Not Celebrating Halloween

Do what you think is right. I have a friend who is JW and in grade school he never came to school on party days and he was fine wit it. Good luck

Many Christians celebrate Halloween. They do not celebrate it in the way that the holiday was originally celebrated, but many Christian children go trick-or-treating and have Halloween parties. I taught at a Catholic school and we celebrated Halloween at the school every year. It is a wonderful way for the children to dress up and have fun (no costumes that promoted violence or gore were allowed). They also did a cute craft and played games. We combined it with our Religion classes and Social Studies, just as if we had studied about Mexico or Japan. It was a theme day, just like any theme day we had in our class, but the whole school celebrated the theme. If your daughter's class, in the years to follow, would celebrate about another culture or religion, would you remove her from the class or let her learn about it? It's a tough decision, but if she goes into the day understanding that it is a holiday some people celebrate but that you don't celebrate and that she can learn about Halloween with her friends, but not believe in it.

As the parent, it is completely up to you what you would like to do. If her class is dressing up and having a party, she may not want to be left out. You can try to explain to her the history behind Halloween and that you don't "celebrate" it, but that it is a fun day to dress up if she wants to for school. I'm sure she probably likes to play dress up at home, let her know that that is the "dress up day" at school and she can go as her favorite story book character. Or you can do as you said and keep her home that day, or the portion of the day that the children dress up and have a party.

EDITED: After replying I searched online and found this article that may help you with your question: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-celebrate-Hallowee...

Hi M.,

As I read through all the answers, I was amazed and pleased that everyone encouraged you to let your daughter participate. I'm all for it. As a follower of Christ, I believe there are certain things that we need to stand up against that directly go against biblical principles like dishonesty, bullying and unforgiveness to mention just a few, but I think not allowing a child to participate in fun things, like dressing up and going to Halloween parties could very well instill resentment in them. Most if not all schools are only celebrating the surface of Halloween. Christ is everywhere and he can also be found in Halloween if we look for him.

We want to send postive messages not only to our children but also to our community. What message do the other children get when a child doesn't participate in a fun activity that everyone else is doing? Are they thinking, "Oh I want to be just like her" or are they thinking, "Oh poor girl, she has to miss all the fun?

I think you and your husband could sit down with your little girl and tell her you have been thinking more about Halloween and you even asked some other moms about it. Ask her what she thinks about it. As little as she is she will probably have her own opinions. Find out what she's thinking, say a prayer and decide together what to do. God Bless!

Some schools have an alternative activity for children who don't participate in holiday parties, usually in the school's learning center. Why don't you check into that first? Usually, at least in grades one and up because they go a full day, there is still learning going on until that hour of the party. This may not be the case if your child goes for a half day.

A.

My daughter is 8 and she celebrates Halloween. Sometimes we even decorate the house/yard, but we are also Christians. You have to do what you are comfortable with. I dont beleive in keeping my child home because my beleifs are different, the parties at the schools at from 2pm at the earliest til 3.15pm. But what exactly is the problem with Halloween? Because the kids go door to door trick or treating? Halloween is about dressing in costume and "begging" for candy. Candy that doesnt all get ate, but is then used for all the gingerbread houses we make for a later holiday. Do you "celebrate" Santa Clause? because in my opinion Santa is definately not the true meaning behind Christmas. While I have very strong opinions on such, I will not force my daughter to have my same beliefs, meaning she cant beleive in Santa or the Easter Bunny. She is only a kid once. I respect your beliefs and I applaud you for having them in this day and age, but there are certain "traditions" that I will allow my daughter to participate in, if nothing more than to be a kid. Halloween to me means nothing but passing candy out and seeing if I can guess which neighbor is which when they are all dressed up. Also you have to remember, she will be in school for another 12 yrs minimum, where she will be exposed to more pressing issues than whether or not to trick or treat. If we teach core values now, teach them right and wrong, they will make the right decisions. My daughter has been told, not taught, about Halloween and Paganism, but we haven't delved into the subject, she need not know any of it. All she needs to know at this point, is does she want to wear a costume, if so which one, and does she want to go trick or treating or pass out candy? Last year she stayed home and passed out candy. Not bad for a 7yr old, not wanting to go trick or treating.

Point is..YOU have to do what YOU are comfortable with. Not what other moms you socialize are doing, not what other moms in your church are doing. What YOU are comfortable with. I for one do not follow the crowd and never will. I form my own opinions. and if this helps, I know a couple people in Trinity school that do allow their children to dress up and trick or treat. Its a personal decision.

Good luck with your decision.
K.
www.arkparties.com

Sorry for your troubles...I am not a christian, nor am I really anything other than spiritual and very liberal. I beleive people have a right to believe what they want as long as it is kind, good, and positive. That being said, I am going tell you something a Seik client of mine told me. A couple of Christmases ago after I had been cutting his hair for a few months, I wishhed him happy holidays, not knowing what his exact religious affiliations were...afterall, I said Merry X-mas to another gentleman a couple of years eralier and he read me the riot act because he was Jewish. Anyhow, what my client told me was this (he was Seik originally raised in England) When in "Rome do as the Romans do." ZHe explined to me that when he lived in Isreal he celebrated Hannukah, here he celebrates Christmas...it is what the majority of what our country does. My point is most people don't even understand the religious significance that Halloween holds for certain faiths, let alone small children.. they just think it's fun to dress up, and here spooky stories, and let their imaginations run wild. I am not trying to be rude or disrespectful here, but do you celebrate St. Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day? I can understand why you wouldn't want to send her to school if it offends your family so much, but honestly in a public school it holds no religous meaning...just fun and gamesfor the kids,. Now if she were in Catholic School like I attended then maybe I would be worried about religious attachment being involved, especially since All Saints Day is the next day, but even that is minimal. Whatever you decide good luck and best wishes,and remember whatever you choose is the right thing for you and yours.

We're Christian and we celebrate Halloween. I think personally it's more a day of dress-up, imagination, and fun than anything sinister. The day is what you make of it. I've never been into the gory decorations, I'm more the cutesy type. I thought this was a wonderful article about Christians and Halloween.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/october2/29.79.html

I'm Catholic and I went to a private Catholic school from preschool through Senior year in HS and the schools always celebrated Halloween. I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't. It's not about devil worship. Why let your child feel left out? She might resent it later, and end up resenting her religion because of it. Of course you have to do what you feel comfortable with.

Hi M.,

As Christians, we too have decided not to celebrate Halloween. My daughter (6) is enrolled in a Christian School that does not celebrate Halloween, however, my son (4) is in a preschool that does celebrate it. On Friday, we plan to just keep him home from preschool since his class is having a Halloween costume parade and party. I know many Christians don't understand the harm in celebrating Halloween and think of it only as a fun time for kids to dress up and get candy. But what comes to mind for me when I think of Halloween is this: Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we are to do all to the glory of God. So, I have to ask myself, "Does participating in Halloween bring honor and glory to the Lord?" We don't believe that it does and instead it has close links to the Occult and opens us up to compromise which is a slippery slope. Therefore, for anyone who hasn't already made a decision on what to do, seek the Lord in prayer. He promises that He will be found by us when we seek Him with our whole heart and He is always faithful. May God bless you and your family and give you wisdom and discernment around your descision.

In Christ,
C.

As a teacher I have had several students over the years that do not celebrate Halloween. It has been handled in many different ways by the parents. Some do not send their kids to school that day, others do but the teacher will provide other activities for the child to do. At my school during the Halloween Party our school library is a place for those that do not celebrate go to and watch a movie or whatever. I would speak with your child's teacher and maybe even the principal to see what they have done in the past.

Hope this helps.
J.

Hi M.,
I am struggling with the same thing, I am Christian and have researched for years the history of halloween. What I found was truly disturbing, although halloween started out as a Christian holiday over the years it has changed to a satanic one. There is nothing good about it, everything is evil; devils, ghosts, decaying bodies, witches... I.even found that carving pumpkins was done to scare demons away. satan is fooling the world, even Christian, into thinking it is innocent, while satanist and witches are celebrating this day as a day to celebrate satan. When children/adults celebrate this day, they may become interested in demonic things, casting spells, death and other things that are associated with satan. We don't participate in halloween but have allowed our son, to attend Fall Festivals at our church. I do understand the church trying to give Christian children an alternative to the traditional trick or treating but as a Christian parent, I feel that I must stand for God even if my 5 year old doesn't understand right now.
Thanks for the opportunity to vent, I think that I have made my decision and it is to keep my son at home the day the school has the halloween party.
Sorry I don't live in the Plainfield area...
God bless.
D. <><

I personally don't think it's fair to exclude a child from celebrating Halloween. It's not about worshipping anything evil - like a reader wrote below, Halloween is more about the kids getting to dress up in costumes and get candy and just have fun with their friends. My 3 year old daughter is so excited to dress up for Halloween this year that she has been planning her costume for months! I can't imagine not letting her participate in this fun holiday.
I had friends whose parents refused to allow them to participate as children in any of our holiday parties and they were extremely embarrassed and always felt left out. As soon as they were old enough to think for themselves, they did choose to celebrate with their friends.
I'd say continue teaching your children the lessons and values you want, but don't forget to let them be kids. Good luck with your decision.

I consider myself to be a very good Christian and truly wonder why people insist that Halloween is the Devil's holiday. It is All Hallow's Eve. A night in which to start the celebration of those who in Christian history gave their lives to uphold Christian values. All Saints' Day is the next day.

While it does correspond closely to a Pagan holiday Samhain and The Day of the Dead, neither days have anything to do with worshipping Satan. Samhain is celebrated to honor ancestors as does the Day of the Dead. There were also Pagan celebrations during that time of year for the fall harvest.

Do what you are comfortable with, but I hope you put more Christianity in the day Christian given name of Halloween. In whichever manner fits your family best.

We are christians and we celebrate Halloween. Likewise, I know a number of non-christians who celebrate Easter. Why? Because holidays are fun! You can also view it as an opportunity to teach your children about other religions and cultures.

we are a catholic family. at school they do not have halloween but instead havest day. basically the same thing just no costumes. we do however take the children trick-or-treating. we just have told them the history behind this day. i find nothing wrong with not letting them participate in this day or letting them. do what you are confortable with. i would say o let the child participate in the school activities but not at home. make the day special some other way. like i said my school does harvest day, maybe pick up some fall like crafts and do them with her to show her that there is more than just candy. good luck in whatever you choice to do.

Hi there,
I know this is an old post, but wanted to respond regardless. To all those insisting your child will feel left out...I am 20 years old and have never been trick or treating, nor celebrated Halloween at all. And I can truthfully say, I do not, and never have, felt left out. My parents thoroughly explained to me our reasoning for not participating, and now I have found my own reasons to continue. I had a full and fun childhood, and am thankful for my parents Halloween decisions.

I don't see the harm. We even have children come to church in costume the Sunday before Halloween.

what does being Christian have to do with celebrating halloween. It is fun for the children. it is just a silly dress up holiday.

M.,
Good for you! It's hard to stick to your convictions when a lot of people's attitudes are to do whatever is fun or convenient.

My children (1st - 11th grade) have never celebrated halloween (nor have I) and have been fine with it. If the class will be dressing up and celebrating all day I keep them home all day. If the class is not allowed to dress up, I pick them up early, just prior to the party. I usually do something fun with them. I also make sure they have time to dress up with costumes at other times because that's something they enjoy.

I noticed that someone mentioned that Halloween is a celebration of Saints and therefore a Christian holiday. Here's some info on the origins of the celebration. http://www.history.com/content/halloween/real-story-of-ha...