A) THE ORIGINATOR OF MODERN SATANISM, ANTON SZANDOR LAVEY.

B) SATANISM’S MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY IS NOT HALLOWEEN.

C) HALLOWEEN.

D) IN A SIDE NOTE.

 

 

A) THE ORIGINATOR OF MODERN SATANISM, ANTON SZANDOR LAVEY

 

 

Anton Szandor LaVey, lived from April 11, 1930, through October 29, 1997.  He was born Howard Stanton Levey, and is known as being the American founder and High Priest of the “Church of Satan.”  He as well was a writer, occultist, and an accomplished musician.  He was the author of “THE SATANIC BIBLE,” and the founder of “LaVeyan Satanism,” which is a synthesized system of his understanding of human nature and the insights of philosophers who advocated Materialism and Individualism.

 

Anton LaVey’s biography tells his parents supported his musical interests.  His favorite instruments were keyboards, such as the piano and accordion.  He even played the piano in the Baptist church as a boy.  By the time he reached High School, he was playing the oboe.  He attended “Tamalpais High School” in Mill Valley, California, until the age of 16.  He tells of his dropping out of “Globe High School” in his junior year to join a circus and carnivals.  He was first as a roustabout and cage boy in an act with the big cats, and later as a musician playing the calliope (sends compressed air through pipes).  He even later went on to train lions and tigers.  LaVey later noted that seeing many of the same church men attending both the bawdy Saturday night shows and the tent revival meetings on Sunday mornings reinforced his increasingly cynical view of religion.

 

He later had many stints as an organist in bars, lounges, and nightclubs.  While playing organ in some Los Angeles burlesque houses, he reportedly had a brief affair with the then-unknown Marilyn Monroe, as she was dancing at the “Mayan Theater.”  This claim has been challenged by those who knew Monroe at the time, as well as the manager of the Mayan, Paul Valentine, who stated that she had never been one of his dancers, nor had the theater ever been used as a burlesque house, or for “bump and grind” shows.  Evidence shows that it was, but whether or not Miss Monroewas there is the real question.

 

According to historian of Satanism, Gareth J. Medway, LaVey was a “born showman” and the “evilest man in the world,” according to an article in “The Rolling Stone.”

 

My point in writing this article is to stress what is NOT KNOWN by most Christians, but is commonly known by most Satanist’s groups, as documented in Anton LaVey’s, “ THE SATANIC BIBLE.”  Here is what we find.

 

 

B) SATANISM’S MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY IS NOT HALLOWEEN

 

 

The “most important” holiday in Satanism is one’s own birthday, as it is the birth-date of one’s own god.  It is the highest, and most important holiday that any Satanist can observe.  It is a reminder that the Satanist, committed to true “vital existence,” should consider himself (or herself) the most important person in his own life.

 

LaVey recommends that a Satanist celebrate his own birthday in any way he chooses, with as much pomp and ceremony as he sees fit.  The Satanic celebration of one’s own birthday can thus be seen as something of a “Black Mass,” by redirecting to oneself the sanctimony and celebration typically reserved for the many “high holy days,” commemorating the births of key gods or saints in other religions.

 

There are three Satanic holidays named by Anton LaVey in “THE SATANIC BIBLE.”  But what is interesting, as opposed to one’s own birthday, they are not considered as sacred as one’s own birthday is.

 

One among these holidays is “Walpurgisnacht,” which in addition to the occult significance the date carries, also marks the formation of, “The Church of Satan,” in the year 1966, or I. A. S. (Anno Satanas, “In The Year Of Satan”).  This date, April 3oth, is commonly celebrated by Satanists with private or group rituals, and private parties or family celebrations, in order to commemorate the foundation of the “Church of Satan.”

 

Another that LaVey also mentions, is the summer and winter solstices, and the spring and fall equinoxes, as lesser holidays.  These are likewise often celebrated by ritual or private party.  However, they are sometimes also used to substitute popular holidays that Satanists wish to avoid, those being the ones which impart a Christian overtone, but they still wish to celebrate in some form.  They do this either to mock Christianity, as to Its stupidity for celebrating such things which are known to be Satanic in origin, or to just celebrate to celebrate, since Satanist believe one should celebrate whenever possible.  Thus, no matter which country a Satanist is in or from, any National holiday is just another excuse to celebrate.

 

 

C) HALLOWEEN

 

 

Halloween is very commonly celebrated by Satanists, but typically there is far less occult significance attached to the date by Satanists than the public might imagine.  Halloween is a popular date for both private and group ritual ceremonies, but also a popular date for Satanists to hold private parties for no other purpose than to enjoy the dark fun that is commonly celebrated on that date by the public at large.  If anything, Satanists seem to take a sense of irony and humor in the holiday.  For they know that one’s Birthday is their highest holiday.

 

Thus, Satanism does not specifically forbid the celebration of any holidays or festivals held by other cultures, or even other religions.  Satanists commonly celebrate entirely secular holidays, either for personal reasons, or merely as an excuse to have a good time.  It is not entirely uncommon for Satanists to even celebrate overtly Christian holidays, such as Christmas, though the religious trappings are generally stripped from the holiday, secularizing it in any way they can.  Many Satanists, however, either transfer such holidays as Christmas to the Winter Solstice, and either place a darker spin on it, or secularize it entirely, or decline to celebrate such holidays altogether (but most party hardy).

 

Of recent note, June 6th, 2006, marked a Satanic High Mass in Hollywood, California, by “The Church Of Satan.”  This celebration was by invitation only and limited to 100 attendees, and was held in large part to mock the superstitious fear of the date by the public.  The date 06/06/06, or “666,” does not hold special religious significance in Satanism, nor does the number “666.”  Because it is the “number of a man,” and not “a god,” as mentioned in the Bible (Rev. 13:18).

 

 

D) IN A SIDE NOTE

 

 

From ST, November 6, 1884:  “And while those who are devoted to these sciences, laud them to the heavens because of the great and good works which they affirm are wrought by them, they little know what a power for evil they are cherishing; but it is a power which will yet work with all signs and lying wonders, -- with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.  Mark the influence of these sciences, dear reader; for the conflict between Christ and Satan is not yet ended.”

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