My family does not celebrate Halloween. My children have not gone trick or treating, we do not hand out candy at our door, we do not decorate for October 31 in the color orange [which actually is my favorite color... and a color, I prefer to attach to another concept].
When I have said in the past that we do not celebrate this holiday I have received different responses:
Aren't you depriving your children?
Aren't there other more important things to stand up against?
Why bother? Everyone celebrates Halloween.
First of all, I need to be clear - my reasons for ignoring the holiday are not because I have misunderstood the history of the event. I'll spare the history lesson for now as others have written about it already, and better than I would. [Click Here] For me the issue isn't about history its about now. I understand where Halloween has come from, its where it is now that concerns me.
Why is it that I cannot walk into a store in October without seeing a bloodied corpse, severed hand, or a decoration colored as if dripping in blood? I don't misunderstand the event's past, but I sure don't want to be a part of its present.
I am a father, of 6 children, ages 3 weeks to almost 9 years. My feeling is that I cannot expose my children to the blood and gore associated with Halloween. We protect them as they watch television, we protect them as they make use of the internet, we watch who they spend time with, we keep them safe in every other way that we can - I feel that I should also protect them from the frightening images and ideas associated with Halloween, from the unhealthy fixation on death and gore?.
Those are my thoughts. I know there are some who will respond - my children choose harmless costumes and eat candy, that's what the holiday is about. I understand that comment, I just know that what I see in stores, watch in my community, see on television and read online makes me believe that Halloween is not a holiday for my children.
In the end, in my attempt to be a good parent, I feel that I cannot choose for my family to participate in Halloween or the images that it will fill my children's minds with.
[Addition this year] It would be easy for someone who reads this post to misunderstand my intent. I am not intending to judge anyone... every parent must make decisions for their family based on their convictions. My intent here is simply to share my own thoughts. I'm interested in the dialogue.
Thanks Jon for sharing. Your view on Halloween mirrors the one that I find myself taking. I don't oppose Halloween because of its historical background, but like you, I'm concerned about the impact of costumes that are gory (and often sexualizing our children).
ReplyDeleteHalloween seems to be a controversial topic in our new church, and one that appears to be downplayed. But most of those who oppose Halloween seem to do so because of the historical content. Those who "do" Halloween disregard the history. I think we need to consider the social impact more carefully.
Jon I am in completely agree with you. I too understand where Halloween came from, and it is the now that disturbes me, and bothers me. We have gone trick or treating last year and did so because of my husbands childhood, but did not enjoy it myself, nor enjoy any part of the scary, creepy side of things.
ReplyDeleteThis year as we are in our home for Halloween I just pray for safety of kids who are out, and that there will be no deaths or harm come to them.
In addition to the blood and gore, this year I have really noticed the skankiness in some of the girls costumes!!! I was in Sears a couple weekends ago and saw a young girls halloween costume on display. It was a cheerleading outfit I think, and was little more than a VERY mini skirt and sports bra. Full belly and legs and arms showing. Like, really..... it was made for a 5 year old.
ReplyDeleteI honestly never thought much about Halloween before but more and more I agree that it seems pointless to celebrate (what are we celebrating exactly?) I think it's better to celebrate All Saints Day, good ol Martin Luther!
We have two main issues with the celebration of Halloween in today's context. First is the heavy association in costuming and decorating with darkness and evil, which I think you raise as a concern in your post. The second has to do with the concept of greed related to the tradition of trick or treating, going out with the goal of acquiring as much candy as one can collect. Neither of these are things we want to promote or develop with our children.
ReplyDeleteWe've been taking a middle of the road approach to Halloween. We don't give out candy, nor do we go out door to door in the neighborhood collecting candy. Also, with our oldest in school this year, we are not participating in "costume day" at school. We've attempted to explain our position to her, that we don't want to promote or celebrate things that are contrary to who we know God is (dark versus light) and also that we are instructed to think about things that are lovely, pure, admirable and so on (Philippians 4:8).
We do take part in a Fall Festival event held at a local church, where the costumes are free from darkness and gore, and there are activities for the kids to take part in. There is the opportunity to collect candy, but it is limited and we ration the candy out over an extended period of time. It is a balance we can live with.