Not Celebrating Halloween

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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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