Why I Choose Not to Celebrate Halloween
My view on the current Halloween traditions.
Image via Wikipedia
As a child, I looked forward to every October 31st. I couldn’t wait for my mother to buy a costume for me and my brother and going trick or treating for hours to collect enough candy to last until Easter.
As I got older, I looked forward to the Halloween parties at school and then costuming my own children for their first years of trick or treating. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior as a teen, but didn’t really take my beliefs seriously until my children were older and I began a closer relationship with the Lord. I realized that Halloween was a day that celebrates all that is unholy in the world and why should we give the devil a single day of dedication with all the evil that takes place on a daily basis.
Yes, Christians all over the country have differing views about Halloween, so it is pretty much left the the individual Christian to take a stand one way or the other whether to observe Halloween or not. The origin of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celts that believed that the border of this world and the Otherworld became transparent on the day that became knows as Halloween, allowing spirits of the dead to pass through(whether they were harmless or not).
Images of ghosts and ghouls, vampires, witches, devils and any other characters related to evil came to be part of the celebration and to entice children the tradition of going home to home to collect candy and treats was introduced. Whether one should decide to celebrate Halloween, Christian or not, should be their own individual decision. I have allowed my youngest daughter, who is the only child now living at home, to go to a party with friends and wear an orange shirt to school, but educate her on what Halloween truly stands for and what my beliefs are.
I know that forcing her not to participate in any way would only cause her to rebel as teens usually do. More alternative ways to celebrate in the form of a fall festival or All Saints Day on Nov.1st should be observed by those who are also opposed to Halloween activities.
Liked it
