Halloween is an interesting holiday.
Some refuse to participate in it for religious reasons–the origin involves evil; you can read about it here. Scary costumes do not honor God or holiness. Some refuse to participate because they simply feel it isn’t safe. You teach your kids not to take candy from strangers and then designate a day to turn the tables and spend the evening doing just that.
Others join in but refuse to wear scary costumes. They visit only the homes of friends and family.
And then some attend alternative events like Fall Festivals and Trunk or Treats in a way to let their children have fun along with all the other kids.
I think it boils down to your convictions. I don’t think one is wrong for doing it while the other is right. Or vice versa.
For the record, we trick or treat with a group of friends and have since our kids were little. After eating hot dogs and chili by the fire, we head out through the neighborhood and hope for the good stuff–by good stuff I mean candy not PCP on bubble gum wrappers.
But this year me and my friend Melanie are over our church’s first ever Trunk or Treat, so we’ll be doing that instead. We have face painting, a huge outdoor movie screen that will play, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown along with popcorn. Sixty vehicles have committed to decorating non-scary trunks. Moon bounces will be set and ready to go and if that’s not enough, we’re also offering hayrides. The event is free to the public. I’m pretty excited about it.
*photo credit: freedigitalphotos
Great job taking an even tone on a topic that can get divisive. 🙂 Growing up, my parents didn't allow us to dress too scary (although, honestly, I think the Minnie Mouse mask my sister wore one year was just plain creepy). We did get to trick or treat if we wanted, though. My parents often gave us a choice: trick or treat or have a family fun night with pizza, games and a movie. We were smart kids, though…we'd ask to trick or treat for just a block or two, then come home for pizza and games! Hehehe…but yeah, we participated on a very light level with fun costumes and candy.
I'm with you. I think it comes down to your convictions…and we can all respect each others' opinions without getting accusatory. 🙂
I've never been a big fan of Halloween – even when I was young. I did go trick or treating. It all has different meaning for me now.
Yes. It's also my birthday which should explain a whole heck of a lot right there. 😀
We go for the cute costumes and call it good. Great season to witness to boot.
~ Wendy
Yes, I go, begrudgingly, but I'm pretty sure I've made it known I'm the Scrooge of Halloween…I refuse to let the kiddos dress as vampires, serial killers, or anything with blood dripping from them, but otherwise it's a family affair with my Hubby's family. Everyone comes to our house and we hang out for the night with the kiddos. Your trunk or treat sounds like a blast! Now that, I'd do!
My birthday falls in October (as well as many of my family members). We usually get together at my sister's house. It used to be my parents' house we'd gather to but they are no longer with us. Anywhoo, we have chili and hotdogs then take the small ones around the neighborhood only stopping at friends/family.
When I first had kids, I debated about this. I finally decided to go with the principle in 1 Corinthians about idol offerings, eating meat, etc.
So yep, we do trick or treat or we do fall festivals…there's no hard rule. However, with their costumes I do encourage my kiddos to wear something that is honorable (superheroes, etc). As they get older, maybe I'll allow them to be something scary. I'm not sure yet. lol
I've always been aware of the history behind Halloween, but truly, when I was a little girl yearrrs ago, it was a different type of holiday. Now, parties, movies, and T.V. shows have all taken on an evil undertone.
Our church celebrates with a Fall festival complete with tons of food, games, and a huge classic car show. Little ones can come dressed up if they like, but of course, it's parents' personal preference.
When our kids were little, they did wear costumes (fun ones instead of the creepier sort) and they trick-or-treated around our neighborhood.
Oh, and I love It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Never gets old. 🙂
Ooo, Mike and I have gone back and forth with this. I grew up trick or treating and he wasn't allowed to dress up at all. I think in some ways, he thinks holidays should have a "purpose," and he doesn't see the purpose behind Halloween. I say the purpose is just to have fun, but not sure that's enough for him. 😉 We still have some time to discuss since we don't have kids yet.
But our church does a HUGE fall festival on Halloween, and we go with our nieces and nephews every year, so I guess we'll do that. I'm not sure what the difference really is between doing that and trick or treating, though, but I suppose it's a good compromise. I agree that I'll want our kids to wear cute costumes.
I've taken Anna Marie trick-or-treating a couple of times, but the neighborhood where we lived for six years only had about three houses in a three-block radius that participated. We gave out candy once or twice, but we had TOOOO many teenagers from outside our neighborhood and that just takes the fun out. We've gone the trunk-or-treat route, and that seems to work out best for all of us.
I've never liked Halloween. It being a real pagan holiday, that real pagans celebrate has always bothered me. I always pray for the innocents who may be victims on this night.
With that being said, we did let our kids trick or treat when they were little. (They are all to old for it now) Dressing up and going out to met neighbors and give out candy has never bothered me. I love opening the door to sweet little princesses and cute little spidermans! I hand out candy for them and have often handed out tracks telling them God loves them. How can we keep our doors closed when we have such a wonderful opportunity to tell them that? 🙂
I think it depends on your personal preferences. It goes in that category of eating meat or drinking wine. Some Christians prefer not to partake, some do. I can understand where both camps are coming from.
My husband and I don't have kids yet, but we like to dress up and pass out candy, or attend Halloween events such as haunted houses or parties. I do draw the line though at certain places where I feel that the festivities are too dark.
Oh, we have fun on Halloween! We hand out candy and let the kids dress up. I don't mind a scarier costume, but I don't like skanky costumes. Why does a 7-year old need to be a sexy bumblebee? Why??
Have fun at trunk-or-treating! I think it's really cool you organized it!
When my daughter was young, I wasn't a Christian, so I saw no reason not to participate. Now, though, I turn off the lights and don't answer the door on Halloween night. I also don't like lying to kids about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Why should kids believe us about Jesus, whom they can't see, when we've lied to them about these other figures whom they can't see?
I'm big on the Santa Claus thing too. It's hard to get a kid to concentrate on Jesus when there is a brightly colored guy in the corner throwing presents around. Plus, it's NOT TRUE! It flies in the face of Christianity.
I know plenty who would disagree, but I could never reconcile it in my mind.
Since having kids I have pulled back from Halloween. In my mind, regardless of HOW we may choose to celebrate it, the day is centered around death and spirits. Has been for centuries; this is not a new thing. Scripture tells us to flee from those things, not toy with them or try to dress them up to appear harmless.
I definitely understand the fun and even get caught up in it sometimes, but the biblical mandate seems to be clear. I just need to get better at living out those mandates.