How do you celebrate Halloween in your family?

[Ave Maria]

I know that not all Christian allow their children to celebrate Halloween, but if you do, how do you go about it? My son, when he lived with me, was always allowed to wear whatever he wanted so long as it wasn't glorifying evil like a witch costume or something that looks like a demon. One year he went Trick or Treating as a Navy Seal and another year he went as Superman. This year, he is going to go dressed as Jesus.

Anyway, I'm Catholic and technically Halloween is All Hallows Eve for us which is the same thing as the Eve of All Saints' Day. Because of this, we often encourage our children to dress as something holy, like a saint. Not every Catholic family practices this and children aren't always going to want to dress as a saint though, so in my opinion, it's fine to let them go Trick or Treating so long as their costume isn't glorifying evil in some way.

 

[PloverWing]

My kids are grown now, but when they were younger, the holiday had a mix of themes, which we talked about as they started to ask questions.

Part of the holiday is good silly fun, a kind of autumn festival. Candy is fun. Walking around and meeting the neighbors is fun. Dressing up in costumes is lots of fun. Bats are cool. Black cats are cuddly. Pumpkin pie is yummy.

And part of the holiday is that once a year, we look at some of the things that really scare us. We look at death. Plants are dying, leaves are falling, and we're going to die too, every one of us. In our costumes and decorations and rituals, we laugh at death, or think soberly about death, or remember and pray for loved ones who have died, or rejoice in the saints who have gone before us, all of it together in one big complicated holiday. I think it's appropriate to do that once a year. I didn't emphasize the "death" part when my kids were tiny -- let's be age-appropriate -- but as they got older, we had conversations about the complexity of All Hallows' Eve and All Saints' Day.

As to the costumes like vampires and sorcerers and so on: I mostly classify these also as laughing at things that scare us, but I'd use more caution. As you observe, we don't want to glorify evil. Most modern Americans don't believe in magic, so vampires and sorcerers are in the realm of fantasy for most of us. On the other hand, dressing up as a mass murderer isn't harmless fun; it's too real and too miserable. So, caution, parental guidance, and sensitivity to the people around you. Be aware when a costume or decoration is going to cross the line into making people genuinely sad and afraid.

My kids tended toward lighter costumes -- I remember a mermaid, and Winnie the Pooh, and a bat. So we didn't have to argue about whether vampires were real, fortunately.

 

[JAM2b]

When my kids were still growing up we did the typical trick or treating, fall festivals, and Halloween carnivals.

They got costumes when I could afford them. Sometimes they just got cheap makeup or a mask.

We watched "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown."

Now my oldest son and his wife do the same with their kids.

I don't think it is evil unless you make it evil. It's no worse than Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.

 

[com7fy8]

if you do, how do you go about it?

There are people who provide an occasion in their churches, where their youths can stay and have clean fun and fellowship.

Also, I know a pastor who would go out, right in the middle of the activities, with his children, in order to reach people for Jesus and contact ones he already was relating with. And his children dressed in more innocent things.

I might just have some candy ready where I was staying, and later donate it lolololololol And I have gone out by myself and mixed socially, sometimes meeting other Christians and enjoying being with one another.

Anyway, I'm Catholic and technically Halloween is All Hallows Eve for us which is the same thing as the Eve of All Saints' Day.

I would say no day belongs to Satan. With God, we can use every day howsoever God pleases. So, use it for God.

So - - your son has gone from being a Seal, to Superman, to Jesus. This could be significant > starting as a soldier who can be so specialized for combat missions, then becoming Superman who can do more personal relating with people while stopping some evil and helping them. And Jesus is more obviously so powerful against evil, but also tender and compassionate and forgiving for family sharing and caring. So, he is possibly growing and developing in love as more of his interest. And, of course, you with God can discover how you develop in how you use any holiday; yes, and God uses days and any thing for His good purposes.