My kids are frequently to kids bithday parties where they get a lot of candies. I really do not to much about Holloween because I live in Central America, here it is not a tradition to celebrate Halloween, we are a very Catholic family & I am not sure if it is o.k. to let my kids to take part in the Halloween festivities around the village with friends, because it is about monsters, ghost, etc. etc. at night. How can I explain them what it is about....and decide if it is correct or not to join them in this kind of activities nowadays already set in my country?
2007-10-11 11:04:37 · 7 answers · asked by bellagonzalez 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I too struggled with this question. As much as my flesh would desire to follow the crowd, my spirit tells me otherwise. It would be so much easier, if we could be like everyone else and avoid the ridicule, but we are called to be peculiar people. Sometimes that means doing what we know in our heart to be right even when it is the unpopular thing to do. I believe Christ is proud of us when we choose this narrow road. As far as the explanation, I think that depends on the kids ages. My kids are very young so I simply explain to them that because we love Jesus, we celebrate holidays that glorify him, like Christmas and Easter. I then explain that Halloween is a holiday that celebrates and embraces the evil in the world, so we do not participate in it. Then they ask, can we just wear a costume that isn't scary or evil, and I say no, because it is still a form of participation. Because I give them what they want (within reason) year round, they won't be deprived of anything by not participating in this one day. If the peer pressure gets to great, I will probably remove them from school that day and take them on a hayride or rake and jump in leaves or some other fall fun and cap it off with sundaes and a veggietale movie or something. As they get older, I'll be more explicit about the things I am protecting them from. They are already not allowed to watch Harry Potter and other shows involving sorcery, withcraft, etc. so this is just an extension of what we have already taught them. I hope this helps and pray that you will have the courage to do whatever best agrees with your conscience. Your sister in Christ.
2007-10-15 08:51:42 · answer #1 · answered by worflc 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a Catholic, Halloween is simply the night before All Saints Day. Just like Christmas Eve is the night before Christmas.
It is a contraction using an Old English word for Holy (Hallows) which is also used for "saint": Hence, Halloween = Hallows Eve = Saints Eve.
Let your kids go have some fun. Do not worry about it.
Read this Encyclopedia entry for more info:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315a.htm
2007-10-11 18:08:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its themed baisicly like Dia de los muertos if that helps, though, ancestor worship isnt really involed. The only bad thing that could come from allowing your children to participate if too much candy.
2007-10-11 18:19:40 · answer #3 · answered by TEENWOLF 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Halloween is ok to participate in, being that it has to do with children receiving candy. In this day and age, it's only for that reason. No worries, if you have any worries, pray in regards to this question.
2007-10-11 18:12:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, halloween has to do with demonic spirits. Explain to your children that this goes against what God teaches and try to explain to them this is a demon time. I would not participate.
2007-10-11 20:56:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do they understand the Dia de los Muertos? Carnival? Mardi Gras? Combine them and make it all about kids.
2007-10-11 18:08:50 · answer #6 · answered by Blackacre 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, bad halloween for your kids.
2007-10-11 18:31:46 · answer #7 · answered by NXile 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋