The elephant in the room

Victoria - posted on 11/04/2010

Thank you all for weighing in on this thread but it seems to be getting a little out of hand, with all the back & forth & cutting down of peoples opinions so therefore I believe the best course of action is to lock it.

Blessing in Christ,

Elisabeth - posted on 11/04/2010

We don't do Halloween b/c of all the evil/scary decorations, costumes and associations. We did have a Reformation party though, to celebrate the day Martin Luther hung the 95 thesis on the door of the Catholic church.
We don't do Santa either. One reason is the lying piece. The other reason is that that's not why we celebrate Christmas. Another reason would be that mommy and daddy worked hard all year to sacrifice to get presents. Why should Santa get all the credit? ;) We make cookies to take to the neighbors w/ a track. And with the extra cookie dough we make a large "daddy" cookie and decorate it. So we give daddy a cookie instead of Santa. When the kids are older, I imagine we'll read about the real saint Nicolas and what his contributions to society were.

Meg - posted on 11/04/2010

I agree wholeheartedly with this philosphy. The thing about children is, they are very instinctual "lie-detectors". They really know if you are sincere and that's what makes them feel secure, knowing that Mom and Dad feel good about what is going on. Go with God - and go with your gut!

CONNIE - posted on 11/03/2010

I say let your children believe! Get on the internet and read to them what halloween is all about.And Christmas is the celebration of Jesus's birth.Let them be children when they get older they will figure it out.To me it is part of their innocence and let them have that all long as they can.My daughter is 6 and still believes In Tinker bell, Pixie Dust, Santa , and the Easter Bunny ,Jesus Christ and God and will continue to as long as she wants to --And To me it is Beautiful and young and Innocent.Let them be a child for as long as you can.Because before you know it--That Innocence is gone and ya can not get it back.

Kecia - posted on 11/03/2010

Amen!

Carla - posted on 11/03/2010

My dears--there has been much discussion on the celebration of holidays on this community and on Christian Moms. Every person has their own ideas, and are entitled to them! So maybe it's time to stop this thread. Kecia, I'm sorry if something was said that hurt you. This is exactly the type of thing we try so hard to avoid, especially as Christian women. We share on here to discuss our thoughts and questions, let's keep the Spirit of Christ in responding :)

Kecia - posted on 11/02/2010

Thank you Candi for saying what I was trying to say in my original post... I wasn't as eloquent as you however....I was a bit miffed seeing that other's could be so mean and judgmental about it... because as you said, I was brought up believing (until I was about 9) and I fully trust my parents... and my older children trust and love me. As long as your kids know about Christ and the true meaning behind the holidays, like you said, there is nothing wrong with it.
That being said, I would also like to say that I would NEVER tell a parent who teaches their child there isn't a Santa or Easter Bunny that their child will grow up being bitter and angry with their parent because they missed out on those fun things associated with each icon and holiday... so let's try to be respectful of what we say here... I am a good parent who teaches my child about Christ and don't want to come to what should be a safe place and find myself being put down because of something such as this.

Jackie - posted on 11/02/2010

I haven't led my child to believe one way or another about Santa Claus. She brought it up when she was three. I told her that he was a fun imaginary person. She told me he was real. I told her she could pretend there was a Santa if she wanted to. We do a "Santa" stocking but she knows now that "Santa" is daddy. She's fine with that. To me it has always been a non-issue. As far as Halloween, I tell her I don't like it. She asks me why. I told her that God doesn't want us to ever be afraid. But it's ok to play dress up, and it's fun to wear a costume, so I take her to the Church sponsored Harvest Festival. We do not celebrate Halloween, but I do not emphasize the dark side of it either. She doesn't need to know that right now.

Candi - posted on 11/02/2010

Letting your children believe in Santa does not lead your children to believe lying is acceptable. It does not lead to betrayal either. Maybe if you are weak-minded. I believed in Santa when I was little and I trust my parents, should I believe they are lying everytime they speak now? NO! Its crazy. Santa and the Easter Bunny are innocent childhood icons, there is nothing wrong with it. Thats just my opinion

Cyndel - posted on 11/02/2010

P.S. my old church used to get together have a potluck and prayer night, not for those who celebrate Halloween, but for those who don't know Christ. It is a great alternative.
Though I do take advantage of the after halloween costum sale and buy dress up stuff, batman, buzz lightyear, etc. for my son to play with at home.

Cyndel - posted on 11/02/2010

We don't celebrate Halloween. It was started because of ignorance, and the church instead of teaching its congragation what the bible said about demons and spirits allowed it.
People used to believe that on the Eve of All Hallows day (all hallows day or all saints day is november 1st) demons and spirits would come and kill or torment anyone believed to celebrate all hollows day. so they dressed up as demons and spirits to fool them and protect themselves.
The church could have stopped it. Now it is a time people celebrate horror, demons, witchcraft. so no we don't
As for Christmas. It started as a pagan holiday, a catholic bishop wanting to keep his congrigation from celebrating pagan holidays decided to come up with christian holiday's that coincide with pagan holidays. that includes easter, the day of firtility and love. We as christians have claimed these holiday's and redemed them for Christs glory. As long as pagan practices arent included, (eggs and bunnies) I see no problems with it.
As for Santa, It is a lie to tell your child that santa still exists, the old stories of saint nicholas is true, you can tell those to your child but not that Santa still exists. It only lets your kids know that lying is acceptable. And causes distrust and betrayal between child and parent when the truth comes out.
My children will hear of Santa that is impossible to stop, but will never believe in his existance.

Linda - posted on 11/01/2010

We don't celebrate Halloween. I just can't justify in my mind to celebrate Satan's high holy day--especially living in Massachusetts for so many years where they really do it up in Salem. However, I agree with Carla that each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. Many Christians I greatly respect do celebrate Halloween. My own godly parents did. I think we should all examine all aspects of it, make our own decisions, and be careful not to judge others for making a different decision.

Candy - posted on 11/01/2010

I feel Halloween is what YOU make of it or what You dont make of it.

Catherine - posted on 11/01/2010

We don't do halloween at all.

Instead we went to a fantastic Light Party that was organised by our church. Fantastic music praising The Lord, dancing, lots of party food and crafts all added up to a very happy daughter.

Hope they do another next year.

Candi - posted on 11/01/2010

we celebrate every holiday. We go to the church for trunk or treating. My kids love to dress up and have fun. After the church fun, we come home and my kids will trick or treat around the neighborhood and I will pass out candy. Its fun for all. We are Christians and my kids understand Halloween, but they love to dress up and carve pumpkins!!Christmas is huge around my house. we celebrate it to the fullest. We trim our tree on Dec 16(husband's family tradition), my b-day and Anniversary is Dec 21, christmas eve we drink cider and build a big fire in the fireplace and just enjoy the family being together. Then Christmas morning, we get to see what Santa brought. My kids are still young. They know the reasons for Christmas and they understand where the gift-giving comes in. Easter is the same way. They know the reason, but its fun to see what the Easter Bunny brought. Let children be innocent for as long as possible. Don't spoil the fun in the holidays. They will have plenty of time to be adults.

Carla - posted on 11/01/2010

Kecia, ditto. My grandfather was a Pentecostal minister and we celebrated! It was an amazing time for us, and when I found out there wasn't a Santa, there was a hole in my heart ;) We ALWAYS celebrated Jesus, whether Christmas, Easter or yes, Halloween!



Children have to grow up so quickly, I don't want them to miss out on ANY of the wonder we had. Our children are taught love, respect, courtesy, care for others' property, etc. They would NEVER go out on Devil's Night and destroy property, they don't even ask why we celebrate Halloween. To them (and us) it was a night of running in our costumes and eating candy.



However, that being said, I will tell you what I have told the others who have wondered about this. You have to be fully persuaded, one way or the other, on what you believe. If you don't see anything wrong with it, have fun! But if your heart convicts you, don't. Read Paul's letters, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, etc. He tells us all things are clean to us. We are not to use that freedom as an excuse to do something we KNOW or FEEL to be wrong. A wise woman gets lots of counsel, then makes her decision.



God bless, honey

Kecia - posted on 11/01/2010

Yes I let my son trick or treat. He knows it's just a fun time for dressing up in FUN costumes for candy... When he is older, I'm sure we'll have the discussion about how other people celebrate it and why. But for our family, it's a fun time of year to dress up and carve pumpkins, nothing more.
As far as Santa goes, my son still believes in him. I was brought up thinking that there was a Santa and remember fondly those years and so it just was a natural thing for me to pass that on to my children. I have 3 other children (16,19 and 20) and they too also thought Santa visited good girls and boys each Christmas. But they all know that the true celebration at Christmas time is Christ's birth. When my youngest son figures out the truth about Santa, then so be it, but it's just been a fun thing in our home... leaving snacks out before bedtime on Christmas eve being one of those fun things. I see nothing wrong with either thing you've asked about as long as there is discussion about them. None of my older children felt I "lied" to them about Santa and they look back fondly on our cookie baking. Along with that, we always bake a cake to celebrate Jesus's birth.... Kids need to be kids... and you CAN mix fun with doing the Lord's work.

Heather - posted on 10/31/2010

We don't celebrate Halloween. My knowledge of the day grows each year, and I just grow more and more uncomfortable with it, I talk with my kids about the roots of the day, and what God's Word says about it.

We DO NOT do Santa. I made this decision before I even became a Christian because I couldn't bear the thought of lying to my children. When I became a Christian I saw Santa as something that took the focus off of Jesus, so I was glad that I had decided not to do it.

Victoria - posted on 10/31/2010

We don't celebrate halloween, our kids don't go trick or treating, we do usually hand out seed treats (chips w/Scripture attached) and our church gives our kids a bag of treats as a reward for not going out & dressing in costume, but instead doing the work of the LORD.

We don't tell our kids that santa is real either, as that is just a lie that takes away from the true meaning of why we celebrate Christmas, same as the Easter bunny at Easter. Our general answer for that one is "We celebrate Christ at Christmas, Not santa" Our kids don't feel like they miss out, they are always so blessed, by how God enable us and other friends and family to bless them, that they don't care about a fictional character getting the credit for what we do for them.