All Things Considered

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Religious affairs programme, tackling thorny issues in a thought-provoking manner

Religious affairs programme, tackling the thornier issues of the day in a thought-provoking manner

BBC Radio Wales Extra

All Things Considered: Trick or treat; harmless fun or seriously sinister?

29/10/2023

Trick or treat; harmless fun or seriously sinister?

BBC Radio Wales - All Things Considered, Trick or treat; harmless fun or seriously sinister?

Amid the spooky outfits and parties, Rosa Hunt takes a wider look at Halloween.

Amid the spooky outfits and parties, Rosa Hunt takes a wider look at Halloween. We explore the history, and ask why the church has an ambivalent approach to the occasion.

At the moment you can’t move in the shops for sales of Pumpkins, and all kinds of Hallowe'en outfits – such as masks, witches’ hats, and luminous skeletons. It’s being reported that spending on Hallowe’en is expected this year to surpass the billion pound mark.   Come Hallowe'en there’ll be the trick or treat ring of the doorbell, and spooky parties serving foul-looking broth, witches’ fingers and graveyard chocolate cake. But as far as the church is concerned, there’s little or no engagement except perhaps for a so-called Light Party. 

Rosa Hunt takes a broader look at Hallowe'en. We hear about the history of bonfire celebrations on October 31st which stretch back to pre-Christian times; in Wales “Nos Calan Gaeaf” had both agricultural and spiritual significance. We ask why many in the church have little or nothing to do with Hallowe’en. As far as popular stories like the Harry Potter books or Philip Pullman’s 'His Dark Materials' are concerned, the church has sometimes been accused of keeping such fantastical story lines at arm’s length. We consider why. And amidst all the Hallowe’en trick & treating, can all the fun tip over into something more sinister?

Rosa’s guests this week are:
Sergeant Sue Carrington, a crime prevention police officer based in north Wales.
Revd Dr Rob Beamish, a school chaplain and Baptist minister based in Colwyn Bay.
Mandy Bayton, Director of Evangelism, Church in Wales.
Twm Elias, Welsh author who has written a written a book about festivals during the year including “Nos Calan Gaeaf”.  
Revd Canon Dr Jason Bray, Vicar of St Giles’s Parish Church Wrexham and a Deliverance Minister.

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