Why do you choose not to celebrate Halloween?

Question

I was raised in a Catholic home, but have chosen to raise our children as spiritual but not as part of any organized church. Halloween is something I have always enjoyed...as a child and an adult...and have passed on the traditions surrounding it to my children. Part of this has been to take time to learn the origins of the holiday, which has roots in both the Catholic church and the pagan religons. I am curious as to why some families choose not to celebrate and if this is a long standing family and church tradition or has been a more recent interpretation/adaptation. Thank you for sharing.

Answer 1

I don't celebrate it, not for religious reasons but more because of the plain hassle of it all. I live in the country and don't expect any this year but the past several years I lived in the city and the children (not the little ones) are rude and ungrateful. So, I guess I don't need the crap anymore.

Answer 2

I don't celebrate it because it is a celebration in honor of the dead and also for the devil - the most important festival of Satanists the world over.

The Bible clearly states that the dead "are conscious of nothing at all". (Ecclesiastes 9:5; Psalms 146:4) The Bible likewise clearly states that we are to worship no one but God alone (Deuteronomy 4:13,14). So obviously it would be wrong to celebrate Halloween on that account. Also, the writer J. Garnier suggests that celebrations of suffering and death can be traced back to the ancient destruction of all of Satan's original human followers, as well as the hybrid sons of fallen angels, at the time of the Flood. Cultures the world over have festivals for the dead, “held by all on or about the very day on which, according to the Mosaic account, the Deluge took place, viz., the seventeenth day of the second month—the month nearly corresponding with our November." The Druids were no exception this. On October 31, Samhain (Celtic lord of the dead, often associated with Satan) was said to release the spirits of the dead to mingle with the living. Druids roamed the streets with lanterns, and on coming to a house, they demanded money as an offering for Satan. If one looks to the Bible it is clear to see that the dead cannot harm (and/or affect) the living, so trying to appease the dead or scare them away would be against Bible teachings. (Ecclesiastes 9:6; Isaiah 26:14, 53:12; Ezekiel 18:4)
Further admonition to not partake in Halloween is found in an article by USA today: “It’s a religious holiday for the underworld, with satanists performing sacrifices and witches quietly celebrating with prayer circles or meals for the dead.” It also quoted Washington witch Bryan Jordan as saying, “[Christians] don’t realize it, but they’re celebrating our holiday with us. . . ."

As a follower of Christ, I cannot reconcile celebrating a holiday in honor of the devil because of this, even if it is just as some believe "quaint and inoffensive"- to me honoring the devil in any way, no matter how slight, would be serving two masters, and God specifically commands against it. (Matthew 6:24)

Answer 3

Well, for one, Satanists consider it their high 'holy' day of the year, and the hard-core/underground ones sacrifice humans on that night. Also, there have been many cases of criminal activity going on in connection with this "holiday celebration", such as vandalism, kidnapping, rape, murder, and others. Even when I was a child (many moons ago/in a MUCH safer time) we knew not to approach certain houses, due to (fairly) well-founded rumors of razor blades in apples, poisoned candy, and other heinous acts of that nature. I used to 'practice' helloween, and inticed a friend to join me in working at a 'haunted house' (I thought this was a good, charitable thing to do, at the time) which nearly resulted in his (later) death, and he has never been the same since, due to an 'accident', for which I will be forever regretful in having part in.

http://www.history.com/minisites/halloween/viewPage?pageId=713

http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html

Answer 4

Growing up we would dress up and go trick or treating but now as an adult we no longer celebrate it. It's for religious reasons. My daughter is 3 and to be honest, going door to door begging for candy is stupid. She has more fun at our fall festival at church. There she gets to play games, play with her friends, hay rides and get candy. So really the trick or treaters are the ones missing out.

My daughter has no desire to dress up and neither do my 9 and 6 yr old nieces.

Answer 5

I love and celebrate Halloween.

But, if I were not to, it would be due to the mega commercialization and and because it's removed from family and fun. All holidays in America are purely about big business and impressing others with how much you spent. It's too bad family doesn't seem very important compared to $$$$.

Answer 6

Some people depending on their religion were tought to not celebrate holidays so they dont but some do my friend was tought not to but she does now that she is no longer at home, her children do also, me I love the holidays and my son 3 does also getting to be with your family and relatives, halloween most of all causemy son gets to dress up not just cause of the candy cause his first year he just dressed up and we didnt go to door to door we just walked around, hestill loved it, now of course cause of the candy I make sure I go with him up to the door being that he is only 3.

Answer 7

Some people for some reason believe it's an evil day and something to do with Satan. I have no idea where that came from but it's simple ignorance.

Answer 8

I grew up a jehovas witness, so I never got to celebrate ****.
Now I do, and my kid does too.
Its fun I guess, and my kid likes to dress up.