I have no idea what to do in regards to this topic so I guess I am looking for some help here. My husband and I have a 2 and a 3 year old. We have already decide to forgo the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus, But what about Halloween. I am very confused as to why some people thing that this modern day activity has to be related to devil worshipping and witches. I am 26 and have dressed up at least 20 of those Halloweens and never once had evil thoughts. I have also found lots of info on All Hallows Eve, and is it OK to celebrate within this context of the holiday? Help. Vanessa
-
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
-
CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
Halloween or not?
- Thread starter greenessa
- Start date
Why?
"Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself"
I would say if your child isn't allowed to participate in the imagination of Santa or the Easter Bunny, then no 'Night of worshiping the dead' either... 
Where's the logic in "I can celebrate the holiday with all the scary monsters and dead people, but I'm not allowed to believe that a nice fat man brings me presents for a couple years."
My child does all of the above because kids are only little for such a short time. We celebrate Jesus' birthday (And Santa brings presents to celebrate his birth). And he knows that Jesus died on the cross (And the Easter bunny brings a basket to celebrate that he rose again). And we don't dress up like monsters on halloween, but we do dress up and go out because it's fun, and that's what being a child is all about.
Exactly why would you want your child to celebrate Halloween?
(PS... I know this sounds harsh. I'm not trying to be mean. Just trying to understand why you would want to celebrate a holiday that has nothing to do with Christianity, when you so easily take away two cute and lovable imaginary figures -- that take nothing away from Jesus if you don't let them.)
Where's the logic in "I can celebrate the holiday with all the scary monsters and dead people, but I'm not allowed to believe that a nice fat man brings me presents for a couple years."
My child does all of the above because kids are only little for such a short time. We celebrate Jesus' birthday (And Santa brings presents to celebrate his birth). And he knows that Jesus died on the cross (And the Easter bunny brings a basket to celebrate that he rose again). And we don't dress up like monsters on halloween, but we do dress up and go out because it's fun, and that's what being a child is all about.
Exactly why would you want your child to celebrate Halloween?
(PS... I know this sounds harsh. I'm not trying to be mean. Just trying to understand why you would want to celebrate a holiday that has nothing to do with Christianity, when you so easily take away two cute and lovable imaginary figures -- that take nothing away from Jesus if you don't let them.)
Upvote
0
IslandBreeze
Caribbean Queen
I always went trick-or-treating. I still love Jesus with all my heart. Halloween (and other Holiday fun) is as evil as you want to make it. Or as innocent as you want to make it. The choice is up to you.
Upvote
0
Entertaining_Angels
Well-Known Member
We don't 'celebrate' halloween. We do however dress our children up in cute costumes and go to our church's Harvest Festival. We've even done a bit of trick or treating with our son in the past. The holiday will be what you make of it. I don't know about you, but we try to make 'Jesus' a part of everything we do and, as a result, we enjoy October 31st with our children.
Upvote
0
Mayzoo
Well-Known Member
My daughter is only 2 and 1/2 so I can't say we have done, but I can say what we have decided. We choose to forgo the materialistic aspect of Christmas. We are kinda forging a half way concept. We are going to celebrate the birth of Christ and the entity that was St. Nick. We are going to explain the concept of St. Nick as best as we can. The giving spirit aspects. We have decided to allow our child to ask for one big gift in the spirit of Christmas, but not to allow our child to engage in the gimmie gimmies.
As for Easter, I think that is a great religous holiday that should be honored for what it stands for. Not sure were the bunny fits into everything, but then I haven't tried to research it either.
Halloween.....hadn't put a lot of thought/research into this one yet. I will watch what others have to say about it. I am not even really sure where the concept derives from. Worship day for the dead and candy....don't know how that came together either, but the candy part is pretty much out in mass quatities anyway. She has yet to have candy or soda at the tender age of 2 and 1/2. I kinda go by if she isn't old enough to ask for it yet she is not old enough for the junk. Keeps the grunt demands down to a tolerable level. She is a great eater and not one bit pickie. I like to think it has something to do with no junk food (or fast food) introduced to her yet. Looking forward to continue reading this thread about halloween. How did candy and worship of the dead get lumped together?
As for Easter, I think that is a great religous holiday that should be honored for what it stands for. Not sure were the bunny fits into everything, but then I haven't tried to research it either.
Halloween.....hadn't put a lot of thought/research into this one yet. I will watch what others have to say about it. I am not even really sure where the concept derives from. Worship day for the dead and candy....don't know how that came together either, but the candy part is pretty much out in mass quatities anyway. She has yet to have candy or soda at the tender age of 2 and 1/2. I kinda go by if she isn't old enough to ask for it yet she is not old enough for the junk. Keeps the grunt demands down to a tolerable level. She is a great eater and not one bit pickie. I like to think it has something to do with no junk food (or fast food) introduced to her yet. Looking forward to continue reading this thread about halloween. How did candy and worship of the dead get lumped together?
Upvote
0
Jenna
Senior Veteran
- Jun 13, 2002
- 3,089
- 192
- Faith
- Messianic
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Constitution
Yup. We do Halloween. This year we are going to stick a whole bunch of cotton balls to some white sweat suit outfits and draw numbers on each other. We're going as the Serta counting sheep. I guess the reason why I'm not too bothered is that the folks who are really doing any worshipping of the dead and the like are usually hanging out elsewhere, lighting candles and having their rituals. I don't know anyone who uses Halloween dress-up and candy begging as a way to worship anything. We just have a good time making outselves look funny, just like my sisters and I did with old clothes and cast-off makeup, as kids. There is nothing inherantly evil about the day, or dressing up and making a party out of it. I think that when we start setting aside days for pagans, acting as though they and Satan own them, then to some extent they do.
Hey, but I do like the idea of All Saints Day. There's nothing wrong with remembering people and rehashing over the pleasantness of having had them around. Besides, it gives us all a good time to have that tricky "death" talk with our kids, and explain about what happens to us all when we die. I think that more and more as my daughter gets older, we're going to spend more time going over the reality of death, but using it as a means of explaining the comfort of an eternity with the Lord. Who knows, maybe the fun games and candy might be a way to keep the time from being too scary and overwhelming for kids.
I guess the reason why I'm not too bothered is that the folks who are really doing any worshipping of the dead and the like are usually hanging out elsewhere, lighting candles and having their rituals. I don't know anyone who uses Halloween dress-up and candy begging as a way to worship anything. We just have a good time making outselves look funny, just like my sisters and I did with old clothes and cast-off makeup, as kids. There is nothing inherantly evil about the day, or dressing up and making a party out of it. I think that when we start setting aside days for pagans, acting as though they and Satan own them, then to some extent they do. Hey, but I do like the idea of All Saints Day. There's nothing wrong with remembering people and rehashing over the pleasantness of having had them around. Besides, it gives us all a good time to have that tricky "death" talk with our kids, and explain about what happens to us all when we die. I think that more and more as my daughter gets older, we're going to spend more time going over the reality of death, but using it as a means of explaining the comfort of an eternity with the Lord. Who knows, maybe the fun games and candy might be a way to keep the time from being too scary and overwhelming for kids.
Upvote
0
Entertaining_Angels
Well-Known Member
Jenna said:Yup. We do Halloween. This year we are going to stick a whole bunch of cotton balls to some white sweat suit outfits and draw numbers on each other. We're going as the Serta counting sheep.
Yes, I'd be surprised to find anybody worshipping the dead at our annual harvest festival but all are welcome. Maybe they'll find it is more enjoyable to worship our living Lord
By the way, love the Serta sheep idea. I may steal that idea for my kiddos, if you don't mind.
Upvote
0
pmcleanj
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner
greenessa said:
We don't do the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus either. For one thing, there's a whole lot more going on at Easter and Christmas that doesn't leave a lot of room -- or need -- for non-Traditional additions. With Tenebrae on the Wednesday before Easter, Maundy with Agape Supper and Stripping of the Altar on the Thursday, Way of the Cross and Tre-Oro on Good Friday, Holy Vigil on Saturday midnight and Sunrise Service, communal breakfast and divine Liturgy on Easter Sunday, when would I find the time to be hiding chocolate eggs and stuffing baskets? Not to mention that the Easter Bunny was never any part of my husband's Teuto-russian heritage (and, frankly, having been raised atheist and coverted to Christianity 25 years ago, my family heritage is irrelevant when it comes to Christian holy days!). And Christmas is similar.
But All Saints day (which is in fact a Christian holiday, a Principal Feast in the calendar, lesser only than Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas) doesn't have the same glut of observances. Even the worship service is usually transferred to the Sunday in the All Saints octave. Oh, we try as a family. We read the stories of the Saints, make and decorate with saints icons, and on the rare occasions when it isn't immersed in a blizzard, take flowers to the children's section of our heritage cemetary.
But we also trick or treat. This is the one sanctioned time each year, for children to be out in the crisp cool darkness, feeling the nearness of the night and the nearness of God -- what Dylan Thomas in his most famous poem called "the close and Holy darkness". My elder daughter's godmother urged me not to deprive her of that experience. Over the years, I've come to understand the spiritual dimension of experiencing darkness, and at the same time experiencing the kindness of neighbours and the building of community that takes place, when we entrust our children to the neighbourhood streets, and at the same go into the streets to safeguard not only our own children, but all of them.
This is the most neighbourly night of the year. Why would we, who are called to recognize every person as our neighbour, hold ourselves apart?
Upvote
0
I can't believe anyone would cellebrate Halloween and fear Santa and Easta Bunny! lol! Where's the logic in that! Well here's some info I found for you.. read and make your minds up.
Santa ...welll he ain't evil... he isn't even pagan and is based on a nice man helping the poor.
'The basis for the Christian-era Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in what is now Turkey. Nicholas lived in the 4th century A.D. He was very rich, generous, and loving toward children. Often he gave joy to poor children by throwing gifts in through their windows. The Roman Catholic Church honored Nicholas as one who helped children and the poor. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of children and seafarers. His name day is December 6th.'
The Christmas Tree.
'The fir tree has a long association with Christianity, it began in Germany almost a 1000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity. Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The converted people began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they had previously revered the Oak.'
Easter Bunny.
'The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season.'
Easter Eggs
'Given as gifts by the ancient Greeks, Persians, and Chinese at their spring festivals, the egg also appears in pagan mythology, where we read of the Sun-Bird being hatched from the World Egg. in some pagan customs, the Heaven and Earth were thought to have been formed from two halves of an egg. As the egg was an obvious symbol to early Christians of Jesus' Resurrection, it was felt to be a most appropriate and holy part of the Eastertide celebration.'
Halloween
'Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter. '
Trick or treat
'The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century European custom called souling. On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven. '
Dressing up.
'The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter. '
Jack-o-lantern
'The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. As the tale is told, a man named Jack, who was notorious as a drunkard and trickster, tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack then carved an image of a cross in the tree's trunk, trapping the devil up the tree. Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never tempt him again, he would promise to let him down the tree. According to the folk tale, after Jack died, he was denied entrance to Heaven because of his evil ways, but he was also denied access to Hell because he had tricked the devil. Instead, the devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the frigid darkness. The ember was placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to keep it glowing longer. The Irish used turnips as their "Jack's lanterns" originally. But when the immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were far more plentiful than turnips. '
I think we can look at why we have these customs, where they came from and the comercialism behind them and so on and then what we mean by them... and to me it is wat is in my heart... what I am meaning that makes me decide the extent to which I participate in any cellebration. It is only in ve recent years that these events have started to take off over here though because in the past they were very small low key family events and Halloween was almost not cellebrated here at all until it caught on recently I guess from kids watching American movies.
My kids didn't want to do halloween though when they were young because they didn't like to dress up as bad things and just didn't like the concept and later just because they can't be bothered by it. And I don't like them eating sweets so much either so that's fine by me. One time I took them out when they were young dressed as victorian children with brooms. One lady gave them sweets and said what lovely costumes and were they going to fly away on their brooms? My kids looked at her and said "no.. you don't fly on brooms... the brooms are for sweeping the leaves."
Santa ...welll he ain't evil... he isn't even pagan and is based on a nice man helping the poor.
'The basis for the Christian-era Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in what is now Turkey. Nicholas lived in the 4th century A.D. He was very rich, generous, and loving toward children. Often he gave joy to poor children by throwing gifts in through their windows. The Roman Catholic Church honored Nicholas as one who helped children and the poor. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of children and seafarers. His name day is December 6th.'
The Christmas Tree.
'The fir tree has a long association with Christianity, it began in Germany almost a 1000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity. Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The converted people began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they had previously revered the Oak.'
Easter Bunny.
'The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season.'
Easter Eggs
'Given as gifts by the ancient Greeks, Persians, and Chinese at their spring festivals, the egg also appears in pagan mythology, where we read of the Sun-Bird being hatched from the World Egg. in some pagan customs, the Heaven and Earth were thought to have been formed from two halves of an egg. As the egg was an obvious symbol to early Christians of Jesus' Resurrection, it was felt to be a most appropriate and holy part of the Eastertide celebration.'
Halloween
'Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter. '
Trick or treat
'The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century European custom called souling. On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven. '
Dressing up.
'The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter. '
Jack-o-lantern
'The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. As the tale is told, a man named Jack, who was notorious as a drunkard and trickster, tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack then carved an image of a cross in the tree's trunk, trapping the devil up the tree. Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never tempt him again, he would promise to let him down the tree. According to the folk tale, after Jack died, he was denied entrance to Heaven because of his evil ways, but he was also denied access to Hell because he had tricked the devil. Instead, the devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the frigid darkness. The ember was placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to keep it glowing longer. The Irish used turnips as their "Jack's lanterns" originally. But when the immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were far more plentiful than turnips. '
I think we can look at why we have these customs, where they came from and the comercialism behind them and so on and then what we mean by them... and to me it is wat is in my heart... what I am meaning that makes me decide the extent to which I participate in any cellebration. It is only in ve recent years that these events have started to take off over here though because in the past they were very small low key family events and Halloween was almost not cellebrated here at all until it caught on recently I guess from kids watching American movies.
My kids didn't want to do halloween though when they were young because they didn't like to dress up as bad things and just didn't like the concept and later just because they can't be bothered by it. And I don't like them eating sweets so much either so that's fine by me. One time I took them out when they were young dressed as victorian children with brooms. One lady gave them sweets and said what lovely costumes and were they going to fly away on their brooms? My kids looked at her and said "no.. you don't fly on brooms... the brooms are for sweeping the leaves."
Upvote
0
Busybee
As For Me And My House We Will Serve The Lord
We give out candy and my daughter MAY be treating a little this year for the first time in the neighborhood. No goblin or evil costumes allowed here though. She'll also attend the Harvest Festival at church for sure though, Lord willing.
Upvote
0
overnight
overnight of the order
- May 8, 2004
- 349
- 12
- 48
- Faith
- Methodist
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Democrat
I am glad that there are others who feel the same as I do. My family does not do santa (we did tell our children that santa is more the "spirit" of Christmas "that is the spirit pf giving"). We have never and will never do the easter bunny thing I think that takes away from the true meaning of easter. Holloween is something we have been struggling with. Although it does have Christian roots we are concerned mostly about safty in this day and age. However, when we lived in a college town the college did have safe trick or treat that we took our daughter to but she has not been since. What will do in the future? I don't know but I do know we will not have santa or bunny. We do however put up tree at christmas (just fyi). We don't really have a problem with any of these celebrations or traditions we have chosen to not add them to our family's celebration.
Upvote
0
Okay... can I ask.... err... what exactly is doing Santa...? Do you mean getting little gifts in a stocking...? And going to see Sata in the shops...? Or more than this...?
....and doing Easter bunny....? Do you mean looking for little chocholate eggs in the garden...?
....and doing Easter bunny....? Do you mean looking for little chocholate eggs in the garden...?
Upvote
0
HeatherJay
Kisser of Boo-Boos
- Sep 1, 2003
- 23,050
- 1,949
- 49
- Faith
- Nazarene
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Others
yeah, pretty much.Crofter said:
Doing the Santa thing = falling asleep early on Christmas Eve, waiting for flying reindeer to land on your roof and for a little fat man to pop down the chimney, leaving him cookies and milk, and hoping for the presents you've waited all year to get.
Doing the Easter Bunny thing = waking up to find baskets full of chocolate bunnies and candy eggs. we leave the easter bunny a carrot and hope that he hides some eggs for us while we're at church.
We do them all, but this past Easter my oldest got very upset that she didn't get to see the easter bunny hiding the eggs. I think his cover may be blown for her, poor thing.
We also trick or treat. It's so much fun for our family. Our church has 'Hallelujah Night' the Saturday before Halloween where the kids dress up, play games, get candy. But our church also hands out candy on halloween night to the trick or treaters.
Upvote
0
Lena75
Well-Known Member
Our church usually has something on for the kids. They play games and learn new songs. Nobody dresses up. I went trick or treating all the time as a kid. Nowadays it seems so dangerous. Nah, we don't bother dressing up the kids. Even at school they have harvest parties. Not Halloween. This is a public school. They cannot dress up either. But can wear green and orange. Seems harmless to me. The school is also eliminating words like witches and goblins from the songs.
Upvote
0
We enjoy dressing up for Halloween, no scary things but movie characters or historical type figures. We have stockings out at Christmas where Santa brings little trifles. And we hunt Easter eggs when we get home from church Easter Sunday. I think that the emphasis should be on God and Jesus at all times and I don't see a problem with celebrating traditions that have been passed down through our families.
Upvote
0
Katydid
Just a Mom
- Jun 23, 2004
- 2,470
- 182
- 47
- Faith
- Methodist
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
No Christmas, No Easter, No Halloween, we do none of thee above. That is our personal choice though, and everyone has to decide what to do in their own homes. If you don't have a problem with Halloween, while I may disagree, I would respect you for your choice. The point is, you stated that you have no problem with it, so just do what you feel you should. Perhaps G-d will give you more insight to either do or not do Halloween next year.
Upvote
0
Zoomer
Well-Known Member
- Jun 29, 2004
- 3,500
- 229
- Faith
- Lutheran
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Libertarian
We celebrate all the holidays. I think it is about that attitude you have toward them. For Easter and Christmas, Jesus is the main focus however Santa and the Easter Bunny do make an appearance. Santa brings gifts to celebrate Jesus' birthday and the Easter Bunny leaves gifts as a celebration of Jesus' ressurection. As for Halloween, it's secular so their is no reason to celebrate besides the fact that it has become part of our culture. Halloween to most people is candy and costumes, it's a minority that celebrates it as a pagan holiday.
Upvote
0
HeatherJay
Kisser of Boo-Boos
- Sep 1, 2003
- 23,050
- 1,949
- 49
- Faith
- Nazarene
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Others
Sorry, I watched that movie Chocolat last night....mmmm...I have *whisper* chocolate on the brain now.Crofter said:... Heather... stop saying chocholate... it's making me feel gluttonous!
Upvote
0
Similar threads
