Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Halloween is not my favorite Holiday. If you read my about page, you know my dearest holiday is coming!!

I actually have fond memories of Halloween as a child. My dad, as well as several other dads in our friend group growing up, loaded us up and took us around trick-or-treating to the neighbors. Now, we grew up in rural America so that meant like 6 stops in about 3 hours. Not only did we have to drive a stretch in-between each stop, but lets just say my dad is a bit chatty. I am actually a little in awe of this tradition as Halloween falls during the Christmas tree harvest. Somehow he snuck away from the office to load up his six girls and galivant around the Arlene countryside.

I love this concept. I think all dads should take kids out to trick-or-treat so the mom can recover from all the work it takes to get kids ready and out the door. Most moms have a huge job of finishing up last minute costume additions, or maybe trying to find a costume all together, and possibly attempting to feed your kids something semi nutritious before they go gorge themselves on copious amount of candy. One year I gave up monitoring how much candy my kids ate. Ask me how that went… Anyway, it’s a lot of work to get kids ready, fed, and out the door. I feel like I always leave my house a mess and come home with tired, sugar crazed kids to a destroyed house and ask myself how this is fun?? Why do we celebrate this Holiday?

What does Halloween celebrate?

This is where my struggle with Halloween stems. Halloween was an old Celtic holiday called Samhain that started as a transition into the winter season. Not all bad, I love a reason to party! The problem I have is that these Celts believed that on this night the worlds of the living and dead blurred. They lit large bonfires to ward off ghosts. Creepy. They also believed that prophecies could be given by Druids (Celtic priests) to predict the future. It turns out that these predictions originated to give the people comfort through the long winters. I can understand wanting a little encouraging news to get me through the dreary European winters.

Throughout the generations several different groups and organizations have claimed this holiday as their own. In 609, the Pope declared October 31st, All Saints Day. The day originally just honored the lives of martyrs but grew to include all Saints. I love the opportunity to learn from, and honor, men and women of faith that have dedicated their whole lives to Christ. In the last 100 years, American Halloween has become a secular holiday. Now we mix the superstition and satanic rituals of history along with a fun community gathering of children and treats. I have always had a hard time melding the vampires, witches, and zombies with little red riding hood and Captain America.

What does the Bible say?

“Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31 NLT

“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.” Deuteronomy 18:10-14 NIV

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4: 7-8

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God ” Ephesians 6:10-17

As Christians we have to look to Scripture to guide us. A lot of todays issues aren’t specifically answered in the Bible which can be confusing. We can’t look up a verse in the New Testament that will tell us if Christians should celebrate Halloween. But, God’s word is his special revelation to us and we should use it to make day to day decisions. Maybe the question shouldn’t be, Should we celebrate Halloween?, but rather, How should we Celebrate Halloween? On that topic, scripture is clear.

How should we celebrate Halloween?

This is the cool part. We get to choose how to celebrate Halloween! We can create an environment where we can focus on what is true and lovely and pure. We can be inspired by the Pope and study heroes of the Christian faith and celebrate their sacrifice. We can even use this as an opportunity to have conversations with our kids about Satan and his evil schemes. We don’t want our children unaware of the spiritual battles they will have to fight. We can be a light in the darkness! Halloween is a great opportunity to spread the love of Jesus. He is the creator of all things and darkness had no power over the name of Jesus.

One way that I have engaged in Halloween with my kids, without being discouraged by all the death and evil being celebrated, is by volunteering at our church. When my boys were just toddlers we joined our churches trunk or treat program. We never actually used trunks but we would set up tables in our church for kids to have a safe place to celebrate the holiday. It also was a great opportunity to get families in the door of a church building who might never come otherwise. I was committed to wholesome costumes that could have a spiritual undertone where newcomers would be met with a friendly face. What a neat opportunity to be a part of.

How the Riveras celebrate Halloween

Here are our costumes through the years! Use these as ideas for your kids, if you are still scrambling for costume ideas, or just enjoy the adorableness of kids in costumes.

So this particular year we had a cowboy theme. I was also dressed in full cowgirl gear. I’m not sure what the plan was with the girls. Maybe the cowboys saved a princess in distress and while out on the range an owl kept them company? A stretch I know, but still all so cute! Our theme with the cowboys was something to do with living for Jesus. Can’t remember how it all tied together but we went, we conquered, and it was documented for all time.

This is the culmination of my Halloween creativity. By this time our church program was called Treat Street and I brought my A game. Homemade costumes and a homemade backdrop for my fishing game. Each kid had to use a cane pole to fish for candy. We may have held up the line a little but it was so worth it. Anyone else have images of Pollyanna in their minds? I didn’t give out any dolls but I think the candy tasted sweeter just because it was fished for! This was almost my last ever Halloween as I almost died from heat stroke in the neoprene waders that I borrowed from my brother in-law. Lesson learned.

What are your plans this year?

I honestly am struggling a little bit. Our church is not hosting Treat Street again this year, for some very understandable reasons, so I’m left to decide what is best for our family now. Can we do Halloween without candy? Or can someone volunteer to pay my dental bills?

We all have to decide what is best for our families and keep those decisions in line with scripture. Does your family go all out and host a party and dream about costumes all year long? Or maybe your family enjoys a quiet movie night at home. We really have to check our spirits with pretty much every holiday these days as they are so quickly secularized and commercialized. Are we living each day, including holidays, for the Glory of God? That is what I am going to ask myself this year as I enter this holiday season.

To God be the Glory during Halloween and every day!