Trick-Or-Treating in Vancouver

A giant spider greets children on the roof

Halloween is upon us again and the ritual of dressing up and going house to house to collect candy is the highlight of the year for kids.

A werewolf on the prowl...

Interestingly a neighbourhood church is the starting point for some young kids to begin their Halloween festivities. Outside is a makeshift tent where people can get a cup of hot chocolate and a hotdog, and inside the gym there are candies and fruits: apples, bananas and mandarin oranges.

A relative works for a Christian school in Hong Kong and told me some teachers and staff would strongly disapprove of practicing these pagan rituals. But here they were in Vancouver, dressed up in Halloween costumes and handing out free food and drinks while promoting the church's services.

In any event we started trick-or-treating, going up and down the street and going to homes that had pumpkins or Halloween decorations. Many were generous in giving out candy, like two to three pieces per person, or even full size candy bars! One woman post-Covid continues her practice of using a long pipe chute from her door to give out candies to kids.

Some houses were elaborately decorated with several pumpkins carved, gardens littered with graves and bloody body parts as well as skeletons. Others had werewolves, or aliens in suits! 

... and an alien back from work?

After over an hour the candy haul was pretty impressive. The chocolates and candies will be consumed by both kids and parents...

Religious March Under Police Watch

Church goers hold palm branches in Wan Chai

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, marking the start of Holy Week which will culminate in Easter celebrations this coming weekend.

At Our Lady of Carmel Church in Hong Kong's Wan Chai district yesterday, attendees each received a palm branch and paraded around with it. The palm branches represent the palm branches the crowd scattered before Jesus Christ as he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem.

The participants typically parade around with the palm branch for several metres, but the Hong Kong Police wouldn't allow them to just practice their religious beliefs.

Depiction of Jesus entering Jerusalem

Instead every participant had to have a palm branch in their hands, not wear a mask, and don a red ribbon around their arm.

One of the marchers said they didn't have to wear ribbons before.

"It's a religious event, I think it doesn't need to be so complicated," the woman said. "We're just marching a one-minute route."

She added those who are used to wearing masks may feel uncomfortable about the no-mask rule, even though police said the rule was in place to ensure participants did not use facial coverings to avoid being identified.

Nevertheless, some marchers did wear a mask anyway, but there were no reports on if the police gave them trouble.

The church had to apply to the police for permission to have the march, and when it was approved, the police told organisers that participants were required to comply with Hong Kong laws, including the national security legislation.

This is a religious march... they are not protesting anything. Can they not practice their religious beliefs freely?

Nine other public events scheduled yesterday also had to comply to the same rules, including an Easter parade organised by the Harbourfront Commission.

Some people just want to celebrate Easter... how bureaucratic does it have to be?

Quote of the Day: Archbishop of Canterbury

Archbishop of Canterbury delivering his sermon at the funeral

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave a sermon at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral with some words that should not be forgotten.

He talked about eternal life after death, which is the central message of traditional Christian funerals.

"The pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God -- famous or obscure, respected or ignored -- is that death is the door to glory."

Wonder what atheist leaders like Xi Jinping thing of that?

In particular Welby said: "People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten."

Who is he referring to there?