“Christian Families vs Halloween.”

This week, a bad cold hit our little family, and we haven’t been doing very much, but watching Tinker Bell with our daughter, and drinking tea. Halloween looks different every year for us, we don’t ever go crazy about it and we look at it, as any other day. Usually, my husband is working and our daughter, Beatrice, has been too little to do things, anyways. I’m sure what we do on Halloween, will change over time, though. Celebrate or not to celebrate; it’s so sticky for a lot of Christian families, and with having my own family now, I’ve had my views change over this day, as well.

The Way We Grew Up:

My family really never celebrated Halloween, at all. We did maybe once or twice, when I was very young, but after I got older, and more siblings came along we stopped, entirely. My husband’s family did celebrate, in their own little way. Just them around their house, and as he and his siblings got older they would go to a Halloween party, if a friend was throwing one, and such. As a child, I always had the perspective that Halloween was an evil holiday, and it wasn’t good for Christians to celebrate. My husband and I, had many talks over what we would do, as we had grown up in families that had pretty, different takes on it.

Questions To Ask: For Parents and Kids

• In regards to Halloween day, and costumes:

1. What ways could we honor the Lord, on this day?
2. What kinds of celebration during this day, would be dishonoring to the Lord, if we partake in it?
3. What does scripture say, about celebration and how to honor the Lord, with what we do?
4. What does scripture say about life and death?
5. What parts of Halloween do you think contains glorifications of death and sinful things?
6. What parts of Halloween do you think does not glorify, death and sinful things?
7. Have you prayed about it, to make sure it won’t be harmful to you and/or your faith in any way?
8. If you wear a costume, what could you wear that is honoring to the Lord?
9. Why do you think this specific costume, would honor the Lord?
10. Why do you think this specific costume, would be dishonoring to the Lord?

• In regards to Halloween parties, horror movies, and haunted festivities:

1. What about the movie seems honoring and/or dishonoring to the Lord? and could you pick out any good things from it, that would be beneficial to you and/or your faith in any way?
2. What about this haunted festivity is honoring and/or dishonoring to the Lord? and is there any good you can pick out?
3. What about this specific party is honoring and/or dishonoring to the Lord? and is there any good you can pick out?
4. Have you prayed about it, to make sure it wouldn’t be harmful to you and/or your faith, in any way?
5. What ways could you spread the gospel, while out with your friends on a day like this?

If you find that, as you answer these questions- you and your children- that maybe Halloween is not something you need to, or want to partake in at all, then that is okay. If you find that while answering these questions, you have found yourself seeing the parts of Halloween that aren’t so bad, and see it to be alright for your family to partake in after all, that is also okay.

If you have fully thought it out, looked into scripture, and discussed it with your spouse, as to why you have decided on this or that, and you have found a way to partake, that honors and glorifies the Lord, go for it!

What Our Kids Need To Know, About Anything We Choose To Celebrate:

When it comes to Halloween, if you’re a Christian family and you choose to celebrate parts of it, or you don’t at all, I think either way is fine! I listened to a podcast recently, (Allie Beth Stuckey’s Relatable Podcast: Ep 514) where she (Allie) talks about how they put candy in baggies, with a piece of paper that had scripture on it, or making banners with scripture on it as outside decor- I thought it was a wonderful inspiration! It’s the one day a year people, come to our doors, and we don’t have to lecture them, or convert them right there on our front porch, but at least spread some gospel. If you can, and while you can!

– Philippians 4:6-9 ESV “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

I am giving, a brief description of what she talked over in the podcast episode, but it was worth mentioning on here for sure! I encourage you to go find, and listen to that podcast. I definitely agree with how she thinks when it comes to Halloween! We are not called to celebrate, or glorify death and decay, and while Halloween has a lot of that; I do think that not every piece of Halloween is a celebration of death. Like getting candy for example, or wearing (certain) costumes. Those are both things kids do randomly throughout the year, anyways. At least, when I was a child, I played dress up and ate candy, occasionally.

Regardless of what’s decided, our children need to know that whatever we choose to celebrate, it needs to be honoring to the Lord!

More Scripture:

• 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

• 1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

• Proverbs 15:3 ESV “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

What We Will Do: 

Our daughter, isn’t quite old enough to be doing things right now, for any holiday that is. However, as she gets older I see her asking to go to parties with friends, maybe mentioning those creepier movies, or wanting to go to different kinds of haunted festivities, no doubt! I’m sure we all have done so, to our parents at one point in time.

I can’t imagine we’d say no, unless for good reason, if she wants to go to a Halloween party a friend is throwing. As for the other “haunted” things, or even the creepy movies, considering they are mostly playing, this time of year; we will ask the questions listed above, and help our daughter or any children we have, to figure it out through thought, prayer, and scripture, just as we will do with everything else. 

Halloween should not be a day that is feared so much that we hide away, or seen as something like the devil’s birthday, as I’ve been told in the past, as a young child who just wanted some candy (I unfortunately, don’t recall who exactly said this). However, that did indeed, deter me from wanting to partake! and it is definitely not the devils birthday, in case you were wondering. If you choose to, or choose not to, partake in any parts of Halloween, I encourage you to explain why to your children, and make sure your decision, will honor God. It’s also important, to make sure they understand that your decision, is honoring to God.

Lastly, if whatever you have chosen to partake in, or celebrate, does not honor the Lord in any way, you should rethink why you are celebrating it, at all.