To wonder why some Christians have a problem with Halloween?

[JellyDiamonds]

The first time I encountered this was at Uni when a girl I was friends with refused to partake in any Halloween celebrations whatsoever on the grounds that it was "evil". Her family were evangelical Christian, and even though she was more relaxed in her religious beliefs than them she wouldn't budge on Halloween. It was a shame as she missed out on all of the fun. But she'd never celebrated it, and her family would go out on the 31st to avoid trick or treaters.

I don't understand it? My mum was raised a Christian and has always loved halloween. She sees it for what it is, a bit of fun for kids.

I feel a bit sorry that these people won't allow their children to take part in the same customs that their peers do. Doesn't it leave them feeling a bit left out at school etc?

Should these people just get a grip and stop being intolerant?

As for comparing Halloween to Christmas, easter etc what a ridiculous idea. It's only really in the past fifteen years or so that Halloween has become such a huge phenomenon in this country.

In my area Halloween now is no bigger than 15 years ago.

And, not being funny, but I have heard people say the same about Christmas and Easter. i.e. Christmas just used to be giving one gift, bringing in some greenery and having a nice meal - and now its a huge thing with mountains of presents, and huge light up scenes in the garden, and everyone starts thinking about it in September etc etc.

I was raised Christian in the 1970's - we did apple bobbing etc and gory costumes (knife through the head one year with ketchup blood!)

some Christians - especially the more evangelical associate anything fun Halloween with evil thus not taking part

I wonder why a Christian wouldn't want to worship another God, celebrate evil and become a pagan for a day..... Now let me see?

Christians aren't missing out on a celebration as to miss something surely you would be wanting to be involved with it, and most Christians I know don't want to.

I do remember my Scottish Teacher telling us that we had to do a dance or sing a song on the doorstep to get our treat, and us all looking horrified at her, because round our way if you had done a dance rather than screeching 'trick or treat!' people would have just been confused!

Ah yes, guising! You were expected to earn your sweets (and sometimes 10p) not threaten people. Trick or treat I'd always thought of as American. So it seems traditions were quite different if we're similar ages. I'm in Edinburgh now and we don't get many kids round, but they do still tend to do a song or a joke.

We had a party in the village hall where we all dressed up, had a turnip lantern parade, did Halloween games like ducking for apples. And we also went out guising where you had to do your song/dance/jokes. Then the week after we would have a big bonfire and fireworks display at the school. Happy days!

My children's new headmaster has banned it at school. No Halloween based anything. So they had a " mid term disco" when up to last year it was a Halloween one, and no decorating witches or pumpkins in art.

how many of the people who think that people should "get a grip" over Halloween are the same ones who withdraw their children from any kind of mention of God in schools

Lots I should think and rightly so. In both cases we'd be arguing against religious people who think there really are 'ghosts and ghoulies and long-leggedy beasties'. It's a consistent position.

Of course if Christians don't want to join in that's their choice, but the kids dressed up in costumes are having fun, not worshipping the devil, and it's daft to suggest otherwise.

I grew up Catholic in Dublin. The streets were swarming with children dressed up.

We once went trick or treating with the vicar's wife and children. I think most sensible Christians just see it as a bit of nonsense and don't take it seriously.

I don't like it. As someone else said, it's celebrating bad things - telling children that witches, ghosts etc are 'ok' which could lead them to think other things are ok later in life (Ouija boards etc). This year, it feels worse with Ebola raging through countries in Africa - all those gory costumes, celebrating death.

That's just my opinion though...

Witches are OK. Don't you realise that Witchcraft is a religion and insinuating there is something wrong with being a practicing witch is deeply offensive? There is no connection between Ouija boards and witchcraft either, and saying there is is ignorant.

Christians are always the first to whinge when someone infringes on their beliefs, but can be so bloody intolerant of others!

Most people don't see it the same way as you do bronya. They don't take it seriously. They just see it as dressing up and getting some sweets from the neighbours - nothing more.

I am a Christian and can't see what all the fuss is about. I think you are massively overthinking it.

It's not celebrating bad things or death Bronya it's celebrating our loved ones who have passed over. It's not about celebrating evil unless you're in a slasher film and very few Pagans that I know of will he teaching their children to use spirit boards or teaching them that anything evil is a good thing. Even us witches have morals you know!

A few years back, our local Catholic boshop had a rant about Hallowe'en and said that it should be a celebration for All Saints' day, and children could have fun dressing up as saints.
That concept would make fabulous Halloween costumes; boiled in oil, flayed, sawn in half, crucified, hanged, beaten to death...and that's just the apostles.

I did once suggest to my occasionally devout (at Halloween) catholic SIL that we should celebrate Valentines Day in a more traditional way by crucifying a man on a wheel. It didn't go down well...

As children from a very catholic family we always had a Halloween party bobbing for apples etc etc. my mother had no problem with it but we never celebrated fireworks night. From my adult perspective I don't see it as celebrating evil I do see it as a time to remember people who we love who are no longer with us. I do have a problem with people adopting an American custom which has no bearing or relevance in British culture.

"I do have a problem with people adopting an American custom which has no bearing or relevance in British culture."

If you are referring to trick or treat, you are misinformed. Trick or treating started in the US in the 1940s.

"Souling" in Great Britain and Ireland predates that considerably. Children and poor people would sing and say prayers for the dead in return for cakes. Guising in Scotland also predates trick or treat.

Calling it trick or treat is an American influence, so that bit is correct.

Well said Jellydiamonds!

I have good friends who are wiccans and they are good people who believe in a nature religion, to do any harm is against their beliefs. As I said above it is ignorance in other beliefs that lead people to think it is anything to do with evil.

Witches never use ouija boards, that is just an old Victorian parlour game!

Thank you bunbaker I was aware of the history of souling (smiley face). I do think trick or treat is an American import that we can do without. Children and possibly some adults think its just an excuse to get sweets i would be very surprised if people offered to say prayers for anyone either living or dead.

Evil is not the result of imaginary beings-evil is what humans do. Last time someone was killed by a werewolf-never. Last time someone was killed by a dickhead with a knife-probably in the last ten minutes. It might be "celebrating death" but it is not bloody real-it's fantasy. (Like ouija boards, ghosts and other such ...malarkey) (not including wiccans in there-that is their faith of choice-might not believe myself, but their choice)
My mexican dil will be celebrating Dios de muerto (sp sorry) (and dressing up as something scary AND NOT REAL!) last time I looked Catholic family.

We are Orthodox (Torah Submissive) Christians. We don't do Hallow'een, because it celebrates symbols of the anti -Christ, witches, ghosts and so on. It does not help anyone except businesses and seems to be about greed and gluttony in children. That said, anyone else can do as they wish, we just don't open the door or get involved in any way.

The Guardian has a good article about the origins of Halloween, both pagan and Christian:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/28/halloween-more-than-trick-or-treat-origins

I find it more surprising that so many Christians don't have a problem with it. I was raised in an evangelical household and hallowe'en was absolutely not done. I'm very much a lapsed Christian now but I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of celebrating some that to me is so clearly linked to the occult. DSs do some Hallowe'en stuff with their childminder but if i were a SAHM i don't think we'd do anything at all.

Ooh, that looks like goo reading,hackmum. Thank you!

I cant stand the idea of people knocking on my door begging for "candy"
I dont let the kids do it either.

We do love the other bits of Halloween, but will go out on the 31st somewhere fun :D