by Lisa H Warren

Created on: May 25, 2007

So many of the things we do today have roots in, or were inspired by, ancient customs, religion, or even more recent history. Take front lawns, for instance. We don't think much about the fact that lawns are as common as they are, but it wasn't until someone was inspired to borrow the idea of lawns from England, where the wealthiest families' homes had expanses of beautiful lawns, that American homes began to have lawns. Few of us look at our front lawn and think of England.

Holidays, too, have roots in the past or in the present-day religions of some, but very often, and much to the dismay of those who adhere to the religious roots of certain holidays, the meaning of holidays has been "watered down" or re-defined in a way that suits our time or people who may not share the religious beliefs of others, who more strictly keep certain holidays' traditional, religious roots. People who want to keep the religious meaning of some holidays often believe that only the religious among us should celebrate those holidays. Other people, though, believe there is something nice about celebrating a holiday, like Christmas, in a way that includes everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs. The "peace-on-Earth" and "goodwill" parts of Christmas can be celebrated even by those who do not share the belief that the birth of Jesus Christ is the only reason to celebrate Christmas.

Most holidays have been "watered down". Halloween has roots in religion. Its also a holiday when some people choose to emphasize skeletons, witches and zombies. Ever since my children were young I have refused to celebrate Halloween in any way other than with cheerful Jack-O-Lantern faces, cute Hallween kittens, mums on my front stairs and pumpkins from the local garden center. In other words, Trick or Treaters who come to my house will find that I celebrate Halloween, but I don't celebrate it the way many other people do. Some people do a similar thing with Easter, emphasizing the Spring aspect of it rather than the religious aspect of it. It is even possible to celebrate the Spring aspect and still pay attention to spirituality or faith without, when one's beliefs are contrary to the traditional/religious meaning of Easter, emphasizing that part of it. How many people celebrate Memorial Day with a barbecue but little thought to its real meaning? How many non-Irish people and Irish people wear green on St. Patrick's Day and keep some Irish bread on the table without giving a second of thought to the

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