I was outraged at the number of practitioners who said they welcome Halloween as 'harmless fun'. Really? As a nursery nurse, university student, Christian and future mother I am very alarmed at the lack of care shown here. Encouraging interest in magic, ghosts and ghouls does not benefit children psychologically or emotionally. As a Christian I would never allow my children to be exposed to this nonsense, and I would point out to them the obvious dangers of 'trick or treat'. In this day and age, what parent in their right mind would allow their children to be exposed to such potential dangers as abduction?
Now, regarding Santa Claus or Father Christmas. This is not a story mainly for Christian children, as claimed by psychoanalyst and child analyst Marie Zaphiriou Woods of the Anna Freud Centre in the feature 'The real thing?'
(12 December). Christmas has nothing to do with a bearded man flying through the air on a sleigh with a sack full of presents. It is all about the birth of Jesus Christ - the greatest present of all. The Christmas season is about love - the love of God who sent his only son into this world to die for us - rather than presents and Christmas trees.
Unfortunately what usually happens at Christmas is the story of Jesus' birth is only saved for role play, when the children dress up and marvel at the baby without understanding who the baby is.
Jesus is the reason for the season.
Jeanne Williams
Leeds
