Why do Christians/Catholics take their children out trick-or-treating on Halloween?

Question

If it's a holiday based on Evil then why associte with it at all? Isn't that a bit hyppocritical?

Answer 1

Halloween is not based on evil. It is actually like Christmas Eve. The night before a Christian holy day.

It is the eve of All Saint's Day or All Hallows Eve or Halloween. Just like "hallowed be Thy name."

But just like Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday), Halloween has taken on a life of its own.

From an email I received: Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside, and scoops out all the yucky stuff--including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Halloween isn't based on evil. It originated with the Celts in Ireland who believed that on Samhain (pron. Sah-WEEN) the veil between the living and dead was very thin and could re-visit the places they had lived. The people out of fear would leave out treats for the spirits to appease them so they wouldn't harm them or the property. Many also used soot or masks on their faces to 'confuse' the spirits. When the Romans conquered the area, they did not try to erase the beliefs but added their own festival honoring the dead to it. Over time the Christian church stopped the sacrifices etc., but the rest evolved into what you see today. Most people do not view Halloween as a day to celebrate evil but a day to have fun dressing up and getting treats. There is nothing wrong with that even for Christians. Many churches do offer an alternative event like Autumn Fest but Christians taking their kids trick-or-treating isn't hypocritical. I think dressing your kid up like a witch or devil would be hypocritical if you were a Christian. Most parents avoid those so I see nothing wrong with it. Consider this...isn't it hypocritical for non-Christians to celebrate Christmas? It is a holiday that originated from the birth of Christ...there's nothing convoluted about that.

Answer 3

I am a Christian, and I will tell you "No." That's the sort of literal-minded agenda-based reading of a happy, innocent, fun holiday for children that has not helped brighten mankind's understanding or the pleasantness of his existence.

Satan has nothing to do with a mainstream understanding of modern Halloween. For so-called Christians to let Satan and his followers take the ball into their court that way, and dictate the terms on which we will celebrate a given holiday is weak and stupid.

Many people say similar things about Christmas. --More lunacy from the junkpile of the human conscience, I say. It's the birth of Jesus and a happy time for anyone who has the capacity to be happy. Sorry if you're not one of these.

Answer 4

well because you're average Christian doesn't understand or even know much about pagan beliefs they just view it as a secular holiday. I myself didn't realize there might be something wrong with it till I was in college. I always thought of it as a neat idea that I could exploit to get free candy as a kid.

I think thats how it should be. Watered down and meaningless. Because that's just what the day is... meaningless.

Answer 5

Halloween has both secular and religious origins. November 1 is designated as All Saints Day. Halloween is the eve of all saints hallow. It also has pagan origins such as rituals performed by the Irish before a harvest. To answer your question because it's harmless. The ghouls and vampires and trick or treating is an American tradition.

Answer 6

It's not necessarily an evil tradition. I think it all depends on why you yourself celebrate it, and what you tell your kids about it. For most kids, it's a time to be creative, and have a lot of fun. It's also about picking out what they want, and then having an opportunity to get lots of candy. The best way to avoid making it an evil holiday is by avoiding evil costumes (i.e. demons, vampires, etc.). Don't focus on the evil aspects, and then you can celebrate what makes it so fun.

Answer 7

I don't think so....most holidays have pagan roots, it would be hard not to celebrate any of them. Trick-or-treating is a fun activity for the kids. Why not let them celebrate? The roots may not be the greatest, but few people still celebrate it in those ways. Just work with your kids. If they don't like scary costumes, don't make them go.

Everyone is different, not all Christians celebrate holidays. Celebrating any holiday doesn't make you less Christian.

Answer 8

It is not a christian thing to do...

However the forces of good and evil do exist, and they should be addressed accordingly, I called a comic book publisher and asked him if there are children who side with the evil ones and he said yes, many..

good and evil are in the minds and the hearts of the individual..

however Halloween is just a sugar high holiday..

so kids have fun and stay safe

Answer 9

OK, Why do some atheists buy their kids Christmas presents? My family is Catholic, and our kids enjoyed it as a time to dress up in a costume and get candy from the neighbors. If they had ever started taking the occult side too serious, we would have stopped it, but they turned out just fine, and as older teens, are still practicing their faith.

Answer 10

Maybe the Catholics that you have known are not threatened by Halloween/Samhain.
Maybe the Catholic you have know have done the research on Halloween/Samhain and realized that there is no component of evil to it.
I find the more intelligent people are the less they are threatened by beliefs outside of their own.