Disagreement over Halloween

Didn't see this until I was looking up halloween stuff. A lot of halloween is steemed from a Spanish tradition where they are scaring off bad spirits. So the people dressing up are doing good things not evil. We don't only discuss the holiday here, but why we celebrate it and it's history/where it came from. Just a thought.

"instead of handing out candy, hand out pencils with scripture"

Frankly, this would irritate the heck out of me as a parent. We're at your house for candy and treats and you're going to, unknown to me, prostlytize to my children? Would you like it if I gave your child a card printed with my agnostic beliefs? I doubt it.

To the OP, if you don't make Halloween out to be an evil holiday your children will never make that association. If you treat it as a fun childhood tradition of wearing a costume and getting candy, then that's all it will ever be.

M.

I am a Christian also and I always participated in Halloween growing up and still allow my children to as well. For me, it was never about anything evil, but rather a fun time to dress up and get treats- nothing more. If that's the way you treat it, that's how your child will see it. I would say most people just think of it as a harmless holiday for children to have fun. Regardless of your personal adult beliefs about the holiday, kids just love to dress up and get candy.

J.,
Both my husband and I grew up Catholic and both of us went trick-or-treating. We left the catholic church and became Christians 2 years ago. Our son was just 11 months old for Halloween last year and we felt at that time, we did not want him to participate so we took him to toys-r-us that night and were not home. We know what the origin of Halloween is and we understand it. After much debate within ourselves we decided that there is nothing wrong with our son participating in trick-or-treat, santa or the easter bunny as long as he knows the true meaning behind all of it. As he gets older and if he does or does not want to participate in trick-or-treat then that will be his choice. We are going to hand out treats for the kids in our development. We do not feel that dressing him as a pumpkin or a football player is harmful at all just fun. Our beliefs are ours and I do not want him to watch out the window as other kids are having harmless fun, not now, he is too young to understand why 'he can't' Now a ghost or devil, that to me won't happen in our home. If you feel so strongly then meet half way and instead of handing out candy, hand out pencils with scripture or toothbrushes with fun cartoon characters, something that is appealing to you and the kids. As far as your child that is something you will have to try to meet half way on if neither of you will budge. That is all the advice I have so good luck! EDIT: If someone is out there trick-or-treating wih the intentions of celebrating satan and worshiping the devil then it is not right and no, they should not be out there but kids are just kids and they don't understand why and how until they are older. |All they see is that they are getting treats and they are getting to use their imaginations for dressing up in a custume. Also, you can check out churches in your area most of them hold a 'harvest night' where they cook out smores and hotdogs and have games for the kids. Even at our church one of the elders dressed up as a scarecrow and handed out neon light sticks to the kids.
Christina

I think this is O. of those topics that is often over-thought by Christians. I am a Christian and I know people who boycott the holiday but I think they are causing their kids to miss out on some fun activities and dear memories. I believe holidays are what you make them. If your kids aren't dressed as devils, witches and warlocks, who cares if they go out, participate and get some treats? I see no harm (spiritual or emotional) in a little fairy or super hero making the rounds to a few neighbor's homes for goodies. That exact thought crosses my mind every year as some sweet little toddler dressed as Elmo makes his or her way up my driveway--who in the world could see that as a BAD thing?

I also am a Christian (I go to a Mennonite Church) and I have gone trick or treating when I was younger and I allow my children to go. I think for me it was always a fun time to get dressed up and get candy. I don't allow my children any ugly costumes and most are ones we come up with at home. My children don't know the meaning behind Halloween (come to think of it, I don't think I knew the meaning when I was younger). For us it is just one night to have fun as a family, meet neighbors, and satisfy our sweet tooth. I hope everything works out. Good Luck.

Where I live there are several churches that host Halloween fun parties. The kids dress up and play games, get some candy and have fun hanging with their friends.

We also go trick or treating. Any holiday in any family is what you want it to be. I would just dress her in a cute outfit and take her out. You don't need to stay home and hand out candy if you don't want to.

I am a Christian and am bringing my children up that way as well. My kids look forward to Halloween because they get to dress up and get candy. And sometimes they get to be scared. They think it's fun. They don't look at it as a "Pagan" holiday. They don't even understand that. If you're truly worried, I would talk to them (as they become old enough to understand) that Halloween started in a bad way, but now it's just something fun to do. And let them know that you don't condone the origins of the holiday. But, remember that history is history and we don't always agree with it, but it shouldn't mean we should erase it either. If you're raising them in a Christian home and bringing them up right, I really don't think you'll have anything to worry about.

Prov.22:6 Hosea 4:6 Lev. 18:30 II Cor 5:10 If Your husband want to find out about the origin of halloween at internet . God always talk at easy ways or hard ways !Pray for him.

Hi J.,

That's an interesting dilemma. We had to make a decision too what we would do when our kids reached the age where they understood what the rest of the kids were doing. One year we took them to our church's alternative party and it felt really weird to us to leave our neighborhood when being with our neighbors was exactly the kind of thing we wanted to be doing.
I don't like all the "evil" stuff of Halloween and I don't really like the holiday, but we do let our kids pick a non evil costume and carve pumpkins. They do participate with the other kids in trick or treating and it's a neighborhood thing where we are out together with all the parents and families. We feel it's important to be among our neighbors, not leaving them to do our Christian thing at a church. We hope to be able to be God's light to our neighborhood and whereever we are.
But this is a decision you have to make for yourself and your family and it's difficult when you have differing opinions.

Maybe you can ask your church to support a trunk or treat night. Its filled with food and faith based actitvites inside the church, but the kids dress up in non scary costumes. When its time for treats the people go to their cars and open their trunks. Some people decorate them with a theme and the kids rotate around from car to car getting treats. The entire congregation can participate to make it fun for the kids.