Halloween
Should you or shouldn’t you?

MOPS moms from all over the United States weighed in on the subject of Halloween and told us how they celebrate or don’t celebrate October 31.

"We really focus on it being a day to dress up and have fun and that's all it is for us - nothing more, nothing less. Personally I know things can be drawn into Halloween to make it an evil day, but we do not do that and I don't see it being bad if we don't make it bad."
(Cherisse from Houston, TX) 

"October 31st is a time for us to help our church minister to our community. My favorite one is to load the kids up with candy and go out door to door (like trick or treating) and give the candy away to people with a small tag that says that Jesus loves them or some encouraging note. Most people are surprised to have people knock on their door and receive candy as it's completely backwards to most traditions for Halloween. We then come home, watch a movie and eat popcorn and ice cream." (Annalise from Granite Falls, WA)

"Halloween was an event I was always unsure about but for a few years participated in because as a youth I did and also because they had the cutest Ladybug costume and since my daughter’s nickname was “Ladybug” we just had to Trick or Treat. I always felt uneasy so [when she was] about 6 we stopped. I saw how it was such a contribution to a day that was highly charged by negative images and frankly the Devil. So, for my daughter’s sake we started to attend our church’s Harvest Party on Halloween night which was a great alternative to being out in the cold neighborhoods seeing scary images. We have done it ever since. We just try to keep it godly while feeding the sweet tooth."
(Janella from Denver, CO)

"Our kids are young enough to just think that Halloween is a day for fun games and dress up and LOTS OF CANDY! We just try to make it a fun day and not a scary thing! My Hubby loves all holidays so we do decorate a bit with some fun non scary things for the kids that come trick or treating! I personally think that in the US Halloween is just another commercial Holiday like Valentine's day. It is a time of the year for the stores to increase profits from costume and candy sales."
(Stacey from Rapid City, SD)

"I think it is important to know WHAT, WHO and WHY we celebrate anything at all. The Early Church set 'Martyr's Day' on the first Sunday after Pentecost, as day to remember and celebrate the lives of Christians who died for the faith. After time, the celebration began to include Christians who lived holy, imitable lives and the name of the day became 'All Hallows.' The date eventually shifted to November 1st (with the help of Pope Boniface) which made October 31st 'All Hallows Eve' or 'Halloween.'

"Taking a cue from the Early Church, we retain the HOLY part of this holiday by focusing on God and the mighty ways he has used his people to bring thousands to himself through their lives and their deaths. Foxe's Book of Martyrs is an ageless text and we glean devotionals from it during the month of October as we build up to Martyr's Day. A newer publication on martyrs, both ancient and modern, is Jesus Freaks , a collaborative effort between DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs. Both books are rather graphic, but a discerning parent should be able to retell the tales of spiritual heroism without the gory details.

"For us, Halloween night itself, is not any special night beyond the significance of Martyr's Day. And if anyone asks why our children don't dress up or 'trick-or-treat' and I want to give them a short answer, I just say what I've said in the past: 'We don't celebrate like that. We just can't think of any good reason to do it, and lots of good reasons not to.'" (Janet from Barnwell, SC)

"Halloween and fall in general is always our favorite time of year. We always go to a pumpkin patch the weekend before and the children each get to pick out their own pumpkin. We will take them home and paint them instead of carving. We don't do scary costumes - usually we'll do the children's favorite super hero or cartoon character or an animal. We love to decorate the house in paper chains and the children will draw fun Halloween pictures and we also like to take leaves that have fallen off the trees, put them in between two pieces of wax paper with crayon shavings sprinkled over them and iron them so the crayons melt. Makes for a cool project! I'm excited this year since it's on a Friday and we're in a cooler climate - I can make a big pot of chili or soup and crusty bread and some apple cider, and have a fun little harvest party when the children get home from school!"
(Tanya from Milwaukee, WI)

"Harvest Time is a great tradition for us ... Halloween for our family is a fun time to get together with friends and eat lots of CANDY! It's after everyone has kind of settled into school routines and the weather starts to turn cold and crisp...ohhhh, I love fall!" (Eva from Kennewick, WA)

"Our family views Halloween like we would view any other 'holiday/celebration' that isn't part of our religion. We don't feel the desire or need to celebrate Muslim holidays because we're not Muslim. We don't feel the need to celebrate Buddhist Holidays because we're not Buddhist. We don't celebrate Halloween because it's not part of our religion. We do celebrate Christian/Jewish holidays because those are part of our religion. We do celebrate national holidays because we're American.

"We don't hide inside our house with the lights off on Halloween, we just do what we would do any other day." (Leigh from Locust Grove, VA)

*MOPS International is often asked for our position about various policies, issues and circumstances that affect the world today. MOPS International exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers. Our desire is to reach the broadest possible audience through lifestyle evangelism. Therefore, MOPS International does not take stands on any issues – doctrinal, social or political – that are nonessential to salvation.