Advice On A Christian Alternative To Halloween For Christian Parents
posted on 10/22/2009
I recently visited a website (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/4380/halloween.html) while researching for this article. I came across a website in which one of the readers left a message for the webmaster in, I'm guessing, the guestbook. Here is a portion of what was written. ...I know of someone that met a practicing witch a couple years ago- he mentioned their conversation but the thing that grabbed me the most was when she said - "I love this time of year the most (ie: Halloween) because this is the time when BOTH Christians and Witches worship the same god".
Wow! I had never thought about how true that statement really is. Christians who every other day of the year worship the God of the universe, choose to unite with the rest of America and serve the god of this world. But really what could be wrong with dressing your kiddies up in a costume and going door to door to collect candy on this childrens holiday?
First, Halloween is not just a holiday. In the same way Christmas is a holy day for Christians and just a holiday for non believers, Halloween is also a holy day of sorts. Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween) or Halloween is the Celtic New Year. Samhain was the holiest day on the Celtic pagan calendar. Bonfires were lit to help guide the dead on their journey into the other world and to honor the dead. Bonfires also kept the ghouls, fairies, ghosts and demons away from the living.
The Catholic Church tried to rid and replace Samhain with All Saints Day but all that succeeded in doing was replacing some of the pagan gods with the Celtic traditions we have today like leprechauns. Almost all current Halloween traditions have their roots in Celtic demonic practices. Today Halloween is marketed more towards adults than it is to children, however candy companies still target children.
I do not dream of telling other Christians what to do and I am not even directing this letter to non believers. My children do not celebrate Halloween on the years that I have them and my oldest has chosen not to participate on the years she's with my ex. I commend her for that. Some Churches have harvest celebrations. We don't participate in those either because in my mind it's letting kids know or feel that they are missing something by not trick-or-treating. It sends the message that we have to offer an alternative to what the world is offering. Do we really need a Christian alternative to Halloween? Are we scarring our kids for life by not allowing them to trick or treat?
Romans 12:2 says "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God".
The Christian alternative for Halloween is to do nothing. October 31 is just another day. If they or you feel you really need to do something, educate your children on why you chose not to celebrate. You could also plan to spend some time in prayer for the lost. One idea I heard was to take seven days prior to Halloween and spend time with like-minded neighbors or home-schooled students and pray and fast for non Christians. Pray that others might decide to not celebrate Halloween.
Always let your children know that God doesn't dislike the people, just the holiday they choose to celebrate.
LINKS
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain
Witchvox - http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usfl&c=holidays&id=2203
History Channel Online - http://www.history.com/content/halloween/real-story-of-halloween
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Previous Comments
mikhail says:
(30d 8h 43min ago)
Just go trick-or-treating dressed like a Christian. You can prosthelytize and get candy for it! Don't go in the Jesus-in-a-costume costume pictured as that's likely to turn people off Christianity.
YvetteL says:
(30d 6h 9min ago)
I believe children will have feelings toward missing out on the abundance of candy given out on that day...that is what I remember feeling growing up.. however, like my mother I am sharing with my daughter why I don't celebrate this day as a Christian believer. I keep her in prayer regarding her understanding of what I teach her regarding our God.
Asahd2 says:
(21d 5h 35min ago)
Good for you and your daughter YvetteL