Trick or treat? What’s your take on whether or not to it’s okay to do the Halloween thing?
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delraeadams on October 25, 2010 at 12:22 pm
i think it is o.k. to do the halloween thing.
Bianchi on October 25, 2010 at 1:01 pm
What’s not to like about getting free candy? I think the day/event should always be for the kids. Let them have fun and dress up. I don’t believe that as parents we allow kids wear costumes that promote or suggest violence.
anima persa on October 25, 2010 at 3:56 pm
I don’t think “doing the Holloween thing” is ok, but my reasons stem from more than the practice of simply dressing up and receiving candy. (Which in and of itself is harmless.)
Many would disagree with me but there is so much more tied in to Holloween than most realize and I believe that if you do a little investigating of the subject that many may feel a little differently about celebrating it.
My opinion is not based on any Christian belief but on a clear understanding of the history behind it. It originates from the festival of Samhain (The 31st of the 10th month – when our world and the world of the dead cross, making way for the dead to enter our world. It is not the good spirits who pass through and I do not believe it is a day to celebrate.
I do understand that most celebrating Holloween do not understand its origin. For me it is a day to greatly fear.
praiseHim on October 26, 2010 at 3:07 pm
i agree, we should not practice anything that our Father in heaven does not get the Glory we should not do. we are not to do the things of the world. we are to keep our minds stayed on Jesus, and we are to teach the Good news, not try to conform to the ways of the world.
anima persa on October 27, 2010 at 7:08 am
I wonder what God thinks about this. If someone does not understand the history would it be wrong to participate? I know how I feel about these things, but it is God’s perspective that actually matters. Are there any thoughts that could be shared about this?
unclegene on October 27, 2010 at 11:03 am
Halloween is short for Hallowed Evening which means that we are to consecrate that evening to God. How can dressing up in witches and other costumes, be given an over abundance of candy which will rot teeth, cause obesity and turn toward diabetes, consecrate anything to God????? If Halloween is spent leading people to Christ it is wonderful, keeping aspects Samhain alive is from Satan.
kinro10134406 on October 27, 2010 at 11:15 am
I totally agree with anima, praiseHim, and jay’s comments. I was one of those children who went trick or treating with great expectations for treats of course. My children participated in the same activities for a while. I saw nothing wrong, even as a Christian, with paritcipating in the “Halloween Festivities” until I researched the meaning of Halloween for myself. This so called holiday deals solely with spiritism that is disguised with what seems innocent in the eyes of children i.e. candy, costumes, etc. As a parents, we are obligated to set the standards for our children.Here’s the thing: when you know better, you are expected to do better.
pabita108 on October 27, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I reblogged this article I found in my tumblr:
HALLOWEEN PAGANISM
Taken from this website click here
Halloween originated from the witch and warlock religions of Britain, France, Germany, and the Celtic countries. The practicing witches, called druids, lived 100 years before the incarnation of Christ.
The celebration of “Hallow’s Eve” honored the pagan Celtic god Samhain, the lord of the dead. The celebration was held on the last day of October, the Eve of the Celtic New Year. On Hallow’s Eve Samhain was supposed to call all of the wicked dead back from the prison of hell, and place them in lower animal bodies. The Celts felt that if they pleased Samhain with their worship, then he in turn would protect them from these resurrected demons.
WHY THE CHILDREN SHOUT ‘TRICK OR TREAT’?
The most effective ploy that Satan ever uses is to try and deceive as much of Christianity as is possible using the same trick in different ways.
Ancient druidism had another practice that, up to now, we haven’t discussed. The druids demanded human sacrifice in order to show “proper respect” for Samhain. In order to accomplish this, the druids went from castle to castle and demanded women so that they could be sacrificed. The women were then taken to sacrificial altars and killed (one of the most prominent areas we know of today for human sacrifice was Stonehenge in England). If the sacrifice was willingly given, the druids left a hollow gourd outside of the castle walls filled with burning human fat. This burning fat was supposed to protect the castle from demonic attack. If the druids were refused the sacrifice, they drew a hexagram on the door or wall of the castle and left. Before dawn someone in the castle would be found dead from fear.
This practice of going “door to door” eventually found it’s way into society as a form of Halloween ritual. The earliest settlers in America encouraged their children to go door to door shouting “Trick or Treat”, little knowing that they were mimicking ritualized murder of days gone by. The children were given fruit, much like the druids were given human sacrifices. If the children were refused a treat, they were allowed to play a little “trick” on the household. Parents put candles inside of pumpkin gourds (just as the druids put human fat inside of hollow gourds) to commemorate Halloween. By making it all seem like harmless fun, Satan drew both Catholic and Protestant, believer and unbeliever into the web of druidic paganism.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH A LITTLE INNOCENT FUN?
Most people, even strong Christian believers, defend Halloween as only “A little innocent fun for the kids”. It may be innocent, but is it fun to mimic (however unknowingly) devil worship, female sacrifice, and witchcraft? Once the Christian household allows paganism into it’s midst, then how much harder is it for Satan to get us involved in real druidism?
The Ouija Board
The Ouija board, seemingly harmless, is no less than a familiar spirit:
Leviticus 20:6-7 “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.”
The question that the Christian must ask his or her self is this: “Do I want to play Satan’s game? Do I want to participate in a festival that originates from human sacrifice and demon worship? What do I want my children to learn?” Take a hard look at these questions and the evidence presented: your spiritual condition (as well as that of your children) may well depend on your answer.
pabita108 on October 27, 2010 at 6:58 pm
I forgot to include the link, my bad: http://www.biblestudymanuals.net/halloween.htm
zero_g on October 30, 2010 at 7:52 am
Nice analysis! Satan doesn’t enter our lives through the quirky tradition of dressing up in a costume and going door to door asking for candy. I seriously doubt our kids are going to start sacrificing woman and worshiping the devil because someone gave them candy.
When we get our feathers all ruffled over meaningless fun and see it as the devil in diguise, we are missing the more dangerous and successful ways the devil enters our lives.
ladydamascus on October 27, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Well said pabita 108. How can we teach our children to not be conformed to this world if we encourage them to participate in everything the world does? How can they stand the pressure of being separate as Christians?
zero_g on October 29, 2010 at 6:09 am
Despite the gruesome history of Halloween, I thank God for the goodness which does come from it. The joy in my son’s eyes when he sees the candle flickering in the pumpkin we just carved. Halloween is probably the only time we see our neighbors face to face. The love shared by my neighbors by giving my children candy. The smiles on my neighbo’rs and my face when the kids show up at the door dressed like their favorite character.
kinro1013 on October 29, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Zero, is Halloween the only time of the year that you can carve a pumpkin for your son or see your neighbors face to face?
zero_g on October 30, 2010 at 7:01 am
You are right, we should see the neighbors more. Pumpkins are not as easy to find the rest of the year, but there are other things we do together which puts a smile on our faces trhoughout the year.
I really don’t see the harm in Halloween. It’s people having fun. Remember, He gave us Joy. People are not really offering up their woman for sacrifice. It is just pretend, and that is fun for all ages.
cuddles on October 30, 2010 at 6:33 pm
My son and his friends have dressed up tonight he as a pirate and his friend as a clown, they looked great and in was done in good humour. I did see a person driving a car with a horror face from the move “Scream” and I didn’t approve. The trend of dressing up for Halloween has been going on for a few years here now but I think it will phase out again. My son said he thought it would be his last year dressing up. The outfits are expensive and the scary ones can frighten young children and old people but I think the majority who dress up do it more for the social involvement and they do not go into the history behind it.
rempeke on October 31, 2010 at 6:19 am
I am 43 and I can honestly say I have never been Trick or treating. Now I have a 4 year old and 2 year old and we will not take them out this time. Next year might be different, we will see. But looking back I did not miss out on anything.
AMGMJL on October 31, 2010 at 9:29 am
I went trick or treating every year as a child. I am not a Satan worshiper. I see both sides to this issue. I think its OK to let the kids have some fun and dress up. I have not let my kids wear scary costumes such as witches or devils or ghosts. Why not take the spotlight off of Satan? Make it about fun and not evil. As far as the candy goes, they are put into a jar and are allowed to make “withdrawls” once a week. Most of it gets thrown out. I work in the dental field so am very aware of the damage to much candy can do. Notice the “to much” part of previous sentence.
mags on October 31, 2010 at 6:37 pm
I don’t like Halloween at all and don’t think Christians should celebrate this pagan festival.Do you celebrate All Saints Day on 1st November by taking flowers to the graves for departed family and friends? I know this is what they do in France.
I am certain, however, that we don’t have anything to fear from the evil spirits supposedly on,the loose at this time as Jesus has shown that He has power over them and over death itself. Hallelujah!