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Many theme parks in Hong Kong turn into haunted house fever in October and everyone knows that Halloween is coming. Many local schools also take the opportunity to organize English activities or parties, saying that it is a celebration of the holiday (in fact, what is worth celebrating?)
“Halloween” on October 31 comes from “All Hallows' Eve”. It refers to the eve of “All Saints Day” on November 1. On the day of All Saints' Day, the Catholic Church commemorates all the saints and martyrs in recognition of their virtues as a model for Christians. However, most of the current Western traditional festivals have become commercial activities for businessmen to make money. Shopping and having fun is much more important while the deep religious and cultural origins of such are regarded as outdated or even politically incorrect.
On the fourth Thursday of November each year, the Thanksgiving Day is traditionally the national festival of the United States, to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the year from the Lord. In 1620, the persecuted British Puritans arrived at the New World of America by the ship Mayflower. In that winter, many people were suffering from coldness and starving, and even died of illness. With the help of the Indians, the new immigrants survived through the cold winter and learned to fish, farm and hunt. In the fall of the following year, they celebrated the good harvest and invited the Indians to thank the Lord.
Today, Thanksgiving Day marks the beginning of the crazy shopping season at the end of the year. The day after, called "Black Friday", marks the climax of the entire shopping festival, and stores will launch irresistible offers to attract customers. The immediate Monday after is the "Cyber Monday" which becomes the best time for online shopping. The public's shopping intentions and turnover have been translated into indicators of the economic and price index thereafter.
Although in the Thanksgiving period, traditional Christians will still go to the church to worship, family members from distant locations will come home to celebrate, this secular consumerism culture has already replaced the gratitude of life. Are we still grateful for the blessings given by the Lord and the help from others today?
Christmas will come in December again. The Western world has turned “Merry Christmas” to “Season's Greeting”, “Christmas” to “Winter Festival” or “Happy Holiday”. Therefore, Jesus or the manger is absent from the shopping malls, leaving Santa Claus, carrying a bag of present, waving at us with a smile. Children think that Christmas is Santa’s birthday. What would be “Christmas” without the Lord Jesus?
Will you share your love and care with your neighbours in November? In the coming months, will you remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who redeemed the world from the bondage of sin, and lives with the poor and needy, so that they can enjoy the warmth and light of the world?
Servant pastor
Rev. Benedict Shum
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