8:44am Thursday 19th October 2006
By Staff Reporter
A POSTER campaign to challenge the choice of Halloween goods on sale in supermarkets has been launched by the Bishop of Bolton.
The Rt Rev David Gillett is calling for a more cheerful choice to give children the chance to avoid dressing like a monster or a murderer.
He has drawn up a poster, which forms part of the Church of England's Halloween Choice campaign.
He had the poster on show near Asda in Pilsworth Road, Bury, yesterday, showing four monster masks on a black background and asking: "Where's the choice?"
The poster will also be taken to other locations.
Mr Gillett is suggesting that more brightly coloured clothing, hair braids, glow tubes and bright masks are offered as an alternative to the sinister black outfits and ghoulish masks.
He said: "Each year the choice of costumes gets more and more scary and not all parents want their children dressing up in gruesome clothing or as murderers.
"At the moment, there is no alternative. We are not against people celebrating Halloween, but we want to steer it away from the evil direction it keeps heading towards.
"It can be a very frightening time of year, especially for old people, when teenagers are parading around in scary outfits going trick or treating."
Mr Gillett has contributed to a new book called "Better Than Halloween", which has been published by the Church to encourage the Christian interpretation of the festival - All Saints' Eve.
The book teaches children how to celebrate a brighter side of October 31, providing ideas for invitations and activities for a parish party.
He added: "Halloween does have a Christian side and we want to promote that."
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