Can Christian Parents Redeem Halloween For Their Kids?
How should we, as believers, celebrate Halloween? Growing up, I saw the two extremes of this answer. One was shutting off the lights on Halloween and avoiding the holiday altogether. The other was joining in on the festivities without a second thought. Before deciding what is “right” or “wrong,” I think that it is important to know the history behind Halloween.
Halloween comes from the origin of “All Hallows’ Eve.” This celebration marks the day before the Christian feast of All Saints’, or All Hallows’, day. The evening before this day became a holy, or hallowed, eve and thus became Halloween. All Saints Day celebrates the great Saints who have come before us in the Christian faith, so secular culture took Halloween as an opportunity to celebrate the opposite of this, which includes the spirits of the wicked and dead.
While I do not think there is a perfect way to celebrate Halloween, I believe that we can take the opportunity of a broken holiday to be generous, love our neighbors, and ultimately share the gospel. Here are three ways that Christian parents can redeem Halloween for their kids.
Be Generous
I remember being so excited to go to the houses that gave out the “good” candy when Trick-or-Treating. There was one house that always handed out king size candy bars and my siblings and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Then, there were the houses that were skimpy with their candy that we automatically wanted to skip. If our goal as believers is truly to love others well, the least we can do is give generously. Take the opportunity to explain to your kids how God has abundantly provided for your family, and how you can use your resources to bless others.
Love your Neighbor
Halloween is a great time to meet your neighbor. In Mark 12:31, Jesus commands his followers to “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” You can’t love your neighbor without meeting them first. Halloween may be the only night of the year where neighbors are walking around with their kids, knocking on doors, and sitting in lawn chairs in their front yard. Take this opportunity to greet them kindly, get to know them, and show them the love of Christ. Let them know that your home is always open if they ever need anything. Let this night be an example of your generosity and hospitality. This type of hospitality is a lost art in a culture where neighbors are simply people who live close to one another and wave every once in a while. Take this night as an opportunity to build relationships that you can continue throughout the rest of the year.
Take the Good and Leave the Bad
This idea is something that my parents modeled really well for me growing up. Being a part of the secular world we live in, requires us to use discernment and wisdom. As believers, we are each given the Holy Spirit which convicts and guides us. There are some things about Halloween that don’t seem wise to celebrate, like dressing up as a demon or decorating your entire yard as a graveyard. But growing up, I saw ways that my parents directed the conversation towards things that were fun and life-giving and away from things that celebrated death. When I got older and asked questions, my parents would explain how demons and evil spirits were real, but that I did not need to fear. Talk to your kids about Jesus and His triumph over death. Explain to them how Jesus is the light, and how “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Explain why we have hope and take this as a chance to explain the gospel. It is such good news that we do not fear death as a follower of Jesus! (Revelation 21:4, Romans 8:15-17, 2 Timothy 1:7) Let this be a way that you separate yourself from the darkness that this holiday could bring, and set yourself up to be a light, “spurring one another on in love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
In the end, Halloween can be used by the Lord, just like any other day, to further his Kingdom. By understanding the origins of the holiday and knowing how to redeem this day for their kids, Christian parents may find that they can honor Christ and love their neighbors on Halloween.