It's that time of year again
Are you ready for this? Buckle your seat belts, hold on to your hats, and get the tomatoes ready to fly:
I don't think Christians should celebrate Halloween. Period. Dot. Game over.
I understand some of you (maybe many of you) are not of the same persuasion. That's okay. We can still be friends. :)
However, I would like to ask you to consider why you celebrate Halloween. Does Halloween help you to embrace holiness, purity, and Godliness in your life? Does it encourage your children to desire good, wholesome, and pure things?
Honestly, I can't even bear to let my daughters look at the grotesque creatures and eerily-evil- looking decorations associated with Halloween. Call me an old-fashioned legalistic mama, but I don't want my pure little babies tainted with anything remotely related to Halloween. When they get older we'll explain and talk about it from Scripture. For now, we are avoiding it.
This post is not about whether or not to celebrate Halloween, though. Instead, I'd like to open up a discussion like I did last year on the subject of what do we who don't celebrate this day do about it? Do you provide your children with an alternative, or do you just avoid it altogether? Do you use it as an opportunity to witness to your neighbors who come trick-or-treating (by passing out tracts with treats) or do you turn your lights off and not answer the door? How has your family dealt with this? I'd love to hear as we are still trying to discern God's will for our family on this issue.
By the way, please keep your comments to the above topics. I know this is a heated issue and I'd prefer to stay away from a debate on whether to celebrate Halloween or not. This is my blog and you know how I feel. You can do what you feel is right before the Lord. I have to stand before the Lord for how I raised my children, not yours. :)
Related: Catherine has a great post here from last year on the subject.
posted by Crystal Paine at 6:24 PM
120 Comments:
We typically take our kids out to eat and maybe a bookstore, just so we aren't at home during the height of trick or treating. We don't do any alternative fall festival type thing.
I don't feel the need to give my kids a substitute. They aren't missing out on anything. I do not understand the whole mentality of giving our kids comparable alternatives to the world.
I agree! We don't celebrate Halloween.
This is the first Halloween since we've been married; my husband and I have decided that we will just avoid it altogether. However, my church has fall celebrations around the 31st that we enjoy. It's a fun way to celebrate Autumn and the beauty and joy it brings. :)
We considered giving out tracts and candy on Halloween, but decided that we just didn't want to look at the evil masks and devilish costumes all night--especially when we have children. :(
I agree with your opening statement
Christians shouldnt celebrate halloween
"Honestly, I can't even bear to let my [boys]look at the grotesque creatures and eerily-evil- looking decorations associated with Halloween. I dont like them watching out the window either.
The last 5 years or so we have gone to alternative Chrsitain parties. Light parties. Ive found them good.
I have in the past also used it both as a way of witnessing "to my neighbors who come trick-or-treating (by passing out tracts"
and
other years I have locked the gate and put up a sign on it saying we arent participating. If this doesnt put them off then I also havent answered the door.
Hi Crystal - As Catholics it helps to take the focus off of Halloween because at that time of year we are more focused on the feast days we celebrate. On November 1st - All Saints' Day, which is a Solemnity instituted to honor all the saints, known and unknown.
And November 2nd - All Souls' Day, which is celebrated by the Church as the commemoration of all the faithful departed - our deceased brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are preparing for the birth of our first child and plan to make this time of year revolve around remembering those who have faithfully gone before us - with stories of Saints and beloved relatives. - I know you aren't Catholic, nor are many of your blog-readers, but this is just one example of how to avoid haunted houses and ghost stories... thanks for your blog, as always
It's just another day here, too. Just like we don't have an alternative to say, summer solstice or other pagan days. We live at the end of a quiet lane and don't get trick or treaters, so no trouble there, either.
Don't feel like you're the only one, Crystal! We don't celebrate "the devil's night" either. ;)
We just block the light as best we can, and if there are any knockers (there're usually only a few), we just simply don't answer the door.
As for the substitute thing...nope. Why substitute an evil thing??!!
Dear Crystal,
My family usually goes out to have ice cream or something so that we miss the small crowd of kids that come by. We used to go to a big church that would give a "party" but we now belong to a home church. Sometimes our church has a reformation party because the reformation occured then. I do not think kids need a substitute.
We sometimes go out for dinner or do a little shopping. Once we just stayed home and played games in the back of the house and left the lights off in the front.
We don't pass out tracts or anything, because I don't want my kids to see any evil costumes and also to prevent a seed of discontent or jealousy of kids who come and look like they are having a great time with overflowing bags of candy. They have no desire to participate now and know it is worldly and ungodly, but seeing it and seeing the outfits that aren't bad and kids having fun and candy, I wouldn't want them to think 'well it doesn't look that bad, it looks fun.'
I don't know that it would even be that effective to give out tracts to them, but I know their is a testimony to our neighborhood that we don't participate and it has opened up conversations about the Lord and why we don't.
I am glad you posted this. We don't believe in celebrating it either and I am not big on using an alternative. I am not 100% decided, but I feel by having an alternative it is saying they are missing out on something and we are trying to make up for it. If family members (most of our family disagrees with our view) wants to give our child something (usually a harvest gift) we are fine with that. I am interested to see how others handle trick or treaters. The first 5 years of our marriage my husband and I have never had one (we live in an apartment building) & I am unsure what I feel I should do if I do get one.
I could have written Teri's post at the beginning. My kids are grown and gone but we never celebrated Halloweeen, and guess what? I didn't when I was growing up either and I survived! LOL
I have to say I never get much grief about not celebrating it from non-christians. But I do end up having to defend my beliefs to people from my own church. That makes me sad.
My younger kids won't go into Walgreens this time of the year because of the scary decorations. I think it is sad they put up such scary things. What do you do about going into Walgreens?
Like greg&sarina, we are Catholic and avoid Halloween by focusing on All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
Halloween is usually a fast day for me. My son is only 2 1/2 so it's easy to avoid the Halloween thing for now.
I find avoiding Halloween very difficult - even though we only have one child who is 2 years old. I feel like people already "assume" she'll be dressing up and ask what she is going to be! Even Christian friends already participate with their very young children. I feel like an "outsider" but I'm happy that we have chosen to avoid the day. We have given candy out in the past - although we don't get many trick or treaters. And usually mostly teenagers. I really hate how extravagantly Halloween is celebrated! It's almost as big of a deal - maybe bigger than Christmas to some people.
Growing up I never went trick or treating - usually our family would go out that night. Now days I get nervous that kids will do mean things to our home if we don't have candy to give them. But maybe God honors us for not participating - I don't know!
Cory
I completely agree with you, Crystal. The last H'weel we did was 7 years ago. We don't do any alternative. And I don't turn on the porch light, to discourage trick or treaters. Last year, we had one kid come to the door; the first and only in 7 years. I avoid the parts of the store where all that stuff is. The boys don't ever bring it up, so I don't think they feel like they are missing out. But we've talked about it, and why we don't observe it. They know it's not for us.
The only thing I have had a hard time with is not watching the Charlie Brown cartoon. I really like Charlie Brown.
We do not celebrate at all. My DH works night and I usually just hide out in the computer room and keep the house lights off. We live in a small neighborhood, so I think if we did let kids come by, there would only be about one or two.
My DH and I are actually considering this year of passing out candy for the simple fact of passing out tracts. But we have not completely decided yet since we will probably only get one child.
Our children are 2 1/2 and 10m, so it is not a huge issue now but we don't agree with the alternative celebrations either as it is a way to keep pace with secular society. I don't want my children seeing any ads and try to divert their eyes if there are decorations in the stores.
We stopped doing Halloween when my oldest son was about four. We were new Christians and just explained to him that the Bible teaches us that believers aren't to have anything to do with Satan and shouldn't go play for the other team for a night. (2 Cor 6:14-17)He had no problems with it at all, we did no substitutions either. My other children don't know anything about it yet. They're little and I try to keep them at home a bit more these few weeks. Things seem to get more creepy every year. We don't get visitors on our road so that's not a concern here. Thank you for talking about this! I'm always glad to see people being bold enough to seperate themselves from things of the world.
Quinn
Well, in the past we have hung out at our house or my husband's parents house and enjoyed eachother's company with the front porch lights off. The kids are older now, and this year we are hanging out at Mountain Mikes Pizza place with a bunch of others in our church's homeschool group who do not celebrate halloween. We are all reserving a side room, enjoying pizza, some board games, and eachother. No costumes. This way we are not hiding in our houses, but don't have to expose our kids to the scary stuff.
We always knew we would skip Halloween, but were pleasantly surprised last November 1 to learn that we would celebrating our daughter's birthday instead! ;o) Everybody always asks if we are glad she just missed being born on Halloween. My husband says yes, but being that I am from Detroit, I have to add Devil's Night (Oct 30" in there too. *shudders*
Hi Crystal,
Here is an article that was in our churches monthly "bulletin". It's in PDF format so I couldn't just copy and paste that one page. You will need to scroll down to page 5 to read it. Brent Bowen is a pastor at our church (as are the other men referred to) and he and his wife have 6 children. We are praying about doing something like this this year. Although I don't know if I can stomach the name :) Might have to change that!
~Antonia
http://www.dentonbible.org/files/CG-10-07.pdf
October 31st is also Reformation Day. Perfect time to talk to our children about this important part of history and celebrate God's goodness.
Nickey
We don't believe in celebrating or doing ANYTHING special the 31st. Why do anything on that day--it would make your children feel they are missing out on something. From the tract I was just given yesterday regarding Halloween and the meaning and origination, I feel that doing anything on that day is celebrating the day. The 31st is celebrated by witches as their fall festival celebration in honor of their pagan Gods. Also this pagan "Festival of the Dead" gave rise to the practice of many horrible rituals. Even wearing costumes had significance (represented the souls of the dead). Blacks cats, jack o lanterns and witches all have an evil-type significance on the 31st. There are many churches (including mine) that are holding Halloween alternatives. I don't agree with that. I firmly believe that making it special in a way so children don't miss something (pagan day) is wrong. Yes, we can use that evening to bring children, who would otherwise be in the street, in a safer environment, but lest us not forget that the 31st is a day that, unfortunately is also celebrated by witches. I am sure that our Lord would not appreciate that the day be celebrated when what the 31st means is purely evil.
We don't celebrate Halloween and I don't even like going out in October! The decorated houses, the displays in stores, I wish I could just keep my kids home the whole month. We are gearing up to celebrate Thanksgiving all month long in November, so at least there is that to look forward to. We don't get trick or treaters where we live right now, so I am glad that we don't have that to worry about at this point.
The last couple of years, we have gone with our youth group in tow to various neighborhoods and prayed. This was followed up by a worship and prayer service at the church. We more or less prayed for the community in general, not really anything Halloween specific. But, it's a great way to keep teenagers busy...they seem to be tempted by Halloween parties thrown by other high schoolers or adults. And, we absolutely loved worshipping on a night that is often reserved for rebellion and pagan celebrations.
We tried the eating out route but found that most restaurants around here encourage the servers to dress up so that didn't work.
Last year we just turned off the lights so no one would come to the door and had popcorn by candlelight. Very fun.
This year we live pretty remotely so I don't think it'll be an issue! YAY!
My children are grown now, but we would generally go to a church event on the day.
Now I do give out candy (on the premise that the Bible teaches to give to those who ask of us) but I understand other families prefer to handle it in other ways. I have a friend who was a victim of severe satanic ritual abuse who will have absolutely NOTHING to do with the day and wishes that Christians wouldn't either.
I applaud you on your convictions.
We do hand out candy and tracts. The kids that come to the door are just normal, good kids that don't know any better. It's a good opportunity to get the gospel in their hands. Mostly I get my husband to hand out the stuff because I can't stand to look at the ugly, evil looking costumes. I also think they might scare my kids, so we are usually busy getting ready to go to the Fall Festival at church. There are special tracts for Halloween at CBD.
We usually go to a Fall Festival at church. The kids get to dress up as Bible characters. They also get to play games and get candy as prizes. They also have a hayride. I don't see anything wrong with this.
We don't go treat-or-treating. We don't decorate for it. I guess it all comes down to what works for your family.
For the past few years our family has gone on hayrides with our church. Then, last year, we had a party celebrating Reformation Day (the day that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses). It was a neat combination of games and learning history. Doorposts has a notebook filled with ideas for anyone interested in having a party at their church.
Jenny
We don't celebrate halloween either. We haven't in almost 8 or 9 years. I have to think as our oldest son turns 9 next month. The first we decided not to celebrate halloween, we lived in the city still. We had trick or treaters. We weren't sure what to do. We didn't have tracts at the time, so we did end up giving out candy. After we ran out we turned off the light, but people still came to the door.
Now we live out in the sticks and we don't get trick or treaters here... which is nice... no evil looking and horrendous costumes to look at. We get enough of that junk just walking through a store right now.
One year my husband's sister had our three oldest children staying at her house and she dressed them up and took them trick or treater knowing full well that we did not approve and didn't celebrate halloween. I was livid to say the least. My husband had a nice little talk with her and told her if she wished to have our children over again, not to do something like that again that went against what we were trying to teach them.
This year halloween is on a wednesday. Wanna guess where we will be? In the church house enjoying some good preaching! We don't do alternative things on halloween. We stay at home as if it is any other night, etc.
Ok I've done a lot of different things, since my parents were against Halloween since before I was born. If I lived in an area where I would get trick-or-treaters, I might hand out fun tracts and candy like I did as a child. I remember vividly looking forward to Halloween! We would have great treats and a fun tract, and would pray over them that someone would be saved. My parents explained how people try to turn something evil into something fun, and that is never pleasing to the Lord, but they need to be saved most of all. None of us (There were five of us) felt a moment of envy at those kids out there playing with evil things. We felt pity, and we were so excited about the the opportunity to give them the gospel.
I say that, however, it depends on the area we would live in. Some places it would not be safe, now is a different day than when I was little.
I love how the church did it where I went to college. October was an outreach month, and missions month. There was an opportunity nearly every week for someone to "dress up" Old Fashioned Sunday, Missions Sunday, and Western Day, and every week hundreds of people are invited to enjoy good food and old fashioned preaching, and many are saved. Then there is a missions conference. By the time Halloween comes around, folks are frankly tired of dressing up! They also have something that bus kids can come to that is safe and an alternative to trick or treating, but most of the church families would rather stay home.
I just love that. When the world is doing something evil, go out and do twice as much for the Lord, and believe me, you won't feel a bit of jealousy!
We don't celebrate Halloween at all either. My husband was raised trick or treating and at first we did not agree. Then we watched a really great video (can't remember the name)about the truth behind Halloween and he quickly became dead-set against our family celebrating. I was so happy!! It does make me sad that even driving to church there are so many ugly things the kids see in other yards that we have had to explain more than I would have thought for a 2 & 4 year old.
We live at the end of a long lane in the country so we don't have to worry at all about trick or treaters. I would love to use it as an opportunity to share the truth of Christ but think it is confusing for my toddlers seeing kids getting candy and ugly costumes. (-:
Thank you so much for speaking out so clearly against Halloween!!
In the past we have never done anything for Halloween and our dc 5&3 have never noticed anything. This year was the first year they've really noticed the grotesque things in Wal-Mart which prompted a discussion (on their level) about how most of the things in Wal-Mart were a picture of death and how Jesus came to give us life eternal.
My dh grew up celebrating Oct. 31 as the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the church door which was the beginning of the Reformation. Our church is doing this this year. I don't know what it all entails, but I guess we'll see.
Personally, I don't have a problem with the Martin Luther thing, but don't necessarily feel it's necessary to have a substitute.
Edwena
I completely agree with you! I cannot see how Halloween, and all its glorification of evil, could possibly be pleasing to the Lord.
Our family skips it altogether.
I have never celebrated Halloween. Also, my parents felt is wasn't right to try to "substitute" some other kind of celebration (celebrating Autumn, or Fall Festival on that night), which in my opinion is doing exactly what Christians have done in the past by adopting pagan practices.
I always knew we were different and my parents taught us that in such a way that is was a good thing.
We also made a game out of "hiding" from the trick or treaters, turned off all the lights, had yummy food and watch a family movie.
If I am blessed with children I will do the same.
Leigh
We do not celebrate Halloween.
Before we had kids, Tom and I would turn off the lights and sit on our bed and review our voter guides and decide who to vote for the next week. Even with the lights off, we still got knocks on the doors.
Now that our kids can't be put to bed before the ghouls come out, last year we went to a "Light the Night" party at a friend's church (our church doesn't do anything). I was disappointed that about half the kids wore costumes, which to me is a "replacement" for Halloween.
I like the idea of going to a restaurant...I might call an ethnic restaurant (Thai, Indian, etc) to see if their servers WON'T be dressed up. I know an American restaurant would have the servers dressed up.
So we still haven't decided what to do that night. I've also thought about putting caution tape across our porch with a sign that there are no treats and just try to ignore what's going on outside, but I fear we might be vandalized with such a blatant statement.
We don't 'do' Halloween here in Australia. (yay!) Some kids try, and I know that people use it as an excuse to have a themed party, but other than that, it'snot huge. What Adam and I are starting to do is to recognise "Reformation Day" which is, I believe, on the same day. Not in any great way, but to acknowledge that Luther did us all a great service in our faith.
Agree!
My hubby said something about living in town and the possiblity of having people knock on our door... both of us have always lived in the country....
Keep the lights out and they will pass on by! Was my instant reply...
I grew up both trick-or-treating and celebrating Reformation Day on October 31st. I don't think my siblings and I had any inkling that it meant anything other than getting free candy, especially since our costumes were restricted to things like princesses and pumpkins and cowboys.
The origin of Halloween has a lot of different stories behind it; the one that is most prevalent in my culture is that it used to mark the New Year (before the entire world adopted the Roman calendar) and was a night on which you remembered your ancestors and everybody you love who died in the past year. The candles (luminarias or jack o' lanterns) used to be simply memorials to those who have passed on. (Obviously, this is not the meaning that a lot of people associate with the night, but it is one valid explanation. YMMV.)
So last October 31, I built a fire in memory of some loved ones I'd lost. I sat by it and prayed. It was in the mountains where I was staying at the time, by a small lake with all the stars reflected in it. It helped bring me some peace about their deaths and a sense of letting go-- really beautiful, although not at all helpful for those of you with young children. :)
I also agree. I grew up in a country that never celebrated halloween, and I was not too happy about it being such a big celebration here in North America. Especially when my children were small.
We used to get together with another family and usually watched a movie and had a meal, or went bowling or something like that.
We celebrate my birthday on that day. :)
Most years, that particular week is when our church has it's missions conference, and so we are usually plenty busy. My children hate the creepy costumes they see and have never had any desire to celebrate.
Yay! This post was a breathe of fresh air and the first one I have seen that isn't all excited about Hallowe'en. It inspired me to write a post on this subject too - I hope you don't mind but I have linked to your post - if a problem do let me know and I will remove it
I can see both sides of this issue. Halloween is a grotesque and evil holiday in it's origins. Yet, in today's culture, most people celebrating it (my many non-Christian mom friends and non-Christian relatives) see it as a fun chance to play "dress up" for their kids and get some candy and have some fun. I think Christians are to be set apart from the world. To some, that may mean avoiding doing anything on this day that resembles what the world does. To some, that may mean showing the world that Christians are against fun, they have the best kind!
I just can't picture Jesus hiding in His living room and pretending He's not home when trick-or-treaters come. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16
I think if we got trick-or-treaters I would do little sacks with great candy and tracts and invitations to Sunday School or Good News Club. Most of the kids in our town don't have yucky costumes, but I like the idea of one parent handing out the treats and one parent taking the kids to a church carnival.
People have suggested that alternative parties/church harvest carnivals/fun fairs/Reformation parties are "celebrating the devil." But are they really? Do church members give up their time, energy, and resources to pull together these fun events for satan? I think that churches that provide these events are seeking to keep kids safe and ultimately share the light of Jesus Christ with them on a very dark night. I attended these at my church as a kid and had so much fun that I didn't feel I was missing out when my public school comrades talked about all their trick-or-treating. Our church limited the costumes to things like clowns, princesses, cowboys, animals, Bible characters, and checked them at the door. I learned that Christians can have pure, wholesome fun that is so much better than what the world has to offer on this night. I believe we were glorifying God in our intent and actions, not satan, even if people think of this day as his. I think the chapter of 1 Cor. 8 can be applied here. Just as some early Christians had a problem eating food sacrificed to idols, some Christians have a problem with doing anything fun on Oct. 31st.
I have numerous non-Christian acquaintances and friends being that in our town there are so few Christian young people. If I said, "Halloween is of the devil, you heathens!" I would slam the door shut on my attempts to be a loving witness. Instead, I know they are only in it for the tradition and the fun, and so I'm able to say, "We don't like the trick-or-treating and origins of Halloween. However, that same night our church is throwing a safe party for kids. Would you like to come with us?" Incidentally, our church has a thriving Bible club ministry to kids of un-churched homes.
I also loved the idea someone put on about having a prayer walk with the church teens. Don't let satan have this night! Fight the forces of evil and be a light!
I've been involved with lots of Child Evangelism Fellowship stuff and have a heart for reaching lost kids. Whatever the reasons our culture is celebrating this night, we have great opportunities to stand for Christ on Oct. 31st.
I realize many will disagree with my views, but that's okay. We have different areas of conviction. Ultimately, let us seek to glorify God and not cause our brothers to sin/stumble in the exercise of our freedom.
Mrs. Jo
Our family celebrates Reformation Day on October 31st.
I started to explain more about what we do and how we came about doing it but it became much too long for a "comment" (I have a habit of not being able to keep things short, like right now!)so I made a post on my blahg. If you are interested, you are welcome to stop by.
Mary Beth
Halloween isn't a big thing in Australia, though Australia Zoo usually celebrates it- Terri's American influence I guess. Last year, when we lived near the zoo, a boy came trick or treating at our door & we weren't armed with tracts, lollies or anything.I agree it's totally evil but we need to communicate this in a sensitive way.
I found out about Reformation Day recently. Sounds like a good night to enjoy some German food, sing some of Luther's hymns & watch the Luther movie.
Claire
We usually just got together with some friends for an edifying evening of fellowship. Passing out candy was seen as "participating". Now that we're on the field here in Zambia, no one celebrates it, so it's not an issue. Actually, since witchcraft and "juju" are so strong here, if you walked around dressed up in the typical American Holloween costume in our neighborhood, you'd probably be stoned!
I echo Sarina's & Carol's posts: we are Catholic as well, so we celebrate All Saints' Day (Nov. 1st) and All Souls' Day (Nov. 2nd). We don't "do" Halloween. So the 31st of October is spent as a normal day and evening for our family. We dim our lights and don't answer the door.
I like the idea of answering the door and witnessing in some way through providing tracts, holy cards, invitations to church or some other token of care and concern, however, I really don't want to see or have my children see inappropriate costumes or behavior.
As for providing alternatives, we do decorate seasonally, so we have festive, happy and tasteful autumnal decorations up, but all of the autumn season, not just Oct. 31st. We like pumpkins & gourds - (if carved, with happy faces or crosses), Indian corn, cornucopias, leaves & foliage, corn stalks, berry garlands, happy scarecrows, hay bales, chrysanthemums, dried flowers, grapes, etc. We also incorporate positive seasonal experiences - apple picking, pumpkin patches, baking seasonal goods (popcorn balls, caramel apples, applesauce, apple butter, pumpkin bread & pies), looking at foliage colors, etc. but we don't do them on the 31st of Oct. only. To our family, those are just fun things to do in the autumn.
When we begin homeschooling, in addition to attending Mass on these holy days, I hope to celebrate All Saints' Day & All Souls' Days in festive & fun ways with our children - learning about and dressing up as a favorite Bible Hero or Saint, learning how they can grow in holiness, remembering our loved ones who have passed away, making a special meal, etc.
As Christians, we all have so many good and beautiful things to celebrate - if we make other seasons and holy days special for our families, there is no need for our children to feel 'deprived' or 'left out'. They can celebrate and learn about God and His creation all year long!
Our son is only 16 months old and he had a costume last year and this year. We go to our church for the annual "Halleluia party". Our church uses it as an outreach for kids in the town we live in. They get candy, play games and best of all, they hear the gospel. What a better way to reach the lost children, and parents around our church!!!!
I am not 100% against the idea of my kids dressing up and going to our church function. They will NEVER wear any sort of evil looking costume, and we will sure explain to them why we don't do what everyone else does at Halloween. I know some may think that is not right, but I think the kids can have fun on that day without getting into the "evil" part of it! :) JMHO
Our kids love dressing up all year round in dress up clothes so for Halloween we let them were one of their costumes/dress up outfits out to dinner. We go out to dinner to avoid Halloween knocking on our door. We live in an area with tons of mormons who celebrate it and we live in a neighborhood full of families. It's sad that this holiday comes knocking on our doors. We don't take them out to dinner as a substitute but as a fun family tradition as a way of avoiding the holiday. When they were toddlers though we would just shut off the lights and hide in the back room with a family movie....
I have to say also, I read through the comments and I don't think many people mentioned this...aside from all the evil parts that we are all against...do we really need a holiday with more candy? As americans, I really don't want my kids having a holiday focussed on evil and candy!
Question though...in your post you mentioned the part about your kids being pure....am I just misunderstanding what you were trying to say or do you believe that your kids are born pure? Or do you believe that they are born sinners, depraved, with unregenerate hearts needing the savior?
I do understand if you meant that you don't want the influence of Halloween added to their lives but I wasn't sure if you felt like your kids are born innocent and then Halloween can corrupt them.
Thanks,
Jen
We don't celebrate Halloween either but my boys are too young to care. Four year old is asking to carve a pumpkin which we will probably do, in a train shape or a tractor (don't ask me how...). However, I am NOT above eating those delicious chocolate peanut butter pumpkins that go on clearance on Nov. 1st! Yummmmm.
We used to celebrate Halloween because when my kids were little, we were not Christians. I blogged about why we are not celebrating this year (here).
From that post:
This year, we will spend the week leading up to Halloween in intercessory prayer on behalf of those who are to take part in Halloween festivities, especially anyone dabbling in the occult. Then on Halloween night, we are going to shut out the lights, as to not attract the trick-or-treaters dressed in scary costumes (because I don't want to taunt the boys with what they are *missing*), and pop in a family movie.
And share a bag of candy, of course.
I am blessed to have a daughter with a birthday on November 4th, so some years we have had her birthday celebration when everyone else was doing Halloween, or we are in the throes of planning and making things for her birthday, so the kids never really notice.
We do not pass out candy, tracts, etc. or even open our door on Halloween. We keep the porch and outside lights off, which is a universal sign that the family is not home or does not wish to participate in Halloween. We've never had any trouble with neighbors or trick-or-treaters. I feel that if we opened the door even to pass out tracts, our kids would see all the costumes (both scary and the cool superhero ones), and feel like they were missing out on something. The way we do it, it's a non-issue, and our kids never know that they're missing anything.
We do attend the church's fall festival each year. I wanted to take our children to a corn maze this year, but we can't find one in our area that isn't "haunted".
I am so glad you posted this. We don't celebrate Halloween. our church always has a fall festival to make a safe place for children to go, it's not on Halloween night, but on the Saturday before Halloween. They use it as a chance to witness to the many children who see the games and stuff and come over to see what's going on.
I have always wondered about if we should have things like that. What's the difference between dressing up and going to a church party and dressing up and going trick or treating? Most people call me a fanatic or something similar. I just can't stand the thought of celebrating an evil holiday.
I get mad at the frightening commercials on tv and decorations that are up everywhere.
Recently, I have seen a book from Doorposts, on celebrating Reformation Day (Oct. 31). I agree with Jenny Chancey, who once said that we should not just sprinkle Christian glitter over pagan holidays. Our Christian feasts should show such rejoicing because we have the joy of Christ. I want to lead my children closer to Him on October 31, just like every other day. I am hoping to teach them more about great reformers, such as Martin Luther, who stood firmly upon the Word of God. Blessings!
Hi, Crystal: I applaud you and Jesses for taking a firm stand on this issue. My husband and I feel the same way. Our children are young right now and don't even understand why there are racks of costumes and tons of displays for candy and skull and bone decorations at the store. It's really difficult in Christian circles because even if you don't criticize others that DO celebrate it, you are pereceived as being judgemental just for taking that stance within your own family. I just know you must be receiving an onslaught of defensive emails right now!
In answer to the questions you posted, we have decided not to provide an alternative for that day. By doing somethings else, even a program through a church, you are still acknowledging the day and it sows seeds for your children always expecting you to provide them with a fun, exciting, "Christianized" version of what the world is doing. On Halloween night we just dim the lights and proceed with our usual routine. Sometimes we rent a family movie and pop popcorn and have apple cider. When my toddler son looked out the window last year and saw a troup of "ghosts and ghoullies" marching up the street, he asked me what was going on. I replied that some people dressed up as different things and went to ask people to give them candy. His immediate response was, "How rude!". :-)
To me it doesn't matter if the costumes are "cute and innocent", it still is taking part in a celebration that has roots in Devil worship. Maybe it's just me, but I don't want my precious little ones involved in that on ANY level.
Hi Crystal,
You are very fortunate that your kids are very young and have never took part in this. They won't know that difference and are probably very sensitive to the evil of it.
We went to Walgreens the other day and my son (2) hid his eyes and said "afffraid". What a precious thing. He does not know anything about it, but can already descern that something is bad. He knows no better and doesn't "need" a substitute.
My Girls (10,12,14) don't need a substitute either, though we eased out of it when they were younger. I think the oldest was 8 when we started to get out of it. (And they were always scared of the evil costumes also). The first year we started to feel uneasy about it we stayed home and handed out candy. The kids loved it until a REALY creapy costume with a very large kid inside came to the door. They dropped the candy and ran.
The second year we made a maze of string through the house, criss-crossing under tables and around furniture with a spoon tied to one end and a goodie bag hiding at the other end. The girls thought that was so fun. We did not turn on the porch light and only had one or two come.
Now they understand more and we don't have anything. However, it is always very nice when Oct. 31 lands on a Wednesday and they can go to AWANA! My sister and my cousin still bring their kids and we give them candy. (We are in the country now and no one else stops) They never dress evil and my kids love to dress up any day of the year, so it's not so exciting for them. We have plenty of dress up clothes (princess, prairie, bride, construction, indian, etc.)
God bless you and don't worry about what people say about it. They are always going to find something to critisize and besides we are a peculiar people. :)
I agree with you on this. We haven't celebrated Halloween since the girls were very little, when God showed me how wrong it was for our family. We don't do any alternative. I agree with commenter Teri who said she doesn't feel the need to substitute anything - neither do I. It's just another day at our house.
We don't, and neither my husband's or my family ever, celebrated halloween. With a growing family I don't see a problem arising with our children either. There are many things that other kids get to do that we can't or don't and we don't do anything about that, so why substitute something to make up for 'what they're missing' on this day?
I would like to do something on Reformation day, but being at the same time of year as halloween makes me want to shy away from doing anything at all.
Hi all,
I would consider us "on the fence" on this issue. We do not actively participate. There are no decorations up at our house (as opposed to everyone else with kids on the street) and our kids do not trick or treat. How ever we have always passed out candy to the neighbors to be "neighborly" (and to avoid any "egging" thoughts that might occur). Last year we added tracts to the mix. Where we waffle abit is with pumpkins. My husband likes having the seeds so we bought pumpkins but then he and the kids wanted to carve them too. Sigh... so sitting on our table are, in the process of being carved into a spider, cat, bat and typical jack-o-latern face- pumpkins. Now the kids want to put them on the porch. Hello! What kind of stand is that?! So they will sit on our table. I am very pleased that Halloween falls on a Wed. this year so that we will be at church like any other Wednesday. Next year I need to be more pro-active on the pumpkin issue. I'll have to build up using them as vases for flowers or something else to that we can have the seeds but not the Halloweeny theme. I think the hardest thing is telling our neighbors why we don't celebrate it. I always feel like they think we think they are devote Satan worshippers.
Its just another day for us. When the kiddos were younger my mom thought they were so deprived at not getting a costume and always bought them one. Well I jumped in and told her it had to be something that could go in their dress up box for yr round and that seemed to cool her down to where we didnt have a big arguement about it. My mom isnt religous in anyway. So it was fun for the kids to get new dressup clothes every year prom dresses, cowboy boots and vests, funny hats all thrift store finds that satisfied my mom but didnt cross the line of scary and halloweenish. Its turned into winter clothes shopping now for the kids. Its a yearly thing grandma does she went from dress up clothes to winter clothes now.
Our church has a fall harvest that hubby and I are in charge of this yr and last. We made it all about fall and what it represents. The Harvest we live in a rural area with farms all around us bringing in the harvest is a big economic thing here. So we have a chili cookoff, games for the kiddos, family fun things without the masks and scary things its even after halloween this yr.We do this not as an alternative but as a fun time to celebrate a summers worth of work paying off and as a social get together.
The fall decorations I love and we have those things in our home fall leaves winter squashes. I love fall so I cant just ignor that part. LOL
The kids researched Halloween once when they were old enough to judge what they thought of it and decided the basis behind it was very wrong and totally againest what we believe that made me feel good that they made the decision based on their research and still came up with a good arguement as to why its wrong without any influence from me or the outside world.
I couldn't agree more, Crystal.
When we were growing up, of course we never celebrated halloween, but my parents went through several approaches to dealing with trick-or-treaters coming to our door. For a while, we would hand out tracts to trick-or-treaters every year, and then after several years we just turned out all the lights and avoided answering the door.
Now, however, a few families from our church have an informal get-together to celebrate Reformation Day, which is on October 31 but this is little-known, since all people talk about is halloween.
Some of the things we've done in the past to celebrate Reformation Day: watching a movie about Martin Luther, or putting on a skit about the Reformation...
We absolutely do not celebrate it in any way, shape or form. We believe the best thing is to avoid it, no alternatives. Our kids do not miss it at all, and our family has come to terms with it.
As for the store decorations, I have considered writing a complaint about these items being all throughout the store. I have been leaving my little one at home because he is terrified. The last time we went to Walgreens some head came out of a box and said "I see you". I would like these seasonal items to be kept to one location where we atleast have the choice to see them instead of having them blaring at us down every aisle. I know, I probably won't get anywhere but I have been very frustrated about it. Maybe if enough people complained, they would consider it. I am not usually one to do that type of thing, but like I said, this year I am frustrated!
Jen: Thanks for a great question. Yes, we definitely believe our children are unregenerate in desperate need of the saving grace of the Lord. However, they have been protected from much of the evil influences of the world and we want to protect their purity and innocency in this regard until they are old enough that we can have heart-to-heart talks on this from a Biblical worldview. It's our goal to keep their little hearts as untarnished from the world as possible!
We don't celebrate Halloween. We wouldn't participate in any sort of fall festival alternative, as we feel that's acknowledging the day in its own way. After all, most churches don't have a summer, spring, or winter festival! We don't see a need to provide a substitute.
We do not turn on our porch light, not that we do any other night either! If someone came to the door, my husband or I would answer and explain that we don't celebrate the holiday because we are Christians and don't feel it's honoring to God. I could see giving a tract in those circumstances. But, candy would seem like participating, and a porch light would seem like participating and false advertising (if no candy provided).
Just our thoughts.
I agree.
Christy
oh Crystal, I love you!
I can't stand that, dare I even call it, holiday! It grieves my Spirit and turns my stomach that those who say they love Jesus use selfish excuses to become part of the underworld and think it harmless. Oh my, back to the prayer closet for me.
blessings, Penny
coming Oct 22, "Save the Farm, Bless the Preacher, Drought Sale!"
http://www.pennyraine.com
Some years we have done nothing and other years we have gone to a harvest festival or autumn extravaganza. We are deliberating this year, as the church my husband is on staff at has a party, and even in the announcement it was stated that it was so the kids wouldn't feel they would miss out on the candy. They give the kids each a bag with the gospel message in it and then they walk down a hall where the adults fill their bags with candy. I think that there are going to be lots of things that my kids will "miss out on" as far as the world, and even other Christians are concerned, because of their faith and I would be fine if my kids missed out on the candy. Especially this time of year when colds and flu are gearing up and sugar, especially in large amounts, depresses your immune system. You may think I'm over the top, but I think it is just another tool for satan to use this time of year to bring us down.
I read the file from Denton Bible and thought it was a great idea until I read that they handed out a jack-o-lantern to color. Someone from that church should research the jack-o-lantern as it goes completely against faith in Christ and is part of the paganist ritual.
Erica
Dear Crystal,
I read an comment in my Bible about halloween and I have had a really hard time with it since. I am so glad that you do not support it. My sister nannies a little girl
and she won't let her look at the decorations in stores because she knows that she would be VERY scared. Thank you fo this breath of fresh air.
When we lived in Iceland our church held a Harvest Festival where children would dress in POSITIVE fantastical outfits (my daughters were Scarlet O'Hara, a cute, girly pirate and a sunflower) and play games like bobbing for apples and answer Biblical Trivia for candy. It was really fun. Now that we live in the states our new church has a "Trunk and Treat" on October 27th. Everyone opens up their trunk, decorates (no horror) and passes out candy. It is also an activity that is geared towards the unchurched children in the area. On Halloween, a church a block away from our home is having a "Fun Fest" complete with live Christian bands, bouncing towers, food and games that are all for free. Our "Halloween" is positive but def. packed with activity! As a side note - I always think that it is best to do something special on Halloween rather than just locking the door and ignoring the knocks as children will not understand why they can't have "fun" like the other kids.
There is a chain type restaurant in our area called Chipotle, like a Mexican subway. Every Halloween they will give you a free burrito if you come dressed like a burrito wrapped in tin foil. So, we do that. Our kids are too young to really know what Halloween is, although, my oldest who is almost fie overheard me tell my mother that "We don't celebrate the devil's holiday" so now he tells people that :) We felt like the Chipotle offer was a good one, because they only give you free burritos if you are dressed liked a burrito, nothing else. So there are not people coming in dressed in gross or weird costumes, just a bunch of burritos. We even dressed the baby up last year, and they gave us a free one for him too, although he was only 6 weeks. Dh took it with him to work the next day. We all think it is great fun, and it is creating memories for our children, and has nothing to do with Halloween really, and NO CANDY!
Celebrating Halloween(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/celebrate) and overcoming evil with good are two different things, yes? Rather than be overly concerned with one day of 365, recognize that going to the grocery or retail establishment, gas station, library, Christian trinket/book store, zoo, amusement park, restaurant, past billboards and behind bumper stickers, etc. will find believers led to the slaughter while in this world yet not of it having to deal with a myriad of "adversary glory" issues...issues of the world's way of other than walking after the Spirit(lack of modest dress, body piercings, unBiblical relationships, tatoos more explicit and demonic in feel than Harry Potter costumes, merchant manipulations, etc.).
Here is a novel consideration. Have neighbors that welcome trick or treaters? Dress modestly of heart reflected in outward appearance and go to doors where lights welcome knocks and introduce yourself as a neighbor that welcomes their calling upon you to serve them in Christian love. Then become that neighbor during the year and Halloween won't invite assumptions that are wrong. Call upon those that have lights off. Another day. That day. The day the Lord orchestrates. Overcome evil by reflecting God is good ~ the gospel in Word and deed? Salt. Light. 365/24/7 Is Halloween any different than every other day of the year in which Satan is honored where believers will march as soldiers of a different Commander? Be God's hedge of protection without compromise with the family and be vessels of grace in the community yet lead in peace rather than with fear of something or someone that can never separate us from the love of God? Believers are MORE than conquerors. MORE than.
Just some thoughts rolling around in this ewe's head since this time last year. It has become less and less to more not at all an issue in our neighborhood. We won't "celebrate" Halloween in exchange for how we would address any other day of the year celebrating the Resurrection in honor of God and for the sake of His glory.
Crystal,
We live in town so we make sure and have the front porch light off (although sometimes that doesn't matter) and then we turn all the lights off in the front part of the house. Go to the kitchen, turn on Christmas music and me, my husband and girls all make holiday treats to swing in the Christmas season. It's fun, we love it! Phallin
This year we will be at church having our normal prayer meeting with other believers.
Terri
I've been very prayerful about Halloween since last year. I posted on my old blog last year the heart I felt God has towards me, my children and Halloween. You can read it at encouragementforwomen@blogspot.com
Last year we threw a "Hero" party at the house and invited the neighbors. This year I wanted to use the oppurtunity to teach my kids that in Jesus even if we die we live forever and that apart from Jesus there is no real life. I've been repeating to my kids, "We celebrate life in this house. We don't celebrate dead things." Then I ask the kids, "What do we celebrate on Halloween and everyday kids?" They answer, "Life!" I respond, "Who gave us life?" They respond, "Jesus!" To which I ask, "And what did Jesus do to give us life?" They say, "He died." Then I've been reading to them several passages of scripture like John 11:25 and others which proclaim the truth that Jesus has conquered death and in Him we will live forever.
They see death in yards and costumes everywhere and now when they do they say, "See mom, we don't celebrate dead things. We celebrate life." They do this often and it gives me oppurtunity to reinforce to them that we always, everyday, even on Halloween, celebrate the life Jesus gave us when He died for us and rose again.
I also am taking Halloween this year as an oppurtunity to spread that message to my neighbors. I decorated tombstones (styrafoam) with the names of a few famous Christian martyrs such as William Tyndale and Jim Elliot. I wrote on the stones why they were killed and then a scripture that correlates (Romans 14:8 and Phil.1:21) I also decorated one with the words, "Here lies self" And then followed it with the scripture Luke 9:23. We are displaying a sign on our porch which says, "Happy All Hallow's Eve! Remembering that in Christ those who've died are alive forever with Him." And then the scripture 1 Cor.15:50-57 Followed by the announcement and question, "You're going to die! But will you live forever even if you die?" And the scripture Romans 6:23.
We also plan to pass out candy wrapped in scripture and a handout I typed up to prayerful plant some seeds and I pray cause some folks to seek the Lord.
I feel that what Jesus said to His disciples is what He's speaking to me this year: Matt.16:18. The gates of hell which are everywhere in my neighborhood are not going to keep me and my kids hiding. We have the truth and the life and we are going to prayerfully offer that life to any who come to our door.
Psalm 24:1 says everyday is HIS! Even Halloween! As for me and my house we will serve the Lord and take everyday back for His glory!
I do believe we all must be fully convinced in our own minds what God's word has convicted each of us to do each day. WE should be purposeful not passive about living a life of love and testimony which may win more of those souls He died for.
So whether we stay home and do nothing or set out tombstones with martyrs stories and scriptures on them, or pass out tracks or have a party or whatever... we should be sure we are doing it for God's glory and seeking to honor Him everyday!
what a great question! the story about how the Lord convicted us about Halloween is for another day, another comment but i will share what we do instead. we do try to go to a real pumpkin patch sometime in October. our family loves to enjoy gardening and all things food related! :) we talk about God's provision and the wonders of His creation. Around the 31st and Nov. 1st we celebrate Reformation Day. we will learn about some heroes of the faith, have a special/fun dinner and some special dessert or candy. Sometimes Popcorn and a movie. we either try to be gone or appear to not be home. we have talked about passing out tracks to those that come to the door but our children are still young enough that we don't want them to even be around it. pretty hard to do when everywhere you go it seems like it is as big a holiday as Thanksgiving and Christmas! there are also lots of older kids that drive to our neighborhood to "trick or treat" that are dressed quite scary. We do talk to our children about why we don't and how they should respond to others who do. this year we are probably going to have a build your own ice cream sundae night! MMMMM! we are also having a time where we ask our children questions about Bible people, heroes from history, recite memory verses, sing hymns, Bible drill where you get a piece of candy for correct answers and such. i am looking forward to reading what others do to give us some fresh ideas! i don't think our children need a substitue and we try to be very careful that what we do has a purpose completely separate from Halloween. thank you for asking this question! Blessings, Jen in AL
Thank you and I agree!
I just want to point out too that Reformation Day is not celebrated on Oct. 31st to be an alternative to Halloween. It took place on that specific day and has nothing to do with Halloween! I think as Christians it is a very important day for us and should be celebrated for the reasons it is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_95_Theses
I included a link which also lists the Theses for anyone wanting to learn more!