Russian MPs propose renaming Halloween

The holiday should be tailored to better fit the national cultural heritage, Russian officials believe 

The head of the social policy committee of the State Duma, Yaroslav Nilov has suggested re-branding the popular Western festivity Halloween to better reflect Russian national traditions amid the controversy as to whether the holiday should be banned in the country.  

“I propose to celebrate Halloween in Russia under the name of the Day of Spooky Fairy Tales and Stories,” Nilov, a senior MP representing the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, told RT on Sunday. “This way we will get away from being tied to Western culture and foreign names, but we will retain the fun that many people are used to.”

The politician noted that every October there is a debate in the society as to whether Halloween celebrations should be banned “as an element of pro-Western propaganda,” while others are defending it as merely a “popular amusement.” According to Nilov, both sides are right as the tradition has gained popularity in Russian over the years and at this point it will not be “possible to simply ban it.”

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The lawmaker called for unconventional approaches, praising the Russian city of Pereslavl-Zalessky, where piles of pumpkins were put on display in celebration of the Russian Harvest Day. 

“Now, that's the right creative approach to substitution,” Nilov said. Earlier, the Chairman of the Association of Manufacturers of Children's Goods, Works, and Services, Mikhail Vetrov, proposed replacing Halloween with a traditional harvest festival.

Celebrated on October 31, Halloween’s origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. It was believed that on that day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits. It has since evolved into a day of parties, costumes, scary movies, jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating for kids and adults.

READ MORE: Russian region asks businesses not to celebrate Halloween

Although the holiday has never been banned in Russia, some regions deemed it inappropriate arguing that it contradicts national heritage and traditions and repeatedly called for the restriction of the celebration, especially in schools and kindergartens.