Beverley claims Halloween is evil and celebrates the occult, whereas it is in fact a celebration of the Wheel of the Year, whose purpose is to celebrate the lives of those who are dear to us and have recently passed away. This makes Halloween a compassionate and important festival, which it is essential to promote when working with children. It approaches the circle of life and how to deal with bereavement, which I believe are important aspects for learning and development.
It is a tradition celebrated in many ways by many countries. In Mexico, for instance, they call it the Day of the Dead. It is a traditional pagan festival and for that reason, childcare workers need to be sensitive on religious grounds - but that does not make the occasion any less valid than Christmas, Eid or Yom Kippur. Many childcare workers pick and choose their favourite multicultural festival, which usually includes Chinese New Year.
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