Dear editor,

I agree with Jim Thomson鈥檚 opposition to Courtenay Recreation鈥檚 鈥淗aunted Christmas鈥� because it is disrespectful (CV Record Oct. 23, 2024 'Haunted Christmas' haunted house disrespectful to Christian community).

The City of Courtenay鈥檚 October 2024 community event (held at the LINC Youth Centre) disrespectfully conflated Halloween and Christmas.

Next Halloween, will the City of Courtenay and LINK inappropriately pair Halloween with other religious celebrations such as Diwali, Hanukkah, or Ramadan, thereby offending Hindus, Jews, and Muslims?

Halloween is a pagan celebration associated with witchcraft and goblins, ghostly haunted houses, trick-or-treating, dressing in costumes and masks, and the lighting of jack-o'-lanterns, bonfires, and fireworks. Conversely, Christmas 鈥� literally the 鈥淐hrist Mass鈥� 鈥� is a Christian celebration that marks the birth of Jesus Christ.

Familiar Christmas traditions include decorating trees with colourful ornaments and lights, altruistic gift-giving, joyfully singing Christmas carols, gathering with family and/or friends to share special meals and good cheer, attending services at churches and cathedrals, and rejoicing in the birth of Jesus Christ. In other words, Christmas brings people together in song, celebration, and worship; Halloween 鈥� in meaning and celebratory activities 鈥� is a different thing altogether.

When planning and/or sanctioning future Comox Valley community events, I sincerely hope the City of Courtenay and the LINC Youth Centre refrain from what will be perceived by many people as an imprudent attack on Christianity.

Sincerely,

Carol Finley

Comox