Can Christians Celebrate Halloween?
Usually this time of year there are all kinds of debates about “should Christians celebrate Halloween?” Of course if you’re a really good Christian it seems you will simply have a “Fall Festival” where you will do exactly what everyone else does on Halloween (costumes and candy) except you’ll only invite Christians which somehow makes it okay. 
Please note, I believe this is a personal decision. If you and your family don’t celebrate Halloween, then I totally respect that decision.
As you can probably tell from last years Halloween picture, we do. Our kids dress up, we carve a pumpkin and take ALL the candy we possibly can from our neighbors. You could say we celebrate Halloween but I think we celebrate our kids, friends and neighbors.
1) My kids. My kids love to dress up. Jett’s going as Satan, Gage is going to be an evil spirit, and Brewer the angel of death. Just kidding!! They’re going to be a Jester, Frankenstein, and a Skeleton. They’ve been fired up all week about designing their pumpkins and running around the neighborhood. We’re going to have a blast.
2) My friends. We usually have two other couples and their kids come over and enjoy the evening with us. We’ve actually gone trick-or-treating with one couple for 9 years in a row. It’s kind of become our little tradition.
3) My neighbors. This is an awesome chance for me to build a bridge with my non-Christian, non-church going neighbors. Think of it as Tuesday night visitation, only this time they’re coming to you. Many will drop by the house and we’ll get a chance to talk about all kinds of things that might serve as a bridge to future conversations and future opportunities to build relationships. I’m probably not going to drop a “Christian tract” in their kids’ bag, but I do want to drop a little sincere Christian love their way.
I know I’m probably opening a can of worms but what do you think about Halloween? Any exciting plans?
92 Comments:
Definitely a personal decision….for myself, as a child it was my favorite holiday next to Christmas. I loved seeing you and your sister enjoy the same excitement as I did, and now I am enjoying watching another generation do the same! I can’t wait to see the boys dressed up on Saturday!
[Reply]
Nana
6:38 am
We started a new tradition last year by having a huge halloween party. Our neighborhood is prime trick or treat territory (5 flat streets packed with families) and we have lots of friends who live in unfriendly neighborhoods or in the country.
So on Saturday night about 30 people will pile into my three bedroom house and we will be packed to the gills! We have an inflatable for the kids to bounce some of the sugar out (We borrow it from a friend). After dinner and trick or treating, the guys usually end up playing guitar hero, the kids watch a movie, and the girls end up around the kitchen table.
I look at our gathering as a way to create memories with our friends and a way for our friends from different groups (church, MOPS, etc.) to meet new people.
Whit´s last blog ..Chocolate + Coffee = LOVE
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Whit
6:41 am
@Nana, it should be lots of fun!
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Pete Wilson
6:42 am
Taking some kids trick or treating. Need to find out where a good rich (in candy) neighborhood is so we can hook them up!
Wes Howard´s last blog ..Ministry Lesson #1
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Wes Howard
6:46 am
The part about “Jett being Satan…” was hilarious. Nice work Pete!
Going to a Halloween party that is themed “Under the Sea.” Seriously not giving me much to work with.
Not a huge fan of dressing up, but once I get the costume on, it usually is a good time.
Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Wait
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Lindsey Nobles
7:02 am
My thoughts mirror these:
http://preparingtheharvest.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween.html
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JD in Canada
7:22 am
@Lindsey, I HATE dressing up.
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Pete Wilson
7:25 am
I, as a christian, truly believe there’s nothing wrong with celebrating. It’s the one time out of the whole year where you can dress up and be anyone you want to be and be another character. It’s a fun time out of the norm. It’s more for the kids then anything, it’s fun for them. But what I love about this time of year is the Fall aspect of it the most!!!
Lauren Kelly´s last blog ..Thursday Tidbits!
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Lauren Kelly
7:29 am
Too funny…
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Jonathan
7:32 am
Our church will have our 2nd annual Trunk or Treat. It was a huge success last year. Nothing fancy, we just park our cars in the lot and hand out candy. Parents told us they prefer this to going door to door.
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David LaDuke
7:35 am
My kids are in college now but we did the costume/trick or treat thing too. Usually it was the dads who took the kids around in a big group and I think they liked it as much as the kids. Lots of bonding there.
Course my favorite part was always post Halloween-kids go back to school and I was free to raid their candy stash. Its amazing how they’d have it inventoried in their heads and could take one look at 562 pieces and know immediately I had removed a Mounds Bar.
Have fun on Saturday!
joyce´s last blog ..It’s That Time Again…Weekly Random #9
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joyce
7:44 am
My wife and I delayed until the last possible minute in making our decision when our son was old enough. But what clinched it for us was what God did in our hearts one Halloween.
We shut off our lights and watched a movie in the dark while neighbors KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR… and we realized that we were NUTS! We were praying for ways to be salt and light and while the whole neighborhood was having a street party that we were invited to… we got religious on them.
So the reason’s you stated are pretty much why we do it now too. And I couldn’t be happier or feel more at peace about it
Dave Carrol´s last blog ..Tonight’s Freedom House TV
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Dave Carrol
7:47 am
Oh my gosh! I heart Halloween! I love to see all the kids and with their little tender voices beg for candy! It’s the best. One year we were passing out candy and a little girl dressed in a flower with her brother dressed as Micky mouse came to the door and of course I made them say “trick or treat” before giving them any candy, but they were shy and instead she blurted out “Happy Birthday!” It was the best! We miss it here because they don’t celebrate it but I’m sure your Satan pictures will be all over the internet come Sunday! That will totally make up for it. Yay for you and your demon kids. Ha!
kristiapplesauce´s last blog ..Blog friend, shmog friend.
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kristiapplesauce
7:50 am
I think it is completely acceptable and fun!!!
Megan´s last blog ..Cast Iron Crisis
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Megan
7:53 am
“This is the day the Lord has made. rejoice and be glad in it!”
sherri´s last blog ..The Messenger
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sherri
7:56 am
Laughing out loud on the Satan costume reference…..too funny!
And that’s my take on Halloween…..keeping it simple and fun and just letting the kids dress up and get some goodies.
OH, and Josh and I’s anniversary is Halloween…..going on 17 big ones this weekend! WOOT WOOT WOOT!
*~Michelle~*´s last blog ..Proverbs 19:17
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*~Michelle~*
8:15 am
I think it does matter what the origins of Halloween are – completely Pagan. To say every Fall Festival is only for Christians is false. Every one I’ve ever seen is an outreach into the neighborhood that church is planted. Halloween can absolutely be an investment in the community – but not by joining them in their pagan revelry, but inviting them to a Christian community. I don’t want my children to participate in the world’s godlessness. I want my children to honor God and his word even when it’s not “fun” or as fun as the world – “abstain even from the APPEARANCE of evil.” “Do Hard Things…” I’m glad it’s a popular book, I wish it was a popular lifestyle.
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Cheryl Floyd
8:18 am
This argument seems to come down to the drinking vs non-drinking group. A very pointless and divisive argument.
If Halloween is the devil’s holiday then what is Christmas? Can’t possible be Jesus holiday. Depending on who we are celebrating and how we celebrate says a lot. Like you said, Halloween is about getting candy and having fun with friends, not about worshiping Satan.
As well unfortunately Christmas has turned into getting presents and hanging with friends. The last part not so bad, but the consumerism makes me more angry then a vampire costume on Halloween.
Kyle Reed´s last blog ..Thank You Economy
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Kyle Reed
8:19 am
We’re having our family over to celebrate our daughter’s first Halloween. We will visit our neighbors to say hello, show off our daughter and take some of their candy. We will have a great time of talking with, laughing at and giving out candy to the people who visit our door.
Jeremy Walker´s last blog ..Rythm #4 – Holiness (REALMnotes)
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Jeremy Walker
8:23 am
I must be slow this morning because you seriously had me thinking you were dressing your kids as little devils! Too funny.
We have not done trick or treating with our kids until….this coming Saturday. With everything that has changed in our life this year we are looking forward to loving on our neighbors. In the past we have not participated door to door only because we thought the dark would be a little scarey {especially for our very sensitive oldest}. This is the year of releasing fears so bring it on! Super excited.
jessica´s last blog ..Sonnet 116
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jessica
8:28 am
I adore Halloween! It happens to be my favorite holiday of the entire year. Growing up my Dad, whose from the Northeast, taught us about Mischief Night (10/30) and we celebrate that too! While we were never allowed to throw toilet paper in neighbors trees or cause any mischief, this is the night we reserved for pumpkin carving, eating lots of food and watching It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!
Then on Halloween we’d get decked out in our spookiest and go trick -or -treating.
To me Halloween is all about mystery and magic!
[Reply]
ashley
8:28 am
We live on a cul-de-sac (circle) and set-up a big table in front of the circle, fire up the grills and all of the neighbors sit together and pass out candy while enjoying some food and having a good time. The kids head around the neighborhood and gather candy.
It’s a great opportunity to see a bunch of neighbors we may not see that often and have a nice evening with those that live right by us.
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Jeff Honnold
8:29 am
For us the cost of halloween is just too much. With 5 kids, it could cost us over $125(total) just for one outfit to wear only once. I’m not a crafty person to make the outfits.
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crumbsonmyfloor
8:31 am
I to believe it is a personal decision. I myself celebrate it and will have my son grow up teaching him what the holiday is all about just like any other holiday. But I think we as Christians can’t just run and hide in our house with the lights off. I don’t think that’s proving anything to our neighbors. I think it would be more of an example to them if we open up our homes and greet them with love.
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Brianna
8:33 am
I love Halloween. This year I am going to dress up like a Tennessee Titan. No way I will be able to scare anyone with that get-up…
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B.J. Parker
8:34 am
I think it is a personal decision. Our daughter Madi LOVES dressing up and quite frankly she loves candy. (and so do I…muwahahahahaha!) Anyway, I totally see it as an opportunity to get out and meet the neighbors. Plus, it is really fun for the kids. We don’t worship Satan just because we dress up our kids in fun costumes and go out trick or treating. It is fun for them to be someone else for one day.
And besides..God doesn’t disappear on Halloween…why should we?
Tiffany´s last blog ..Missions Anyone?
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Tiffany
8:39 am
Acceptable and fun.. My kids are adults and I still dress up as a scary witch and hand out candy with a fog machine, cob webs, etc. Love to frighten the older children. This year my husband is going to look like a scare crow sitting on a chair very still on the porch, and then……ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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Gina
8:53 am
I’ve always been confused about why we need to have christian equivilant non-Halloween. It’s never made sense to me. Anyway, I love Halloween and would never want to exclude my children from it. In fact, this year we are hosting a neighborhood pre-trick or treat Halloween party on Saturday afternoon with over 30 kids attending (prayers accepted!). We can’t wait to connect with neighbors and parents of school mates.
P.S. I also do not get offended when people say “Happy Holidays”. Call me crazy.
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@nicolewick
8:54 am
I’m totally on-board with Halloween being a celebration of good versus a celebration of evil. It’s a huge community builder in my neighborhood.
I figure that if Christians are going to skip Halloween because it is pagan, then Christmas trees are out too (PAGAN), as are Valentine’s (PAGAN), and Easter baskets (PAGAN). Even Superbowl Sunday out — as it is the worship of football.
Stretch Mark Mama´s last blog ..Beethoven’s Wig
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Stretch Mark Mama
8:57 am
We celebrate, like you, the opportunity to have fun dressing up as all sorts of things, walking around our neighborhood with friends, and re-engaging with neighbors we have lost contact with over the weeks.
Thanks for posting this blog entry to allow for good discussions on this.
Chris
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@chrisrollwitz
9:00 am
I’m Catholic. I think of it as All Saints Day Eve were we celebrate that we have nothing to fear anymore.
I do know about the holiday’s preChristian orgins. It was based on fear, and the Church attempted to choose the same day to turn fear the fear on its head.
1 Corinthians 15:55
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
HAH! Take that scary monsters!
Helen´s last blog ..Weapon: Funnel / Arsenal: Chicken Soup
[Reply]
Helen
9:08 am
@BJ, I like it bro!
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Pete Wilson
9:09 am
I love your question, and want to share from the northwest…I agree with most that halloween is an individual decision. I used to participate with my kids, but a few years ago the Lord put on my heart that it was not for us in a “traditional” way anymore.
This year we are expecting over 50 people at our house to pray for our community. We are reaching out to neighor kids (some are literally bused into our neighborhood) with tracks, prayer and of course candy. Our kids will have games and activities throughout our house.
Spiritually halloween can be a very dark time. We are praying for opportunities to shine the light of Jesus!
[Reply]
Teresa
9:10 am
This year I will be “Peter” at my church’s Halloween alternative while my wife will be at home handing out Halloween candy.
We hope and pray that each will be an opportunity to engage and influence our friends, neighbors, and community.
Bryan Entzminger´s last blog ..Are You Wasting Resources?
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Bryan Entzminger
9:10 am
We have the best of both worlds we do a Hallelujah Party and then go candy from the neighbors.
I always loved Halloween growing up, but after living in NY and going to a multi-cultural church I really respect the other side of the argument. We had a large population of people from Haiti. These people were strongly against Halloween because the images of witches and other evil characters are very real to them. In America it is hard for us to see the witch with a pointy hat as real, but for someone who grew up in Haiti, a country steeped in Voodoo it is almost impossible not to see the Holiday as evil.
This year the older kids are going on a scavenger hunt. One of there tasks is to knock on doors and GIVE candy to the neighbors. As a home church our Hallelujah Party is a great opportunity to build a bridge.
[Reply]
Marlen-ladylightligh
9:12 am
As a Christian, I have no issues with the way most people celebrate Halloween. Most non-believers consider Halloween a holiday about costumes and candy, just as they consider Christmas about Santa, and Easter about the Easter Bunny. However, just like the other holidays, it can be a event that can open lines of communication and establish relationships between believers and non-believers.
[Reply]
melish
9:15 am
In the past, we’ve participated in a whole variety of alternatives and outreaches. But what we have happily settled on for our Gang that worked the best was making it a Family Day.
In years past, we took advantage of the fact that our local school had early dismissal, Daddy took off a 1/2 day and we spent it all together. Sometimes it was eating out at a 50’s themed diner, sometimes it was enjoying a long-anticipated movie, you get the idea. We just chose not to acknowledge the day as the world acknowledges it and to turn it around instead to a positive for our family.
Tonight, we’ll be spending some of that Family time at our church at a special prayer meeting for our youth pastor’s newborn son. He’s in critical condition and the docs “need” to see him turn a corner and soon. Please pray with us – it’s urgent.
Then we’ll come home and make some popcorn and watch the Phillies go for win #2 against the Yanks. Go Phillies.
The Gang’s Momma´s last blog ..I’ll Bet You Are Tuckered Out With The Waiting!
[Reply]
The Gang's Momma
9:16 am
I’ve always debated Halloween myself. But I see nothing wrong with it, depending on how you celebrate it. I have several Halloween traditions….I love to pick out a pumpkin and carve it, make all sorts of Halloween treats, and I used to go trick-or-treating. Nowdays I’m the candy-passer-outer. I still get into it just to make it fun, and dress up just to pass out the candy. But in my trick-or-treating days, it was great because it gave you a chance to catch up with neighbors that you may be taking for granted since they’re always there.
My only regret is that we don’t have a pumpkin patch/corn maze in our small town (or anywhere close by). That’s one thing I’ve always wanted to do.
And of course NO Halloween (or holiday for that matter) is complete without watching Charlie Brown!
As for this year, I’ll be spending Halloween night at a Jeremy Camp concert
Very excited about that!
Kelly´s last blog ..That’s What It’s All About
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Kelly
9:18 am
Amen, Pete. Had this very conversation with my Dad last night. We are trick or treaters. Strictly in it for the costumes and candy
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Kim Harr
9:21 am
I think when I get home after working at job number 1 (I hate having three part time jobs – 2010 goal full time position at a college in Nashville yee haw!!) I am going to make a bunch of Texas/OU fans mad lol I am going to wear my OU shirt with my *gasp* Texas Longhorn pajama bottoms (they are burnt orange with white longhorn heads all over them lol)
Kathi Waddle´s last blog ..Come Thou Fount
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Kathi Waddle
9:24 am
Love Halloween. We have friends that always condemn us for celebrating it because it is against their beliefs but I think on the faith and belief side it is instilled from the family and the church…not lost because we dress up and RAKE IN THE CANDY!!!
Ok, so that might be a bit inappropriate. Although, I have the list of 125 houses my daughter will be hitting up based on quality of candy, ease of reach, quantity of drop ins
joseph´s last blog ..A New Way To News
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joseph
9:26 am
We celebrate with our friends too. 4 families we are close too have made it a tradition to do it together. We have some rules around costumes – abstaining from the appearance of evil – which is why I almost passed out when I read you were dressing up as devils (good joke).
This year I have a Ninja, Hannah Montana, Thing 1 and Thing 2. FUN!!!
And mom gets to go thru the candy first…another tradition!
Laretha´s last blog ..
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Laretha
9:35 am
I love, love, love halloween and can’t wait to take my children trick or treating, and trunk or treating again this year! It’s my second favorite holiday (right after Christmas). My favorite part is the joy it brings my kids.
I as well, think it’s a personal decision. But I think most arguments against halloween ends up sounding pretty ridiculous. Yes the devil may have tried to turn it into his day, but God is the one that makes every October 31 and I choose to rejoice in Him. And maybe I’m foolish, but I’d like to think that Jesus would rather be out passing out candy or walking beside the kid dressed up like a witch instead of being stuck inside of the 4 church walls at a “Harvest Festival”.
[Reply]
karyn shauan
9:44 am
I think it interesting that many Christians condemn anything that is Halloween yet condone the notion of Santa Claus(because he represents a good guy).
Food for thought:
Santa- You have to perform “Be Good” to get something from him…
Halloween- You can dress up as the most wretched characters and knock on a strangers door and they don’t care what you look like or what you’ve done they give you candy anyway…
What represents the heart of Jesus more? I have never been a fan of the evil that is also associated with Halloween but this thought resonated with me. Our neighborhood is really spread out many acres so our kids will meet at a neighbors house for a hayride through the neighborhood to get candy and then afterwards we will meet at that neighbors house for a bon fire an hot beverages. Good times with good neighbors
[Reply]
Osann Heisner
9:44 am
We have a party every year. It has morphed into different things over the years, but we love it.
This years is the Rat Pack.
We will listen to Rat Pack and Swing music, eat great appetizers, play games outside (apple splatter; baseball with apples) and maybe even cut a little rug with the swing music.
Jules´s last blog ..Miley and Me
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Jules
9:44 am
This can be a thorny issue because it is so easy to get legalistic about stuff like this. And, as you said it is a personal decision.
Some years ago (when my daughter was getting to the age where dressing-up for Halloween was becoming an issue) my wife took a close look at the history and meaning behind the day. Her conclusion (and subsequently, mine) is that this “holiday” has nothing whatsoever to do with glorifying God. And this is how we taught our daughter.
I think it’s helpful to look at it this way. Would we, as church leaders, set aside space and time within the church to celebrate Halloween? Why not? Because at its root, this day is about everything contrary to what we believe. So if we would not create “a celebration of evil” within the context of church life – then (we think) it is equally inappropriate to make a place for it within the family unit.
Frankly, its the best time of year to teach kids about the real differences between good and evil and between “our redeemed hearts” and what “the world” wants to do to our hearts.
I totally understand your inclination toward using the day as an opportunity for outreach – and don’t begrudge that one bit. As we said, this was our way to approach it based on the studying we did and fully realize this is one of those areas where we all need to gracefully understand each others’ own views.
The main thing remains to reach those who don’t yet know Him.
Blessings Pete!
[Reply]
Mike in Milwaukee
10:02 am
My only issue with Halloween is costume marketers trying to make my 8 year old look like a prositot.
Otherwise, I’m good…
katdish´s last blog ..Confessions of a Christian Mother
[Reply]
katdish
10:09 am
We love all the fun parts of the holiday! I love reading everyone’s take on Halloween!
LOVE the salt and light/connecting with community plan! Thought the point about the Haitians was really good, too. So I’m not going to slam on anyone that feels that they shouldn’t celebrate it, either. Sounds like everyone is thinking like 1Cor. 10 people. Woo Hoo!! Like for us we choose not to do the scary costumes because I know my kiddos hearts, it wouldn’t be FUN to them. Course that WAS tested the year my husband dressed up as Gene Simmons, make up and all. Hee, hee. That WAS kinda scary! Decorated last year… this year too lazy to decorate for both Halloween & Thanksgiving.
[Reply]
mommycub
10:14 am
Some thoughts: to abstain or participate reminds me of Paul’s issue in Romans regarding the consumption of meat sacrificed to idols. It seems clear that Paul’s concern for the Christian community specifically was that they choose love over division regardless of their differing convictions. It looks to me like he legitimates both of their convictions but does not legitimate either group using it as a means to power over the other i.e. you are not spiritually superior b/c you abstain/participate. Love and unity is the point. So yes, I think it’s a personal decision but need not be a controversial one.
We have to be cautious as to whether or not we’re setting up false markers of holiness whether we feel good about ourselves b/c of how we abstain or how we participate. Each can be a path towards self-righteousness and division.
I appreciate the ways many here have taken it as an opportunity to engage their neighbors and community using it as an outreach. I prefer that to “safe” alternatives only. Now, “safe” alternatives can be used as an effective outreach and it’s also good time to hang out as brothers and sisters and I think that’s appropriate but if we’re using it as a means to shelter our children and ourselves only we’re setting a poor example of what it means to be a Christian in the world. We are to be engagers not avoiders and we will be hard pressed to draw a concern for a “safe” life from the Scriptures. Following Jesus is not safe. It’s not reckless but it’s also not safe.
But don’t read me thinking I’m judging you if you go Trunk or Treating in the church parking lot. God knows I did not enjoy sleeping on the floor with in my daughter’s room for most of October last year when the girls were first exposed to “monsters” at school. I wouldn’t be too excited about them getting the crud scared out of them when they weren’t old enough to handle it. So “safety” is good and wise for a time just not forever.
We’re taking the kids to Trunk or Treat on Saturday, and we’ve been to the zoo for the Halloween celebration (for kids) there and I wish we could go to our neighbor’s party Saturday night (not for kids).
My point is that we need to regularly strive to be intentional i.e. missional and incarnational with everything. With Jesus, everything’s redeemable.
Given how some have already adopted the holiday as a means to engage their community for the sake of the Kingdom we could tweak the question “How can Christians celebrate Halloween?”
PS-when I was a little boy our church’s “safe” alternative was called the Pumpkin Patch Party and we were encouraged to dress up as Bible characters. I came in a white sheet with eye holes cut out. You guessed it. I was the Holy Ghost. Thanks for not squelching that one, Mom.
[Reply]
Jeff
10:47 am
you are a brave man, pete.
this is a HUGELY debated topic within the Christian community…maybe one of the most!
we “do” Halloween…for the same reasons you do…we enjoy the opportunity to be around our neighbors and talk to so many of them. And our kids have FUN! {and i get lots of Snickers out of it!}
but i enjoyed reading most everyone’s responses. i really appreciated Mike in Milwaukee’s response-if only everyone could share differing views so kindly.
Courtney´s last blog .."the after" and fyi
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Courtney
11:17 am
I love Halloween. LOVE it. The dressing up, the pumpkins, etc. Elias will be a little gnome this year. I can’t wait until we can take him trick or treating. My husband grew up in a home that didn’t celebrate Halloween and I think he missed out BIG TIME. (He never carved a pumpkin until we were engaged – unless you count carving JESUS into one…). He thankfully is a good sport and lets me have my fun, though he is not one to dress up.
Jessica Turner´s last blog ..Giveaway Thursday: Lands End FeelGood Sweater
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Jessica Turner
11:24 am
On the rare occasion that somebody would visit our home on Halloween, my father would offer each child an apple or pear from our fruit trees and a Gospel tract.
mpt (aka: @JessicaNTurner’s husband)
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mpt
11:30 am
We’re all about Halloween at our house. “Someone” at our house has a degree in costume design and only gets to use it these days by dressing up the children so you can imagine how over the top that “someone” might go once the Halloween stuff hits the fabric stores in late summer. It’s another big family holiday with our clan and one that my brother and sis in law love to host every year. Plus they have a much better neighborhood for the trick or treating than we do. We do the carnival at the church in the afternoon and then off with family in the evening.
Christine´s last blog ..The Most Important Meal of the Day…Or So They Say
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Christine
12:00 pm
@MPT, Why am I not surprised?
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Pete Wilson
12:17 pm
I recall having this conversation last year and almost decided not to answer. I don’t personally have a problem with Halloween. But everyone assumes that all Fall Harvest Celebrations were started to keep our kids away from the sinful” holiday when in fact many churches “(especially in urban areas ) started these celebrations as a safe alternative for kids who’s neighborhoods are not so friendly, or safe. Its also become a outreach to the community in which our churches reside. I have lived in both the city as well as the country (and didn’t go tricky treating in the country, because that required driving to the next house over which may have been a few miles down the road…lol). Thankfully now they do have churches/organizations in the area that provide a place for kids to participate. My mom took me tricky treating as a child (Halloween was her birthday). And we took our kids when we lived overseas in housing. When we returned to the states our kids attended Fall Harvest and actually had more fun because the night was filled with lots of activities, prizes, food, etc. And because of the age limit and time limit here they actually had a lot longer time (and were able to celebrate pass the “legal” age limit) to celebrate. For us its become a family affair (and great for our teens). This year we will be celebrating with other churches in the area and the event is open to all, and children wear costumes/or not just as they would if they were in the neighborhood. Many families celebrate in their neighborhood and then come to the church event afterwards. I think it really does come down to a personal preference. Just wanted to show the other side.
DisneyCyndi´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Nicki
[Reply]
DisneyCyndi
12:29 pm
I agree that Halloween is a personal decision. I understand why some Christians don’t want to participate and why others don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I personally don’t feel strongly either way about Halloween. We let the kids dress up and take them around the neighborhood trick-or-treating, and that’s pretty much the extent of it. (BTW, they dress up as innocent things, and while it hasn’t been an issue yet, I would like to avoid costumes that are perceived as glorifying death or evil.) I don’t feel like we’re celebrating really anything at all. They’re just having a silly time getting candy.
I’ve never really understood the difference between dressing up like a Bible character and attending a church “fall festival” and dressing up like a Bible character and going to your neighbors’ houses. Our church doesn’t do a fall festival, but I would go if they had one….not because I felt I was sinning or celebrating evil by letting my kids trick-or-treat, but just to be with our friends. Even then, I don’t think we would be really “celebrating” anything. Fall? Harvest?
However, you know what I’d really like to celebrate on October 31st? Reformation Day! I would love to have or attend a Reformation Day party. Now that’s something a church (protestant) could do that is a real alternative to Halloween that has a purpose: celebrating our rich protestant heritage. People could dress up like the reformers or wear the dress of that time period. You could do reenactments of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg. You could eat German potato salad.
I don’t have the creativity or talent to pull something like this off…maybe one day 
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Amy
12:31 pm
I’m of the impression that unless you really feel God telling you “no” then if you want to go for it do so.
Jason´s last blog ..Your "church" may not need "you"
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Jason
12:37 pm
You must work for the CIA…
Yes, we celebrate as a family.
Our kids will dress up and we’ll take them out to trick or treat. We usually hit the same neighborhood I did as a child.
Nick´s last blog ..I Consider Love as Wealth
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Nick
12:42 pm
@Nick, totally busted….again.
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Pete Wilson
12:50 pm
I was going to skip it or say my usual answer. We should not because of the attachment to Satan, but Jesus looks at the heart. The outer trappings, which He spent a trememdous time railing against the Pharisees should be the least of our concerns. The only other thing I’ll say is: it could be used by Satan as a stumbling block to reach the unsaved for a professed Christian to appear to be celebrating Halloween.
Cindy Brown´s last blog ..Acceptance of Salvation is the Individual’s Responsibility
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Cindy Brown
12:53 pm
I have been really getting a lot of grief lately over Halloween…I blogged on this today actually:) My kids love it, and their daddy loves their candy!! Richard (my hubby) actually received a certificate (yes no lie) when he carved a superman symbol into the pumpkin. It said MASTER pumpkin carver..so yes I celebrate it and the Myers household loves it…but shh I am a “Baptist”
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Holly Myers
1:14 pm
Found this post on twitter. Please check out my blog post tomorrow for the Times-Union in Albany on this topic… I would love to hear you thoughts: http://blogs.timesunion.com/rudnick
Alan Rudnick´s last blog ..What You Don’t Know About Generation Y
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Alan Rudnick
1:30 pm
We participate in Halloween in our house, but that’s just because it’s fun, and hey! free candy.
Seriously though, the article below was shared with me years before I had children of my own, and I love some of the ideas behind it and the idea of the holiday lending itself to teaching our children about spiritual matters…
Trick-or-Treating with Purpose
Kim Wier, Contributing Writer
You may think it is impossible for God to redeem Halloween in its present state, but that is all the better, for when He accomplishes it — He alone will receive the glory. We have discovered that in the case of Halloween, the truth really can set you free — free to celebrate the power and goodness of God as you do so in the spirit of remembrance for which it was first established
One simple but meaningful way to begin redeeming the season is to embrace the fun of trick-or-treating by changing the focus. The early faith heroes died because they wanted others to have the opportunity to hear the life-giving message that Jesus is the Son of God. Begin planting seeds of eagerness to share the gospel in the hearts of your children through the fun of going door to door.
First, help them think of different kinds of people who need to hear about Jesus. Let them dress up like one of those groups of people. Children are so creative. They may dress like a sea creature as they remember how sailors need Jesus. It could be a ninja as they consider those on the Asian continent. Football players, cowboys and policemen need to hear the good news. Depending on your child’s age, you can make this a more significant event.
* Talk about how people who have not accepted Jesus have been “tricked” into believing they don’t need Him, but that God wants them to receive the greatest “treat,” salvation through Jesus and eternal life in heaven.
* Make a list of some specific ways that your children could pray for that group of people to be prepared to hear the gospel. Include asking God to send workers into that harvest field.
* Each night for a week before or after Halloween, pray with your children for those people.
* Look together at Jesus’ commission given to us in Matthew 28:18-20. Explain to your children that we should go and make disciples everywhere in the world. Take some time to talk about how each of us can obey that command right now and in the future.
* On the night of Halloween, as you prepare to send your children out to trick-or-treat, be sure to go over safety rules and accompany them from house to house.
* It is always a good idea to remind them to say thank you at each place you visit. Have a great time enjoying a fun experience with your children that will result in spiritual training as well.
* After you arrive home and admire the abundance of candy, finish the night with a Scripture verse that promises sweet rewards for those who do God’s work on earth. “It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing [good things] when he returns” (Luke 12:43). And, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15).
* Help your children see that while trick-or-treating can be a fun time one night a year, following God and sharing the good news of Jesus is an adventure that lasts a whole lifetime.
* Finish your trick-or-treat night with prayer as you tuck them into bed. Thank God that someone told you about Jesus, and ask Him to use your family to do the same for others.
God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us a sound mind and the gift of love. Halloween, originally a church holiday, should not have Christians running scared. Instead, we can celebrate without selling out when we “remember those who have gone before us” and follow in their footsteps.
This article was adapted from “Redeeming Halloween: Celebrating without Selling Out” (Focus on the Family and Tyndale House). Copyright 2004 by Kim Wier and Pam McCune.
Shannon´s last blog ..You’ve Been Boo’d!
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Shannon
1:32 pm
I definitely think it’s a personal decision. Someone should explain that to my mother! A couple of years ago, she gave my kids a “Why Christians Don’t Celebrate Halloween” book, even though she knows that we do celebrate Halloween!
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Wendy
1:35 pm
Christians that get out of bed on Halloween will burn.
Just kidding. I believe in leveraging it to share the Gospel with those far from Christ!
See?
http://www.revyourlife.com/the-pumpkin-smash
Zak White´s last blog ..The Pumpkin SMASH
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Zak White
2:12 pm
I’m a lurker/first time commenter.
Many years ago before our children (ages 14, 10, and 7) were big we decided not to participate in Halloween celebrations. (For many of the same reasons already stated in other people’s comments.) We learned about the origins of the pagan celebration and decided it wasn’t something we could do in faith. (Without faith it’s impossible to please God.)
That’s all!
Three years ago my heart changed toward the day. For many years our church had a “Harvest Party” on Halloween, basically an alternative to Halloween which included treats and candy, but no costumes. Our church is located in the center of our small town, and there we would sit each Halloween-all of us Christians hanging out with each other and doing the Christian thing. Of course ANYONE was welcome to come to our “HArvest Party” but nobody outside of our small congregation came! Three years ago our church was in the throes of a major change. We developed small groups with the focus of “being the church” and “reaching the lost”. The concept was basically the small groups would meet for the purpose of fellowship and unity, but with a focus on reaching out to people. Our Theme became Live to Give and Love to Love.
There is a street in my town that gets attention from several counties during Halloween because every house goes all out in their decorating. They literally have THOUSANDS of visitors beginning weeks before Halloween, culminating with the grand evening, Halloween night! My idea was to go where the people were. In Romeo, on Halloween night, the people are on Tillson Street! So we practiced a “living video” to an eerie but powerful old song by Carman called “A Witches Invitation” and on Halloween night we set up on a driveway owned by a christian man who owned a house at the end of Tillson Street. Complete with a light display and fog machine we performed the skit over and over and over for three hours. The skit declares Jesus Christ as the Victor over evil, but it is a very dark looking skit, complete with demons, a warlock and many occult symbols. We had people continually gathering to see the skit as we passed out hot chocolate and donuts. No one tried to witness to anyone, no one passed out tracks, no one offered to rid anyone from evil. We just loved the people who were there.
Since then we’ve slowly been coming out of our Halloween shell. We no longer have a Harvest Party, we allow our kids to go to school and participate in their Halloween parties, and this year our kids will trick or treat for the first time.
Some of our friends think we’ve sold out…but it’s actually the opposite. For years we purposefully stayed away from where the people are, now, our hearts are so broken for the lost that we are rushing to where they are. If we can build a single bridge. If we can take a single opportunity to notice someone who’s hurting, and love on them, we will.
We carry the light of Jesus in us. It isn’t extinguished by darkness, in fact, it’s darkness that brings attention to the light. What good does it do to keep my light inside when there are hurting and lost people literally all over the streets on that one night a year!
Sorry this is so long…I’m just so blessed that God changed our hearts soon enough for our kids to be able to see, and hopefully emulate.
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teri butcher
2:13 pm
I think that by getting all worked up about Satan during the Halloween season we might inadvertently teach our children that Satan is in the business of trick-or-treating as opposed to wreaking havoc on God’s good creation through war and disease, hate and hunger. Sorta makes him look silly and desperate as opposed to a force to be reckoned with.
Just a thought!
I think my husband and I are going to dress up like Shaggy and Velma from Scooby Doo this year. Wasn’t sure how to respond when a friend said, “That would be perfect! You guys totally look like them!”
Rachel H. Evans´s last blog ..Eight Reasons to Give Evolution a Second Chance
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Rachel H. Evans
2:29 pm
We celebrate Halloween. The only thing I don’t allow is the horror movies and haunted houses or really gory costumes. I think celebrating the fun and silliness of the day is good, the parties and trick or treating are fun, the candy is VERY good, but it shouldn’t be a day to celebrate evil or intentionally scare anyone.
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Andrea
2:37 pm
There is more to Halloween than meets the eye. It is not all about candy and costumes. The fact that evil is not what is in Christians’ hearts when they celebrate it, does not mean that it is not taking place in the heart and spirit of thousands of others and more importantly in the spiritual realm. But please don’t take my word for it, check out Ephesians 6, 11-12 and also go to the link below:
http://prayerweb.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/halloween-and-the-bible/
If after reading that you still have peace about following the ways of the world on a day which clearly has its deep roots on evil and terror, by all means continue celebrating, but if anything in you when reading that feels a sense of uneasiness or a lack of peace, give it to the Lord himself in prayer, and see what His answer is.
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ransom33
3:09 pm
The older I get the more I love it. I love the dress up part! I think its fun to be whatever I want for a night! When I was a kid we had the stupid FF’s and we could only dress up as clowns. Really CLOWNS they are the scariest things of all!!!! I love that you let the boys dress up. I will let my kids and Im sure I will have fun parties too.
jessica´s last blog ..A total life change…
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jessica
3:17 pm
Well technically on Halloween you’re not really celebrating anything. You’re just dressing up and eating candy or hanging out with friends.
I mean the Christmas tree and stuffing stockings originated from pagan practices yet many Christians don’t seem to have a problem with those things?
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Andy
3:20 pm
I love celebrating Halloween and for me, it has always been about kids and dressing up and trick or treating. We have had a Halloween tradition with another family for 20 years, trick or treating together and then sharing dinner. In the last 7 years, we have had to adapt our tradition a bit (the youngest child said we couldn’t take her trick or treating once she was in middle school
… so now my friend and I leave the husbands at home to pass out candy and we go out visiting those homes that we know will provide us with some special treats 
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Patty V
3:20 pm
John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
Our culture celebrates Halloween.
We get to dress up in costumes, eat candy and have fun.
As a Christian, do you:
1. Like to dress up?
2. Eat candy?
3. Have fun?
Then celebrate Halloween with those in our culture. This only increase the chance to proclaim the gospel of God to those who don’t know it.
Joseph Louthan´s last blog ..What is Love?
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Joseph Louthan
3:27 pm
Someone sent me an interesting take on this subject this afternoon, so naturally I blogged the email and am posting a link here for you. It’s kind of the … I don’t want to say legalistic side of things – but definitely a different point of view. http://wp.me/p1pPA-yt
Sarah Walston´s last blog ..Christians and Halloween
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Sarah Walston
3:44 pm
I don’t understand how Christians can say that they won’t celebrate Halloween because of its Pagan origins because almost all Christians celebrate Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter (all of which were shaped by Pagan philosophy). Hello… Pagans have been around a lot longer than Christians. Many things we do and say have Pagan origins (Even the words we use for days of the week and names of months are based on Pagan gods.)
If you have read Viola and Barna’s book “Pagan Christianity” you will find that many church traditions such as the office of a pastor who receives a salary, a single-sermon giver from a raised platform, tithing, Sunday School, the taking of communion/the Eucharist, even worshipping on SUN-day all have been shaped by Pagan traditions. I doubt that most Christians would boycott them based on this information.
Yet my friends who don’t/won’t celebrate Halloween always give this as their reason: Halloween is based on Pagan tradition. I have yet to convince them to give up the Christmas trees, holiday gift exchanges, Easter dress-up rituals, and playing follow-the-leader at church. And they have yet to convince me that I’ll burn in Hell for wearing my glow-in-the dark skeleton T-shirt and handing out candy (not tracts or toothbrushes or WWJD bracelets) to the little tricksters who come knocking. We’re still friends though. We have to be; we’re Christians and they’ll know us by our love, right? ;^)
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ttm
7:26 pm
@Ransom33, the things in that article certainly bother me. The fact that those things happen everyday around the world and not just on Halloween bothers me even more.
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Pete Wilson
8:03 pm
It’s one of our fave fam traditions. Mostly, because we get to spend this holiday with some of our dearest most precious friends whom we love, adore, and are so thankful they celebrate this heathen holiday, too
I still can’t believe this will be our 9th year. Seriously, we’re old, Pete. And, why is it that Brandi and Charlie look the exact same as they did in 2001?!
My kids have been talking about their costumes for weeks – we are all so very excited and can’t wait for this weekend with the Wilson’s!!!
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Eve Annunziato
8:05 pm
No Halloween, No Santa Claus (well, we have him around, but we don’t lie to our kids about him — he is like Mickey Mouse to them), and No Easter Bunny (same as Santa — just like a cartoon character)… My kids are 5, 3 1/2, and 9 months. My older 2 hate Halloween and I promise it isn’t because of anything I said or did. It’s Walgreen’s fault with their scary decor. I am serious.
And, it’s our conviction and we don’t judge those who aren’t convicted as we are — and respectfully expect not to be judged. We are, however, obeying God in our hearts. So, not all Christians who forgo these things are trying to be self-righteous. There are those of us who are trying to be obedient to the Spirit’s calling in our lives. So, as Halloween celebrating Christians you ought to back off the nonHalloween celebrating Christians who are like us — convicted and obedient. Because it’s just like that and nothing more and nothing less.
Looking forward to Thanksgiving.
Heidi Reed´s last blog ..Product Lovin’
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Heidi Reed
1:58 am
Pete,
I rest my case!
Blessings
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ransom33
2:06 am
Halloween is not my favorite. I don’t get into spooky stuff, practical jokes, or costumes, really. Loved it when I was a kid, though, and we always took our kids trick or treating. I honestly don’t even think about the fact that the holiday originated as a pagan celebration, or anything like that. I just see it as “Beggar’s Night.”
Jan C.´s last blog ..Shame on Me
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Jan C.
4:37 am
Totally true Pete, about the renaming. I think of Christmas where nonchristians say happy holidays but sing silent night. No matter what we call it, it’s still Halloween and still christmas. It’s all kind of silly to me.
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Billy wilson
6:24 am
We have a Harvest Party at our church. I will spend hours helping set up, run, and tear down this “outreach,” – all the while not getting to spend one minute with my son on what is in reality a kids holiday.
When did the church stop caring about families?
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Art
7:28 am
Doing a little Halloween blog spotting, just linked to your post.
Barry Wallace´s last blog ..Halloween: A Trick…or a Treat?
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Barry Wallace
7:54 am
I don’t like Halloween.
However, the reason has nothing to do with the fact that I love Jesus Christ. It is simply because I don’t like scary things. And there are lots of scary things on Halloween.
However, when I have kids, I can’t wait to dress them up!
Becky´s last blog ..Going to Chick-fil-A is good birth control.
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Becky
3:24 pm
@Barry, really enjoyed the posts you linked. Great variety there.
Pete Wilson´s last blog ..Bats, Laughs, & One Cool Costume
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Pete Wilson
6:48 am
Good, balanced article. FYI, Halloween is not about worshiping Satan but its origins do date back to pagan rituals hence the controversy. Our church (and previous others attended) host “harvest”, “fall”, “hallelujah”, etc. celebrations as an alternative to going door-to-door if not for just safety concerns. These events typically serve an evangelical outreach function, not just being a haven for believers.
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David Michael Fong
10:31 am
@David, I couldn’t agree more. The Smiley face was meant to indicate that I was just being sarcastic.
Pete Wilson´s last blog ..Bats, Laughs, & One Cool Costume
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Pete Wilson
10:55 am
@Pete – Thanks, brother. I appreciate your authenticity.
Barry Wallace´s last blog ..Halloween: A Trick…or a Treat?
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Barry Wallace
12:20 pm
UGGGGGG….had to scroll down for ten minutes before I could even post here!!! UR just so popular… LOL
NEED I SAY ANYTHING ON THIS SUBJECT??? I’m the “CandyLady”… LOVE HALLOWEEN!! And, for the record, when I used to teach at the Homeschool Enrichment Program I ALWAYS got in trouble because of this holiday… I call it as I see it!
DEb´s last blog ..SUSAN G. KOMEN – Race For The Cure 2009
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DEb
5:26 pm
I think it’s interesting that a generation ago, this wouldn’t even be the basis for a discussion. We got much more “liberal” in so many other areas — movies, card-playing, dancing; even some social drinking — but much more “legalistic” when it came to Halloween. Why is that?
Anyway, it’s already a done deal in most North American time zones as I write this, so I hope y’all had fun. (Both my kids are officially too old now, but I walked the route alone out of tradition!)
Paul from Canada´s last blog ..Thoughts on That Most UnChristian of all Days
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Paul from Canada
6:34 pm
Turned out that we didn’t have anything better to do.
So the girls put on their ballet outfits and my oldest son donned some silly hat from the closet, and we roamed the neighborhood.
That was SO. MUCH. FUN!!! I haven’t gone trick-or-treating in …. since I was 15 and I’m 33. I’ve been missing out!! I mean… my kids have been missing out….
We did not, at any time, worship the devil when accepting candy from the strangers.
Additionally – Pastor Pete – my husband lit the pumpkin we carved on fire – with a bonfire…. You are a bad influence you know!!
Sarah Walston´s last blog ..Finally … Cleaner Safer Vaccines
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Sarah Walston
7:08 pm
We like to think of it as “plundering” the “Egyptians”–ha!
Go for it….God is at work and uses ordinary means to plant seeds!
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Ash Johnson
5:22 am
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