jeanne
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 544
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Post by jeanne on Oct 31, 2007 17:16:13 GMT -7
All Saints Day is too gloomy for Americans. Mockery helps them keep certain morose thoughts away. Yes, Americans don't like to acknowledge death. They think if they don't talk about it, it won't happen to them.
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Post by Jaga on Oct 31, 2007 20:29:42 GMT -7
Chris, interesting, I saw the bigger version in your webshot page, it is still a bit small. Here is a disturbing picture of the frontyard of our neighbors. They decided to bury everybody alive (since all of them and their kids have their graves there). I think, this is a bit too much for me:
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Post by Jaga on Oct 31, 2007 20:30:53 GMT -7
and here is more innocent picture from the birthday/halloweeen party: this girl on the left from Ela had a beautiful costume of a queen if you do not see it open: culture.polishsite.us/forum07/hal112.JPG
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Oct 31, 2007 23:29:24 GMT -7
Chris, interesting, I saw the bigger version in your webshot page, it is still a bit small. Here is a disturbing picture of the frontyard of our neighbors. They decided to bury everybody alive (since all of them and their kids have their graves there). I think, this is a bit too much for me: Yes, it is unthinkable in Poland. It would be treated as a really bad taste joke. I don`t know what to think about it. It suggests that either the family there is so easy-going and relaxed or that they would do everything to attract people`s attention and get their 5-minute fame.
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Post by kaima on Nov 1, 2007 0:18:41 GMT -7
Chris, interesting, I saw the bigger version in your webshot page, it is still a bit small. Here is a disturbing picture of the frontyard of our neighbors. They decided to bury everybody alive (since all of them and their kids have their graves there). I think, this is a bit too much for me: Yes, it is unthinkable in Poland. It would be treated as a really bad taste joke. I don`t know what to think about it. It suggests that either the family there is so easy-going and relaxed or that they would do everything to attract people`s attention and get their 5-minute fame. Interesting to see the variety of reactions and conclusions, Pawi. Just before Jaga posted the photo, Jeanne said "Yes, Americans don't like to acknowledge death. They think if they don't talk about it, it won't happen to them." I won't comment on it much. Where are the limits of good taste when death and evil is the theme? At least I believe it has gone beyond the limits of paganism for virtually everyone, and it is just a spooky fun day - evening! The Germans had to put up with Americans and halloween at Frankenstein castle near Darmstadt for so long that when most most Americans left, the Germans took to tossing the festival. (The original Frankenstein story takes place in Switzerland). Kia the Spooked
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Post by kaima on Nov 1, 2007 0:25:07 GMT -7
Jaga,
Nice pictures. It is really nice to see kids get out and have fun with fantasy and normally 'spooky' themes. Yes, i think the neighbors went a bit overboard with their burials, but it is lighthearted. I hope!
I think Americans separate All Souls day from Halloween, and the one as a church holiday gets far less attention. Plus we spend much less time in graveyards caring for ancestors. At the same time it seems Jeanne is right in saying Americans stay away from serious thoughts death. We are famous for blood, gore and death in our entertainment, yet we censor death in war and accidents. In that respect Europeans aer far ahead of us and more honest and open.
Kai
PS What is the scariest animal in Alaska? Bear? Musk ox? Moose? Nope!
Cari-BOO !! (Caribou)
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Pawian
European
Have you seen my frog?
Posts: 3,266
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Post by Pawian on Nov 1, 2007 2:41:11 GMT -7
Interesting to see the variety of reactions and conclusions, Pawi. Just before Jaga posted the photo, Jeanne said "Yes, Americans don't like to acknowledge death. They think if they don't talk about it, it won't happen to them." I think Jeanne`s opinion should be developed as little to understand it better: Americans don't like to acknowledge death as it is, that`s why they try to mock it. They think if they don't talk about it seriously, it won't happen to them. We mock something what we are afraid of, it is a commonly known rule.
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jeanne
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 544
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Post by jeanne on Nov 1, 2007 4:02:23 GMT -7
We are famous for blood, gore and death in our entertainment, yet we censor death in war and accidents. In that respect Europeans aer far ahead of us and more honest and open. Since I work with young children every day and because yesterday we were in the midst of our Halloween celebrations at my school, I think my comments came from thoughts on how all this affects children. It's very true that Americans like blood, gore and death in their entertainment. So much so that I believe they have become desensitized to it. It is with a great sense of unreality, though, with the victims reappearing the next week or on the next TV episode. Children tend to not understand the finality of death. Some experts have said that this situation has exacerbated the epidemic of teenage suicides. In their twisted thinking the kids say "I'll show them, I'll kill myself. Then they'll feel bad and be really nice to me." ( ??) On the other hand, in their everyday life, Americans want to shield their children from knowledge of death, not talking about it and even to the point in many cases of excluding them from wakes and funerals. I have a neighbor who sent his four young children off to school on the day of their grandmother's funeral because he didn't want to "expose" them to that. That was, in my opinion a great disservice to the children, who need to mourn in a healthy manner. Jeanne
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Post by Jaga on Nov 1, 2007 9:30:47 GMT -7
Jeanne,
I am another person who agrees with you! I also find this strange attitudes towards the death. Polish cemeteries are actually very peaceful places to be and to visit. People take care of their descendants. Here in America almost nobody cares. Only alive people count. Children are sheltered from death in a bit artificial way.
All Saints Day is a beautiful celebration and there is nothing scary/shocking about it. I liked it as a child.
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Post by rdywenur on Nov 1, 2007 16:42:02 GMT -7
Not sure what happened there Jaga as I had set my camera for higher resolution. Somehow it got switched (prpbably gremlins out for Hallowen) It is too bad as much got lost in detail.
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Post by rdywenur on Nov 1, 2007 16:48:15 GMT -7
Not entirely true. I think it must be the territory. I know back in Utica all the Italians there take care of their relatives graves and make sure they are taken care of and visit often. Especially on Memorial Day and Holidays. If they move away they hire someone to do it so it is always visited and taken care of. But then again it is a small town and everyone sort of takes care of each other. Even today it is still done.
It is also not that accurate when comparing US with Poland. US is huge compared to Poland and we have people of all different beliefs and cultures. In Poland it is mainly Catholic and so more so in common with each other.
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Bob S
European
Rainbow Bear
Posts: 2,052
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Post by Bob S on Nov 7, 2007 23:55:55 GMT -7
;D My opinion is a bit different. Halloween or "All Souls Day" is a day to remember the departed and offer prayers for them. All Saints Day followed and prayers were offered so that those who entered Heaven could help us to be better persons and lead a better life. IMHO Halloween can be looked at as a time to spit in the eye of the Devil, to make a mockery of evil and to show a defiance to death. Other people say that encourging children to go "begging" for treats is another way of introducing them to Socialism and the idea that big government can sokve all their problems. ;D
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