In Russia, they want to ban Halloween –

Halloween dressing up in St. Petersburg in 2012. EPA/AOP

A senator sitting in the Federation Council in Russia‘s upper house Natalia Kosikhina demanded a ban on Halloween parties on Thursday.

“We must do everything to ensure that this Western celebration is simply forgotten by the public and never remembered again,” Kosihina told state-run Ria Novosti.

– That is why it is important that we not only reduce the mention of it in the media, advertisements and shops, but also limit the celebration of it in schools and universities, he added.

Kosihina, representing Russia’s ruling party United Russia, said that instead of celebrating Halloween, teachers could talk to children about Russian traditions and values. He claimed that by acting like this, Halloween would soon be completely forgotten in Russia.

According to Kosihina, the discussion about celebrating Halloween divides opinions: some consider the holiday harmless, while others are against it or would like to replace it with a Russian holiday.

However, the senator said that a complete ban could increase young people’s interest in celebrating Halloween.

New package

There is a Duma member on the same lines as Kosihina Andrei Svintsovwhich suggests rebranding Halloween to suit Russian traditions.

– We have already banned so many things. We annoy people, Svintsov said, according to the Moscow Times.

– We have to cheer them up. We have to think about a form that evokes positive feelings in our citizens.

Halloween is a particularly popular holiday in Anglo-Saxon countries, which is celebrated on the last day of October, the eve of All Saints’ Day.