Christian Families & Halloween
October 5th, 2007 by 
Chanda
Do you allow your children to participate in Halloween activities?
When I was a little kid, my parents didn’t allow us to participate in Halloween, but if any kids knocked on our door - even though the light was off - we would give them a shiney penny and some pecans from our tree. (That will keep the candy seekers away, right!)
Honestly, since I’ve become a parent, I’ve been a bit wishy-washy.
I don’t allow the kids to go out and trick or treat, but I would bring them up to my office at work for our company gathering. I was convicted about that, so I stopped.
Then, the next year, I still didn’t let them go trick or treating, but we always had candy at the house and eventhough the light is off - we still get kids coming to the door and I would give out candy.
But no more. My husband and I were convicted by Revelations 3:16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” There’s not much room for wishy washiness in that scripture is there.
The hardest part of this is conveying this message to my children. Here are some of my thoughts on explaining to children why we don’t celebrate Halloween.
Also, I found an get book for only $4.99 called “Mommy Why Don’t We Celebrate Halloween” that you can get and read to your kids to help with the conversation.
So, tell me, do you let your children participate in Halloween activities? Click on the comments and let me know. I’d love to hear what other Christian parent think.
Be Blessed!
Chanda
Posted in My Life & Kids | 
October 21st, 2007 at 10:25 pm
An excellent ebook called the The Wonder Book Of Bible Stories is available at http://www.terrysshare.com/?d=0930696C1
October 26th, 2007 at 11:49 am
We ABSOLUTELY DO NOT celebrate Halloween! I’m SO PROUD of of YOU for taking a stand. This world is so caught up in so many “worldly” ideas. To be honest, we don’t “do” Santa or the Easter Bunny either. Those are days that should be about worshiping the SAVIOR of the world! I’m not about to tell my children that some chubby man in a red costume brought their Christmas presents when GOD ALONE provided their daddy a strong back and a good job. EVERY GOOD GIFT comes from GOD. (Now, we aren’t extremists… we DO swap gifts. We just make CERTAIN that ALL THE GLORY is given to GOD)
GREAT POST! =-)
October 26th, 2007 at 11:51 am
We ABSOLUTELY DO NOT celebrate Halloween! I’m SO PROUD of YOU for taking a stand. This world is so caught up in so many “worldly” ideas. To be honest, we don’t “do” Santa or the Easter Bunny either. Those are days that should be about worshiping the SAVIOR of the world! I’m not about to tell my children that some man in a red costume brought their Christmas presents when GOD ALONE provided their daddy with a strong back and a good job. EVERY GOOD GIFT comes from GOD. (Now, we aren’t extremists… we DO swap gifts. We just make CERTAIN that ALL THE GLORY is given to GOD)
GREAT POST! =-)
October 29th, 2007 at 1:28 am
I think that it is more important to celebrate the Holy Ghost rather than witches, gobblins, and other demonic figures, which is why we choose to stay home or attend a Fall Festival at church. It helps that they attend a Christian based school with the Abeka curriculum too, so I don’t have to worry about exposure to “Halloween” there.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:50 am
it has GOT to be ‘Christian’ by your standards, doesn’t it?
do you celebrate Christmas? It has pagan roots, you know?
October 30th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Hi Minishorts,
My post was not meant to be judgemental or criticize what others do. I’m just sharing my personal convictions about sending mixed messages to my children about this holiday.
Please understand that I don’t believe it’s my way or the highway. God speaks to each one of us - and He may be saying something different to you and your family - some have shared that they have been called to evangelize on Halloween - and sharing the gospel is always a wonderful blessing!
But our family will not be participating in the Halloween festivities.
When it comes to Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus - without Santa Claus, but with the giving of gifts.
Thanks for sharing your opinion - like I said, I love hearing what other Christian parents think.
October 31st, 2007 at 4:51 pm
[…] and Halloween - Part 2Christian Families & HalloweenEpisode 8: Karen & Kids Radio ShowThe Lord Is My ShepherdI’m In Awe!Help Me Spread The […]
February 26th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Just to post an alternative view here: As an evangelical protestant, I DO celebrate halloween with my kids, and it has become for me one of the most spiritually rewarding times of the year after Easter and Christmas. Why do I celebrate it? I can’t refuse to celebrate it because of any possible pagan origins, or I’d have to stop celebrating Christmas and Easter, too. Not to mention that the practice of reinterpreting pagan customs to speak the Truth of God is nothing new. Many of the practices God commanded for ancient Israel had previously existed in paganism. Temples, priests, priestly vestments, incense, animal sacrifices, harvest time as the lynchpin of festivals—these and other forms used in pagan worship systems found their counterpart in Israel’s worship system given by God (see http://www.wcg.org/lit/church/holidays/easter.htm for additional thoughts on this subject). The alternative reasoning is to avoid celebrating evil or the appearance of evil. But unlike many godly parents who have concluded that they cannot celebrate halloween due to the themes of witches, devils, ghosts, etc., I have come to the opposite conclusion. Indeed, I agree that the ways most cultures, including our own, typically celebrate this holiday do in fact openly promote death, devils, witches and flagrant “appearances of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22). But ironically, it is these very cultural celebrations that help point me to the importance of this holy-day. The world sees death and evil as realities and it not only addresses them, but it embraces them one day a year in an attempt to lessen its fear of them. As a Believer, it is not appropriate to hide my eyes and shield my mind from this. Instead, I have chosen to ask “What does Scripture teach us about death and evil?” “What does Christ’s Kingdom have to offer to the world in relation to death and evil?” And, “Is this something to celebrate?” All Hallows’ Eve for my family is a time to bring the themes of Christmas and Easter to their culmination, that Christ is the Light of the World who has overcome death, sin, and evil (the themes of the book of Revelation are quite appropriate in this regard). Connected to this is All Saints’ Day, during which we focus on the fact that God’s people are to reflect the Light of Christ in our lives, and that this is only possible due to God’s grace. Finally, on All Souls’ Day we observe that God’s people are to share the Light of Christ with those who are still walking in darkness through our loving witness, both in word and deed; and that since we have no need to fear death, we can witness without fear. Regarding the cultural symbols of Halloween, we use them to enhance these themes. Decorations include a reaper in a cage (O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?), skulls and skeletons (for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life….), a graveyard with tombstones for “Death”, “Sin” and “Evil” (evil/satan is represented by a dragon, as in revelation); candles and light to represent Christ’s Light in the darkness; jack o’lanterns to represent the light of Christ shining through us; and we also learns about the saintly “cloud of witnesses” from scripture and church history so we can learn from their examples how to live holy lives. I prayed about this issue for 4 years before developing the holiday that I have for my family, and through it all God kept speaking His truth to me about these themes. I’m not saying I’m “right”. I respect Believers who feel prayerfully led to take a different stance, and I respect all their reasons for that decision as I know they truly come from a desire to live holy lives sacrificed to God. I grew up being taught that halloween was inappropriate for Christians and am thoroughly familiar with the heart behind those teachings. But I am saying that there is more than one “Christian” response, and I’m excited to know that this is not only another way to discuss these important themes with my children, but also an alternative to relating to the non-believers around me. Grace and peace!
October 31st, 2008 at 2:28 am
we have to be careful and notice that some holydays are becoming cultural celebrations, and the kids, like every human is atraccted of whatever you forbid them, now we as christian fight hallowen a lot, but what abuot all the others?… like we said… christmas? our excuse is that we celebrate something different, we celebrate Jesus birthday, so why dont we do the same thing w/hallowen, i think the worst thing we as parents can do is prohibit our own kids to do it, because i’m sure 90% of the parents, never explain why, because they dont even know.
October 31st, 2008 at 3:12 am
Very good points Andres. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. God has called many of us to evangelize on Halloween. Like someone said, it’s the only night where dozens of kids will be knocking on your door for you to give them a wonderful treat! I don’t think participation in Halloween is sinful or harmful to children - I do think that I need to present a clear and consistent conviction to my children. I had been sending them missed messages.
But you know what, this year, the kids have not asked for costumes, candy or asked to go trick or treating. And they are 8, 6, and 3 so it’s not like they have outgrown the idea of participating in Halloween.
Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Anyone else have thoughts to share?