What do you do on Halloween?

Lisa - posted on 10/30/2009

My church usually has activities for any and everyone who wants to come, they have films and classes that pertaining to christianity and the true meaning behind Holloween. I pass out candy at my house that include scriptures for the kids. Any opportunity to tell someone about the goodness of God should be used.

Angela - posted on 10/29/2009

Going to our first 'Saints & Angels' fair / community evening at local Baptist Church :) Angel dress for preschooler - check. Fave Teddy has chosen dress-up ribbons - check. Late afternoon sleep - check. Early tea - check. Pray & share word lots come and are touched - check. Don't know who's more excited!

Diana - posted on 10/28/2009

I let my kids dress up in non-scary, non-violent costumes and we go to the harvest festival at church. This year we will be going to a friends house for pizza, games, candy and a movie.

Diana - posted on 10/28/2009

I just had the pumpkin story e-mailed to me today and I loooooooooooove it, that is such a great story with a wonderful message! :)

DEBRA - posted on 10/28/2009

We go to the church festival each year.

Jennifer - posted on 10/26/2009

Where I grew up all the local churchs did the same things mentioned by Mrs. Rebecca Towner. Our also had an optional lock in that allowed the parents an opportunity to have a break and give the kids a chance to stay up late, watch movies and play games, eat pizza and candy.

I have moved so this is my first Halloween in this area. My son is 2 so last Halloween we went to the Harvest Fest at church and he had no idea what was going on. Prior to his birth my husband and I stayed home and handed out candy.

The churchs I have been to lately seem to participate in the regular Halloween activities. They hold a Harvest Fest but start around 5pm so the kids can go Trick-or-Treating with their friends. I'm thinking about making Halloween night movie night...watch movies that start the season towards celebrating Christs birth. I think I will still hand out candy, only because that is the only time we buy candy.

Hope my rambling was somewhat helpful. I look forward to hearing suggestions from others.

Dawn - posted on 10/26/2009

If our church is not having a party on that particular night we go to family and friends. We are also blessed to have two Christian Unviversites near us that our kids can go to.

ANNA - posted on 10/26/2009

Also they have Trunk or Treats here in Citrus County , at Most Churches

ANNA - posted on 10/26/2009

Take the Kids to Harvest Fest, But Not This year due to Being Prego, and due in 5 weeks

Jackie - posted on 10/26/2009

I used to believe that trick or treating was wrong. It began when my mother in law warned me of all Satan's activity that night so I didn't let my kids trick or treat. I used to let them, when they were little, dress up and I would hide candy throughout the house. The neighbors knew that we didn't trick or treat and saved candy for them anyway. We would make dinner special, make pizza and get a fun movie. They also enjoyed seeing the other kids come to our door all dressed up. When they got older, I would let them go to some of the nearby neighbors dressed in "good" costumes, no ghosts, devils or whatnot. They enjoyed it and the neighbors loved that they came over. You need to have some balance. Not everything is bad. The real meaning of Halloween is bad. You could explain that to them. But, dressing up isn't bad. You can make it a real teachable moment!

Hillary - posted on 10/17/2009

Well I am in your same position.My children are 6,10, and 12.I have let them go out to get candy only a few times, but that was before I really knew what halloween was.I am going to try something new this year.Making cookies shaped as crosses and Jesus fish and let my children pass them out to anyone who comes to our door.We will also have it be a bible study night with certain passages and crafts.I feel it is spreading Gods word, love and at the same time not having to hide in the house I guess...lol It's going to be new for us but I know God will bless us for not going against him on that day that satan uses little children and even adults...i hope that idea help.You could also try carving things about jesus into pumpkins that way everyone can see them and know your beliefs.

Sabrina - posted on 10/17/2009

We let the kids dress up but we have pretty much always done a disney theme. depending on where we are is what we do. we have gone trick or treating. we have also done the trunk or treat at the local church. but the crowd has gotten too big so we stop going there. we did the first time cause a hurriane had just hit and there was no where else to take the kids. and it wasnt that crowded. we have also gone to our churches fall festival. but this year we are going to be visiting with family in the orlando area so we are going to disney to check out some of the free activities that they have. i dont have the money to go to the parks. but they will like it just the same. they only want the candy. an the girls like dressing up like a princess.

Cynthia - posted on 10/16/2009

We usually attend a "Harvest Festival" at church. However now that the boys are grown, I don't attend anymore.

Antoinette - posted on 10/14/2009

Before I knew the meaning of Halloween, I took my children trick or treating, dressed up in costumes. That was because I did not know any better. Once I realized that it was the devil's holiday and it is the night when he acquires stronger due to the celebration of evil, I stopped. I purchased candy and have it in my home for my daughter but did not distribute it. For children it is just fun a festival. It has alot to do with what you believe.

Be creative. Some people host their own events, you don't have to stay in, what about church?

Jill - posted on 10/14/2009

i am a Halloween hater....but because of pressure from my hubby... my kids go to a couple houses with non evil costumes on ..... can't wait till its over ... i used to take my kids to toys r us to avoid all the stuff but that got a little expensive....

Rebecca - posted on 10/13/2009

I would like to pass out religiouse tracks but don't have money to buy any atm and don't have access to free ones. Also as for the costumes I stay on the non scary/violent side of things. My son is being a conducter this year and my daughter a princess :)

Nickie - posted on 10/13/2009

We take ours to our church outreach. Our church has a Harvest Fair. The church sets up booths and based on the game the kids get candy. My stepson really enjoyed it 2 years ago. Our daughter was too young last year to really enjoy it, but I'm hoping she does this year.

Alisa - posted on 10/12/2009

Quoting Beth:

Fortunately, we live very close to all the grandparents, so we dress the kids up and take them to their houses. They are only 3, so they don't even know it as "Holloween" but as a really fun day that they get to dress up like super heroes and show the family how cool they look. They go to the door and say, "May God Bless You". Also, at our house, I was planning on giving candy and "Jesus loves all the little pumpkins" cards out to the trick or treaters after we take the boys to see their grandparents. I feel like its important to do something to introduce God to the little ones who might not know Him yet. I also feel that you can't successfully exclude your kids from things like this...I mean just imagine, your kid comes back to school on Nov 1st and kids have all sorts of candy, cool pictures of their costumes, and awesome stories about how funny it was...and what does your child have?? Now, I am not saying everyone celebrate Halloween, but I am saying you need to have a fun alternative planned.

We celebrate reformation day but if it didn't happen to be the same day as Halloween then we would not celebrate just as Jewish families do not celebrate Easter & don't find a need for an alternative so their children do not feel left out.  We cannot put our beliefs 2nd to our children feeling left out in society.  If we are consistent, then our children will not feel left out but instead use it as a way to evangelize.  Our family not celebrating Halloween has actually become known & we are often asked why this time of year.  We are lucky that our public school has taken all Halloween out of the school otherwise our children would use a religion day (we don't have off on for certain religious holidays so families are excused if they celebrate for their religion).     

Beth - posted on 10/12/2009

Fortunately, we live very close to all the grandparents, so we dress the kids up and take them to their houses. They are only 3, so they don't even know it as "Holloween" but as a really fun day that they get to dress up like super heroes and show the family how cool they look. They go to the door and say, "May God Bless You". Also, at our house, I was planning on giving candy and "Jesus loves all the little pumpkins" cards out to the trick or treaters after we take the boys to see their grandparents. I feel like its important to do something to introduce God to the little ones who might not know Him yet. I also feel that you can't successfully exclude your kids from things like this...I mean just imagine, your kid comes back to school on Nov 1st and kids have all sorts of candy, cool pictures of their costumes, and awesome stories about how funny it was...and what does your child have?? Now, I am not saying everyone celebrate Halloween, but I am saying you need to have a fun alternative planned.

Rachael - posted on 10/11/2009

We go to trunk or treat at the local church but they usually do them on the weekend so often they are on different nights. When that happens we take the kids trick or treating but they aren't allowed to have scary or non violent or "adult costumes" I make them so I monitor them. Last year our family went as the Ingalls from little house on the prairie. I also teach them that it's all about the candy and not about ghosts and other things. Our 10 yr old know the diffrence but the others are still small enough that only the candy matters anyway.

Tomekia Joy - posted on 10/10/2009

My pastor gives out free books for us to past out to the neighborhood children and we drop candy in the bags, but we do not celebrate by going out and dressing up. Our womens group has a potluck during the week and we do crafts and goodies for the kids as well.

Heather - posted on 10/09/2009

Quoting Alisa:

We do not celebrate Halloween but instead celebrate reformation day. It was Oct 31, 1517 that Martin Luther posted the 95 These. This is very important to us as it saved Christianity and brought people back to biblical principals. This year, my daughter has a close friend who is having a Halloween theme birthday party. We sat down & asked our daughter questions to make sure she could handle going to the party. Our daughter said to us that her friend is a gift from God & she knows that she is celebrating her birth not a Pagan holiday. I believe my daughter knows the difference. Back to the question, we play games & write notes to God and place them on our front door to honor reformation day. It is still a very special day to us.

I love this idea of forming a new tradition based on reformation day.  This topic has been the source of some stress for me as a mother of four.  Our oldest is five years older than her siblings and was born to us before my husband was saved and before I was mature enough to understand the role of the occult in the world, so we naturally participated in all the usual traditions with no thought to its significance.  Now, however, I am feeling convicted to respond to the controversey.   No matter what one personally believes, we also have to avoid being stumbling blocks, and that is also what I want to achieve with whatever approach we take to changing our family traditions.  Since we want to be sensitive to our daughter's desire to enjoy the party fun that comes with the halloween season while still being pure in motive and appearance, perhaps we can try this celebration idea!  Thanks!!

Alisa - posted on 10/09/2009

We do not celebrate Halloween but instead celebrate reformation day. It was Oct 31, 1517 that Martin Luther posted the 95 These. This is very important to us as it saved Christianity and brought people back to biblical principals. This year, my daughter has a close friend who is having a Halloween theme birthday party. We sat down & asked our daughter questions to make sure she could handle going to the party. Our daughter said to us that her friend is a gift from God & she knows that she is celebrating her birth not a Pagan holiday. I believe my daughter knows the difference. Back to the question, we play games & write notes to God and place them on our front door to honor reformation day. It is still a very special day to us.

Stephanie - posted on 10/09/2009

We go to our churches trunk or treat festival

Susan - posted on 10/07/2009

Celebrate the Lord of the Harvest and let your children know the truth and the family experience will come. When we had a group of teenagers around we did an "Angel Night" on Oct 30th and had an all night prayer/activities/worship time praying for God's protection and intervention. The kids loved it and the presence of the Holy Spirit was so awesome year after year that all of them started asking in Aug if we were going to have another Angel Night in Oct. Cool Stuff

Becky - posted on 10/05/2009

Some of the families have a harvest party on the 31st. Some dress up like Biblical characters. We hand out Christian tracts with the candy bags.

Cynthia - posted on 10/04/2009

We have a HA LEY LOU YA Party instead of a halloween party. We get to dress up in Nice costumes and games are centered around bible stories like bean bag toss is tossing the bean bag into the whale mouth, and such so its fun and kids learn without the ghosts and blood.

Jodi - posted on 10/04/2009

Our church does Trunk or Treat and families decorate their trunks with a theme...either a Bible story or something not scary. We have hot chocolate and tracts to hand out. One of our members owns an ice cream place here in town and we use his parking lot and get lots of kids coming through.

Kim - posted on 10/04/2009

There are a few area churches in my town that hold a fall festival and I always took my girls to that. This year our church is holding the festival at a local park so that we can reach more for Christ than having it at our church. We are having inflattables and games and we give them candy and have food as well. It is a great alternative to trick or treating. And you know the candy is safe and the kids have a great time.



The other church has a Noah's ark party. Similar to the same that we do, but at their church and with the same concepts.

Hope this helps and God Bless

Erika - posted on 10/04/2009

Quoting Heather:

We hand out candy in a bag with a scripture on it. I am thinking about buying some tracts to go with it. In the past we have went out trick or treating for half an hour and then came back to the house to pass out the treats, but I am not sure if we are going out this year or not. As Christians I believe that we are to let our lights shine. It's just between you and God about how you do that.

I am also planning on sharing the pumpkin story with my kids. Christians are like pumpkins. There is also one that goes with carving jack-o-lanterns about God scooping out all of the bad stuff and then placing his light in us.

Yes this is the perfect way to spread the word. I love the pumpkin story. Last year I read it to my son.

Kathy - posted on 10/04/2009

my oldest just turned 2, and this will be her first year to go trick or treating with dad. I'll be at home passing candy out. I assume she will not go very far, just in our neighbor hood. My husband really enjoys this Holiday

Rhoda - posted on 10/02/2009

I just stay home and I dont pass out candy either. Im just glad my kids are grown and I dont have to mess with it.

Jennifer - posted on 10/02/2009

Well my kids are teens now, so they don't trick or treat anymore. But I always trick or treated as a child and always took my boys out. We would go to a couple small towns where we knew a lot of people.
Last year our church had a harvest party. Our minister the other day was talking about this, and how some people in the church took their kids out trick or treating before bringing them to the 'alternative' party. I just told him I didn't see a difference in the two.
He doesn't think Christians should celebrate Halloween. But, what is the difference in dressing your kids up and taking them out trick or treating to get candy, or dressing them up, taking them to the church and playing games to get candy. You are doing the exact same thing, just in different places!
I've always felt it's what you make it. If someone believes it's evil, then I guess to them it's evil. Our minister said that many Christians just don't 'understand what halloween is all about'. But to most people, it's just about getting candy!! Nothing evil.
Our minister and his wife won't even carve jack-o-lanterns. I guess because of what the original reason was for carving them. But I love carving them and putting candles in them and setting them on the porch. You know, I doubt the main majority of people don't even know the 'real' reason people used to carve them. They just like them for decoration.

Jeanette - posted on 10/02/2009

I never heard of the pumpkin story. I just looked it up. It is nice!!! Thanks everyone!!!

Heather - posted on 10/02/2009

We hand out candy in a bag with a scripture on it. I am thinking about buying some tracts to go with it. In the past we have went out trick or treating for half an hour and then came back to the house to pass out the treats, but I am not sure if we are going out this year or not. As Christians I believe that we are to let our lights shine. It's just between you and God about how you do that.

I am also planning on sharing the pumpkin story with my kids. Christians are like pumpkins. There is also one that goes with carving jack-o-lanterns about God scooping out all of the bad stuff and then placing his light in us.

Rachel - posted on 10/02/2009

We take our kids trick or treating in a subdivision that the cops close off the entrance to. This years the boys are being Mario and Luigi.

Sarah - posted on 10/01/2009

We go trick or treating, but our costumes stay on the non violent/bloody, etc. side. Princess, Skeleton that glows in the dark, Cheerleader. Our pastor will have a message about All Saints Day either that Sunday before or after Halloween (depending which is closest) and decribes how Halloween came about. When you learn about how it came about it is not an evil thing. Mexico has a very simular celebration but they do it more as a festival than a night time thing. It is called the "Day of the Dead".

Rebecca - posted on 10/01/2009

Our church usually hosts a harvest party with lots of games and candy open to the community. It's a great chance to share the Gospel with those in the community while providing an alternative activity for children to participate in with their parents.