Halloween Making Way for "White Feast"

A 6-year-old initiative to change Halloween from a night of fright into a celebration of joy and hope is gaining ground in Chile. The "White Feast of All Saints," the night of Oct. 31, is growing in popularity in families, parishes and communities, and especially in schools.

The initiative has children dress up in costumes and express, with entertainment, their gratitude to the families that give them sweets. Positive elements are being retained, such as costumes and sweets for children. But customs that glorify death and darkness have been replaced by those that promote joy and life. Thus, far from opposing Halloween, there is a return to the original meaning of this date, the eve of All Saints Day. (Yay!)

Under the program, children are taught that they must give of themselves to achieve their objectives, that it is better to show respect than to scare people. Above all they are being taught that positive and constructive values must always prevail, such as life, love, peace, joy and selflessness.

How beautiful.