My Husband and I recently got saved and baptized and Married. The church that we attend doesn't allow for us to celebrate Holloween. We believe that this is satan's Holiday. I am not asking for religious advice, or anyone to tell us that we need a new church or anything like that, our beliefs are our beliefs and that is it. I want to know what I can do with my daughter so that she doesn't feel left out when all the other kids are trick-or-treating.
Please Help... This is more for the people who have the same beliefs that we do.
2006-10-23 04:04:14 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you don't think Holloween is satanic, then you don't have the same beliefs and this question isn't for you.
2006-10-23 10:17:13 · update #1
I used to be a wiccan. I know the pegan end of this holiday. I don't need to be taught a lesson or told what Holloween is really about, I know all about Holloween. I just want to know if there is any non Holloween activities that I can do with my daughter on a VERY SATANIC holiday.
2006-10-23 10:20:46 · update #2
So don't celebrate Halloween. Celebrate your faith with your kids.
Don't make a big deal out of Halloween, or anti halloween. Make a big deal about being a family/congregation of your faith who are able to have fun anyway.
Have a little costume party with some of the other kids from your church. Have congregation friendly treats and games.
Get them out of the house and have fun anyway.
Sing songs, have a good time, but involve other like minded parents, so it's a bit festive for the reasons of your choice.
2006-10-23 04:09:55 · answer #1 · answered by Oh, I see 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many churches in the area have begun to have a great alternative to the traditional Halloween celebrations. Our church has what we call "Hallelujah Night" that's somewhat like a fair or festival at the church. There is face painting, costume contests, food, candy, games, spacewalks, and lots of other fun activities where kids can have even more fun than the trick-or-treaters without compromising your beliefs or the lesson that you're teaching your children. If a church in your area doesn't have anything like this, maybe you can have a small version with some of your church members that feel the same way as you. But, you have a year to plan for "Hallelujah Night 2007".
2006-10-23 04:20:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't celebrate halloween either. But I also don't celebrate Christmas or many other holidays. And not because a church has told me not to, but for personal preference. The only suggestion I can make to you is that you focus on your daughter and what she will enjoy outside what's required for a traditinal halloween celebration. This is your child and if you wish to raise her without celebrating halloween or other holidays, then there is no need to find an alternative. Make sure you guys celebrate other days, just as a family, or with your church family, so that she gets a sense of familial importance and not commercial holiday importance. Don't place any importance on the actual day of Halloween. Do something the day before or after. If you truly believe what you are saying, then trust God. Ask Him to lead you in the right direction on this one. She wont feel left out. Children only miss things if they feel they are important in the first place. Sorry this is so long.
Hope this helps,
:)
2006-10-23 04:14:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
How old is your child? That would help in the idea department. As for me, I make it a time of prayer and fasting knowing full well that there are many evil things happening that evening. But that may not be so fun for your daughter.
Perhaps you can plan an annual tea party with her? Watch Anne of Green Gables and get dressed up in period clothing while you watch and sip tea and eat cucumber sandwiches? You can toss a little bible study in there too.
That would be a lovely tradition for mother and daughter.
I did this with my daughter once, but didn't make it an annual event. I think if I had another child I would do that. Perhaps, eventually adding other children to the mix.
Could you imagine... all the little girls showing up in lace gloves and fancy hats? Cute!
As for church alternatives... Are they really alternatives or are they simply events sparked by the fact that halloween is happening? I opt to not attend the church alternative programs for the evening. They often include kids from the community that don't have the same convictions, why I saw a little child dressed up like a devil at one. :::eyebrows raised:::: I just tried to remember that the family and certainly the child just didn't know.
2006-10-23 04:10:33 · answer #4 · answered by NONAME 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Halloween -- or more accurately, All Hallows E'en (Evening), is a primarily pagan ritual even though it reaches into Christianity, so it always surprises me when Christians shun the holiday. While it has become secularized with children trick-or-treating and they and adults dressing up in costumes, its roots are pagan and Christian. In fact, very few people understand the origins of Halloween, so here's a little background: Halloween, celebrated each year on October 31, is a mix of ancient Celtic practices, Catholic and Roman religious rituals and European folk traditions that blended together over time to create the holiday we know today. Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, and life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. Halloween has long been thought of as a day when the dead can return to the earth, and ancient Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these roaming ghosts. The Celtic holiday of Samhain, the Catholic Hallowmas period of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day and the Roman festival of Feralia all influenced the modern holiday of Halloween. In the 19th century, Halloween began to lose its religious connotation, becoming a more secular community-based children's holiday. Although the superstitions and beliefs surrounding Halloween may have evolved over the years, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people can still look forward to parades, costumes and sweet treats to usher in the winter season.
2016-03-28 04:58:19 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being overly religious requires sacrifices. Your child may have to suffer this year.
You could try to view Halloween the same way that some non-Christians view Christmas: It's a tradition that means being with family and/or friends. If an atheist can join in on the celebrations of a Christian holiday, then you might be able to join in on the celebrations of a "Satanic" holiday (though Halloween has nothing to do with Satan except for when you want to ward off evil spirits).
But, if you cannot justify sending your daughter trick-or-treating, then you'll need to spend that night with her. She's not going to understand your reasoning. In her mind, you just won't let her partake in a fun activity.
I suggest leaving the house. Go to a movie or something. Make her forget that all of her friends are having fun without her. If you stay home, then you may receive trick-or-treaters (even if your porch light is off), which could depress your daughter. Going to a movie would seal you off from the rest of the people for a couple of hours. Make it a double-feature, if you'd like.
If you have family in a rural part of town, go visit them for the night. There is less trick-or-treating going on when kids have to travel 2 miles to a house.
Stay away from malls or play areas or any other public place where your daughter is reminded of Halloween. The night will pass, and your daughter will forget about it. Other kids may rub it in her face for a week as they eat candy that she didn't get. You can alleviate this by giving her a stash of candy of her own. That way, she won't feel left out.
Good luck on that. Kids don't understand the crazy things we adults do. It's quite a task to avoid celebrating the more pagan holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. All you have your family have left are the more secular holidays of Independence Day and Labor Day (assuming you're American).
2006-10-23 04:05:56 · answer #6 · answered by Rev Kev 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
We have lived with this all our lives, and raised 4 kids and grandchildren. It is not a big deal. Just do something special with them and the kids will never miss it. A lot of churches have special programs on that night so Christians have some where to go. The biggest problem is parents who think their child is being "denied" but most kids don't think that way at all. It is a great opportnity to teach your children to stand alone for their Christian convictions.
2006-10-23 04:12:59 · answer #7 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Halloween is another name for All Hallow's Eve. All Hallows Day is also known as All Saint's Day. Find a book that talks about the lives of holy people (saints) and read to her about some of the holy people in the past and do something that celebrates their lives.
Saint Valentine, Saint patrick, and Saint Nicholas are already celebrated, but I am sure that you can find some other saint whose life you can celebrate.
A list of patron saints can be found at http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/patron00.htm
Contact me if you have any questions and may God bless you.
2006-10-23 04:11:10 · answer #8 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, we always allowed our children to celebrate the fun parts of halloween and we are considered by the outside world to be very fundamental Christians.
Some of the things they do. Hayrides with apples bobs and treasure (scavenger) hunts. If your church does not have this alternative celebration, you can find a hayride with activities advertized locally.
2006-10-23 04:15:52 · answer #9 · answered by cindy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid you're mistaken. It isn't a satanic holiday. It's a non-religious festival to celebrate the end of summer.
The dressing up is all just a bit of fun. You don't have to dress as a witch or a goblin to celebrate but it doesn't mean you're glorifying satan by doing so.
Besides, Christmas and Easter were originally pagan festivals, why do you celebrate them?
2006-10-23 04:08:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋