seem"
Gee, I wonder what the moral of this story will be...
Later still, we cut to the cubs planning their trick-or-treat itinerary on a map. Mamma observes,
MAMMA: "Hm. It looks like you missed Widow Jones's house"
BROTHER: "Oh, we did that on purpose ...because she's a witch!"
Well, I wouldn't imagine she's the most cheerful individual, considering everyone refers to her as 'Widow'. As someone whose RL partner died, it's not a pleasant thing to be reminded of, esp. unnecessarily. :P
MAMMA: (laughs): "She's very sweet and kindhearted ...we take a quilting class together; she's very friendly and helpful"
BROTHER (whispering to Sister): "Until she turns you into a statue"
MAMMA: "In fact, I saw her at the market today. She's preparing a very special treat for all the trick-or-treaters. When you get home, I want to know that you've paid Widow Jones a visit ...remember not to judge someone by their appearance"
SISTER (to Brother): "So... are we going there?"
BROTHER: "I guess so. You knock---I'll wait by the road!"
...Ok, that's funny-cute. :3
I agree with Mamma 100%. Judging someone based on unsubstantiated hearsay is as bad (or worse) as judging one by one's skin color, worldview, etc. I agree, also, the cubs should be properly introduced to Jones, but...
I don't agree that the cubs should be made to trick-or-treat her, esp. by themselves. Why?
Because Jones's the only adult in the neighborhood the cubs don't know/trust. Regardless of the cubs' reasoning, Jones makes them uncomfortable, therefore this is a situation to be handled with care, esp. if a lesson is to be learned. It would be better, IMHO, for Mamma to pick a day to invite Jones over for tea or something, and introduce the cubs to her that way.
At the very least, going to someone's door to trick-or-treat is generally a very quick thing---you get the treat, then you leave. It's not an appropriate moment to engage in conversation (esp. of the personal sort), and so wouldn't dispel any myths ...esp. if Jones herself is in-costume (spoiler alert: she will be---and dressed as a witch, no less). :P
Anyway,
That night, the cubs get together with their friends (Freddy and Lizzy) for a night of trick-or-treating. The night is uneventful, until the group arrives at Jones's house! D:
LIZZY: "Anyone see a witch flying on her broomstick?"
a rustle is heard coming from a nearby pile of raked leaves.
The neighborhood bully, Too-Tall Grizzly, and his idiots friends Skuzz and Smirk, burst forth from the leaf pile, frightening the trick-or-treaters!
TOO-TALL: "Look what we have here---some little cubs trick-or-treating! Ooo! Look at all the spooky costumes!"
SMIRK (ironic; in reference to Sister): "Check it out, Too-Tall---that's the scariest ballerina I've ever seen!"
SKUZZ (ironic; in reference to Brother): "And look! That's the scariest monster I've ever seen! Oh! wait a second! That's Brother!" *laughs*
At least they have costumes. The bullies (apart from their everyday clothes) are wearing only 'bandit' masks ...or maybe they're referencing the disadvantaged orphan kids from Casper's Halloween Special---the kids who wore similar masks because they couldn't afford costumes. :3
After an exchange of insults,
BROTHER: "So, are you guys trick-or-treating?"
TOO-TALL: "No way! we're here to have some real Halloween fun!"
SKUZZ: "We're going to put the 'trick' back in trick-or-treating"
TOO-TALL (revealing a roll of toilet paper): "And we're starting out by decorating widow Jone's house with some of this!"
...in light of current events, Jones might be glad to have that. ^^
The trick-or-treaters request the bullies let them get their candy before TP'ing the house. Too-Tall agrees, but says he will go to Jones's door first,
"Might as well have a little snack before we get to work!"
Hey! Your parents need to check those snacks first! D: ...seriously, though, did anyone really do this? Anyway...
As the bullies approach the door, they set off a trip wire, that causes a giant, fake spider to drop from a tree, scaring the bullies away. The trick-or-treaters stand their ground, as Jones opens her door.
A bad editing job implies the trick-or-treaters ran away, but it's revealed Brother was the only trick-or-treater to do so. He emerges from his hiding place, wondering where his friends have gotten-to. Brother observes through Jones's window that his friends are all inside. Believing them to be in trouble, Brother goes in to rescue them, but discovers everyone is happy as can be!
SISTER (to Brother): "You have it all wrong---widow Jones IS nice. Just like Mamma said!"
Jones appears from her kitchen, carrying a platter replete with candy apples for the trick-or-treaters.
JONES: "Halloween is my favorite time of the year. I love entertaining neighborhood cubs, and dressing up and hanging spooky things around the yard"
A knock is heard at the front door.
JONES: "Oh, goody! More trick-or-treaters!"
Jones opens the door, but no one seems to be around. Suddenly, a roll or toilet paper flies from the leaf pile, landing harmlessly on the footpath to the door.
...um, I've never TP'd someone's house, but I'm pretty sure this isn't how it's done. :P
BROTHER (to Jones): "It's Too-Tall and his gang. They're not here for the treats, just the tricks!"
Are you sayin' he's a gold digger? *shot, multiple times*
Sorry. :P
JONES: "I understand perfectly, and I'm more than happy to oblige!"
Jones pulls on a rope by the front door's threshold, triggering a mobile of cardboard bats to swoop down on the bullies. The bullies are frightened, but remain steadfast. Jone's pulls yet another rope, this one dropping some dummy ghosts around the terrified bullies!
JONES (pointing to a lightswitch): "So, Brother---how would you like to play the final trick? ...Just turn this on and watch the fun!"
Brother flips the switch, dropping plastic skeletons from the tree. The bullies flee in horror, much to the amusement of Jones and the trick-or-treaters! :D ...though I kinda feel bad for the tree. :P
JONES: "It's a shame they didn't come in for a visit"
SISTER: "Next year, stick to the treats, you guys!"
The story ends at the home of the Bear family,
BROTHER (admiring their Halloween loot): "We did pretty well tonight"
PAPA: "So who gave you these delicious-looking candy apples? ...Widow Jones? That scary-looking grouch who lives down Crooked Lane?"
SISTER: "Actually, she's really nice, Papa. You shouldn't judge someone for how they look, remember?"
PAPA: "You're right"
Papa turns away, placing a large Jack-o-Lantern over his head, to wear as a mask"
BROTHER: "What are you doing, Papa?"
PAPA: "Well, you're never too old to go trick-or-treating, especially for candy apples!"
~Fin
...That was cute fun! :3
I've pretty much spoken my only real criticism for the story. Whether I was right or not, everything ended well and as it should.
My only question is whether Jones keeps those booby traps active all year (I'm not so convinced they're just for Halloween)! :o
As someone who was raised in a Jewish household, we celebrated Halloween every year. I'm not sure if stricter Jewish folks do (like the Orthodox), though. However, I know for a fact that at least most Evangelicals (the ones I know anyway) do not partake in Halloween celebrations. I also know that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate it - although to be fair, they don't celebrate much of anything holiday-wise, not even Christmas.
As someone who was raised in a Jewish household, we celebrated Halloween every year. I'm not sure if
It's a very case-by-case, family-by-family thing. I'd leave it at that, save it's not always presented as a matter of taste.
I don't celebrate much---I'm past all that, but I do draw holiday characters, etc. That's where my fear resides. That said, I've been here before with other matters, such as drawing nudity (and even just paws). I won't say I'm completely cool with those things, but I know what it's like to overcorrect (ie, to delete everything in my gallery) out of fear. That, to me, felt more wrong than (almost) anything I've ever drawn (which suggests God isn't completely against my art).
I dunno.
It's a very case-by-case, family-by-family thing. I'd leave it at that, save it's not always present
I can say from my own experience growing up in a christian home, that holiday's were not out and out banned, we wore costumes and trick-or-treated, we decorated christmas trees and got presents from Santa Claus, and we got easter baskets from the easter bunny, but my mother has been known to regard aspects of the holidays with some suspicion.
As is typical among christians who spend any time actually thinking about it (instead of just celebrating it without thinking where it comes from and just assuming they're "christian" holidays), her objections boil down to "pagan" influences tainting the pure christian meanings of the holidays. She objects to the focus on Santa Claus instead of the birth of Jesus on christmas, and the focus on the easter bunny, and rabbits, on easter (all pagan symbols) as opposed to the ressurection of christ. As for halloween, this is probably my mother's least favorite and most suspect holiday as it doesn't really have a christian analog. Instead it might as well be a holiday invented by witches, it is truly just a "pagan" holiday through and through. For each of these holidays my mother will celebrate in a fashion she deems appropriate. So for halloween it's more about celebrating the harvest season and decorating with fall colors, pumpkins are okay, but she doesn't like all the ghoulish elements like witches, vampires, and the like. For christmas, we still have christmas trees (not offensive for some reason), but maybe add a nativity scene under the tree and play down the santa aspect. For easter she seems fine with eggs which she thinks of as a symbol of the ressurection, and chicks seem okay, but rabbits are more sparing.
So yeah, as christian kids, we got to enjoy the holiday's in a fairly normal fashion. The only difference is that my mother made halloween seem like this satanic holiday that we should be careful how we celebrate.
Now being non-religious and having researched on this topic on my own I can say that all of this superstituous fear mongering about holidays (even halloween) seems silly. Firstly, it's incredibly annoying to have christians complain about "pagan traditions" in their holidays. How do they think they got there? The holidays were all pagan to begin with until christians had to paint their traditions on top and claim them as their own. So it seems to me that the blame, historically would be on christians. They are the ones that allowed pagan traditions into their religion precisely to attract the non-believers. Now they complain that they detract from the christian elements. It's annoying. The way I see it, "christmas", despite the name, is actually an amalgamation of many many traditions, and which the nativity is only one. Rather than being a christian holiday that was tainted with paganism, it is instead a body of pagan traditions tainted with christian lore that has no biblical basis. Same thing for Easter. Halloween I don't know as much about so I'll refrain from comment here.
I can say from my own experience growing up in a christian home, that holiday's were not out and out
My mother would tend to make the "pagan" elements of these holidays guilty pleasures. As a non-believer I can now just enjoy holidays as just that "holidays", playful not-serious traditions without far reaching moral implications for practicing them. I can indulge in the christmas lore of rudolph and his brethren without having to feel like it's blasphemy somehow to not focus exclusively on the nativity (or even at all if I so chose). I also don't have to worry about whether the nativity is historically accurate or whether it actually fell on dec 25th, because it is now just one more tradition that is part of the overall christmas lore. As an aspect of christmas it's fine and I have nothing against it. I enjoyed Nestor the long ear donkey, and the Star which both focus on the nativity from the donkey's point of view. But christians want to get mad because people have a rich set of traditions that has nothing to do with god or jesus, and yet are, by and large hypocritical because almost none reject things like the christmas tree which is just as pagan (in fact more so) than santa claus, who is himself an amalgamation of Odin and Saint Nicholas (catholic tradition).
sigh ... it be nice if Christians are going to complain about a thing, that they properly educate themselves about it, and stop being half-in-and-half-out. It's like they know that they should commit fully, biblically speaking, yet they also know that these are just harmless traditions and they can't help but want to enjoy them like everyone else. Either completely divorce yourself from them out of principle, like the jehovah witnesses (the ultimate wet blankets), or just enjoy them fully and stop feeling guilty about them. Frankly this is one thing I consider a plus as an atheist. I really don't have to wring my fists over this and find myself comprimised one way or the other. I can enjoy the traditions and not feel like they are somehow tainted with black magic. I can engage with them, including the christian lore, without feeling like I'm violating my moral principles somehow. I can celebrate something without having to believe it is literally true. They are just traditions.
And we are not performing human sacrifice here. Dressing up for halloween isn't somehow going to magically make you guilty of whatever these traditions are preported to have began. If there was a time when terrible things were practiced in the name of halloween, those traditions have clearly evolved into something completely benign and it's only superstituous thinking that makes it seem like somehow going around in costumes collecting candy from neighbors is anything dripping with "evil intent". Anyway, that's my 2 thousand cents.
My mother would tend to make the "pagan" elements of these holidays guilty pleasures. As a non-belie
I've been applying a kind of 'death of the author' to holidays---sure, a given day WAS about this or that, and/or contains elements/traditions borrowed from here and from there, but these things have lost much of their original meanings (while I do believe in God, I don't believe in witchcraft and magic---there are no real witches, etc). For example, as you say, Christmas is a pagan holiday not founded by the Bible. The original holiday was hijacked by the church (in much the same way as many old taven songs were reworded into hymns so thay'd be easy for the heathens to remember). ^^ Today, it could be argued that Wal-Mart/cororate America has hijacked the 'true' meaning of Christmas (it's common to hear it said that Christmas has become too commercial).
And yes, I call today Thursday, despite the fact I do not believe in Thor. There's just so many things that, IMHO, are neither here nor there ...but, then, God may be of a different opinion. I don't know. :(
My goal is to not hurt anyone---I don't think my art can cause any hurt ...albeit, someone on DA left a hate message in this upload, then blocked me (but didn't say why). That's the kind of thing that worries me. :(
It's all a matter of worldview. I've been applying a kind of 'death of the author' to holidays---s
Well you are already miles ahead of most christians in recognizing that no one culture really "owns" the holidays, especially christmas, and it's better described as a group effort. I say let the people enjoy the aspects of the holiday that they enjoy in peace. If you feel you want to be devote and focus only on the nativity that is of course your prerogative.
Growing up in a home where my mom was always expressing distress at the holidays has made me a little bitter to the whole issue I guess. I want christians to stop telling me what christmas is about. It means different things to different people. Just leave it at that.
And while I don't care for corporations and their mission to turn everyone in to a rapid consumer I have to say, that I'm greatful to them for making christmas what it is today. If it weren't for this, we wouldn't have a red coated santa claus or rudolph the red nose reindeer, a massive collection of zany christmas specials and so on. It's the lore and the decorations that I love the most about the holidays. I don't care much for the "gifts" aspect, and I acknowledge that the stress this causes is ultimately negative. Other than children, people are not really as into the gift getting as the corporations would have you believe. Receiving a gift can be a bit of a burden with limited space and the risk that it's not something you were that interested in, and all because someone felt they "had to" give everyone they knew "something". That's silly. Get a gift only for those you really care about and only if you know it's something they would actually need or want. My family has sworn off the gift giving entirely because we collectively have agreed it is wasteful and forced. We only get a small gift here or there if we feel like it. We are more interested in coming together to spend the holidays together and just enjoy the "feeling" of the holidays. This is why I'm not too concerned with corporations and their mechanations. Clearly I don't buy into the cosumerism angle and all I want to do is enjoy the ethos of the holiday. Ultimately that feeling is something you create within yourself. The decorations and paraphernalia are just there to fascilitate if you will.
Well you are already miles ahead of most christians in recognizing that no one culture really "owns"
Since it tis the season, here are some preliminary thoughts on halloween without any preliminary research. Halloween is "of the devil" in the same way that horror movies, Harry Potter, D&D, and Pokemon are "of the devil". Anything which is not "of god" is by default of the devil. So if Halloween can not justify itself as a christian holiday it must be by default a "satanic holiday". Of course christians don't apply this logic consistently. There are plenty of things christians accept all the time without question, even if they did not originate within christian circles. Playing cards, or hindu-arabic numerals, to give some examples, yet most christians don't have a problem with this. Tarot cards and runes on the other hand are witchcraft. Of course, I think you can probably find a christian against almost anything you can name that isn't directly from the bible, but most moderate christians accept non-christian things by and large when they are part of the common culture and they don't directly offend their sensibilities.
So what generally gets shunned? Things that either deal directly with magic/demons, deal with negative emotions like fear, or could be seen as enticing kids and distracting them from learning about the bible. In addition to Halloween having "nothing to do with god", and therefore falling under being a distraction from the bible and god, it also falls fowl of the other two points as well. It does deal directly with witches(magic), and vampires are themselves part of satanic christian lore. Certainly demons would not be out of place in halloween. Lastly Halloween does seem to deal directly with the things that make us afraid, the ghoulish, the gory, and the grotesque. All of these things are clearly are the opposite of the glory, goodness, and wholesomeness, and so naturally are "of the devil". Notice this has nothing to do with whether the devil is actually involved in any of it, or even cares about it. But christians will none the less, without any actual proof, assume that anything which makes them personally uncomfortable, particularly if it's not of christian origin, must be some next level master gambit by Satan to turn people away from god. That at very least, if the devil did not personally invent halloween, he must at least approve since it's "his sort of thing". This notion that the devil can manipulate you through things that he has either made or influenced is an underlying superstition in christianity. It's the force behind most of christians rejection of non-christian media, especially anything related to horror/violence/or excessive action. The fear is that somehow this will pollute the mind, and it all being more interesting than bible thumping, will turn people away from christianity en masse.
So you see, whether Halloween has pagan origins, and whether there is some dark hidden history behind it ... is almost beside the point. Christians don't seem to dig very deep. If on a surface level something is not expressly christian and is not oozing with praise of god ... well it's "of the devil" already, whether or not there is actually any devil in the details. This is why so many completely mundane things are regarded with such fear (like pokemon), and why non-believers, and even some believers, find the more fundamentalist christians to be such kill joys. Nothing can just be enjoyed. It's got to be part of your godly devotion or its bad. If Halloween has it any worse than Christmas/Easter it's only because at least those are bright and cheery holidays and so don't invite the negative emotions that christians fear.
So what really is halloween about? Well I think most people will tell you, for most children, its not just about scary things, or candy, but it's really about having an excuse to be what you want to be once a year. The costumes is easily the most unique thing about the holiday in that it actively encourages you to "make it your own" where as other holidays are more passive.
Since it tis the season, here are some preliminary thoughts on halloween without any preliminary res
I've read this, but my mind is weary now of the conversation. At day's end, it is a matter of personal comfort (on a material, human level). Again, I don't know God's opinion.
I hate saying 'Christ paid for it', as saying it that way seems to take His sacrifice lightly, but it's nonetheless true. If I am sinning by drawing Halloween (or even cartoons in general), I'm not absolutely sure/am not intending evil--if there is something to repent of here (beyond extending beneficial doubt to something most cultures deem benign), I do not know it.
Thank you. :3 I've read this, but my mind is weary now of the conversation. At day's end, it is a m
I did struggle with this, way back in my 20's when Pokemon was a big part of my life. i obsessed over whether Pokemon was 'of the Devil'---I even wrote a dissertation of over 100 pages on the matter! Still, the results were inconclusive.
Then, one day, as I was walking home from the mall, I 'heard' something in my head. It simply said "It's ok", and I knew it was in regards to Pokemon.
How do I know that was God and not just from me? Because after I 'heard' that, I never questioned Pokemon in this way again---I stopped obsessing over it then and there. Granted, I didn't stop fussing about other things later in life (specifically, my artwork), but the matter of Pokemon had been laid to rest.
When God speaks, stuff happens. :3
I will add this, since you mentioned Pokemon... I did struggle with this, way back in my 20's when
Just fyi, im in the process of reading through your pm on thanksgiving. I havent forgotten it. I just wanted to address halloween even in the absence of much knowledge of its history. I may investigate that later.
Just fyi, im in the process of reading through your pm on thanksgiving. I havent forgotten it. I jus
And i totally understand not having th energy for a lengthy response. I sometimes hold off on responding because I know once i get started i csn carry on for a long time and it can be quite time consuming. So i try to wait for a time when i can casually organize my thoughts.
And i totally understand not having th energy for a lengthy response. I sometimes hold off on respon
