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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to church toddler group in devil horns tomorrow?

136 replies

MrsMotherHen · 30/10/2017 22:10

Its our toddler and baby group tomorrow and my DS2 doesnt and didnt want a outfit but does like a handband the glow in the dark types. So i just picked him up some devil horns.

Our play group is at a church hall. The priests wife helps to run it and he then comes and does song time with the guitair.

AIBU for him to wear the devil horns tomorrow? he is so looking forward to it.

OP posts:
bigfatbumfreak · 30/10/2017 22:45

This is a cracker for the daily mail. Just like the halloween decks one.....oh can we have picks of your kid sad faced because he’s been ejected from the church in devils horns.

donquixotedelamancha · 30/10/2017 22:48

"Catholic priests don't have wives."

Some do. A little over 200 in the UK, I believe.

CorbynsBumFlannel · 30/10/2017 22:48

If they're having Halloween dress up I doubt they'all be too fussed what the kids wear.

Ladybirdbookworm · 30/10/2017 22:50

Get over yourself - you are being ridiculous, what do you want to prove??

Ladybirdbookworm · 30/10/2017 22:50

Aw big fat I love that

Original poster
MrsMotherHen · 30/10/2017 22:57

Ladybookworm yes thats it you got it in one! I want everyone to say awww that's cute i love it!

NOT AT ALL

I dont want to turn up at our toddler group maybe cause offence and look a massive twat.

OP posts:
SuperBeagle · 30/10/2017 23:00

It's fine.

As far as I can tell from your post, it's not in the church, nor is it a necessarily Christian group (just that the pastor/his wife have some involvement?)

rachrach2 · 30/10/2017 23:02

My church have a Halloween service (or pumpkin party as it’s actually called). I was surprised but I really doubt anyone would take offense.

ReanimatedSGB · 30/10/2017 23:02

I took DS to the local Salvation Army playgroup in a devil outfit when he was 3 - it didn't occur to me they might not like it, as they were having a Halloween party. No one was bothered, the playgroup was full of small devils/witches/vampires.

Original poster
MrsMotherHen · 30/10/2017 23:06

SuperBeagle

It's fine.

As far as I can tell from your post, it's not in the church, nor is it a necessarily Christian group (just that the pastor/his wife have some involvement?)

Yes that pretty much sums it up super. Halloween Blush

OP posts:
ScotInExile · 30/10/2017 23:10

Halloween was actually created by the church as a means to integrate pagan festivals into the Christian calendar thereby converting pagans to Christianity. The name itself was derived from a religious holiday - Hallowe'en = All Hallow's Eve - its the day before All Saints Day. Before the church got involved it was a Celtic festival called Samhain which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark winter. It's down to the church that we now celebrate Halloween by dressing as ghosts and witches and demons so it would be pretty hypocritical of them to reject your child from playgroup for wearing devil horns.!

Kahlua4me · 30/10/2017 23:24

I should think they will be okay with it if it is a Halloween party.

Our company did some work for our local church once and I sent the invoice for completed work which they paid straight away. Unfortunately the invoice was number 666!
The priest never said a word about it and did book work afterwards so obviously wasn’t too traumatised Grin

SparklyUnicornPoo · 30/10/2017 23:30

donquixotedelamancha The 200ish are mostly Anglican ordinariate, they really would give a toss.

OP it really depends on the church, from a Catholic point of view in a very old fashioned parish, the vigil and trick or treating were all part of the communion of souls (all be it moved from 13th May to replace Samhain) so Halloween is actually ok, indeed it was a holy day of obligation. However a lot of Christians, and even a fair number of Catholics, are offended by Halloween and devil horns is probably pushing it even if they are having a party. I would wait and put them on after playgroup.

RaptorsCantPlayPoker · 30/10/2017 23:35

Of course it’s not appropriate to turn up at a a church run/staffed/funded/whatever event dressed as the devil.

millifiori · 30/10/2017 23:45

Depends on what sort of church it is. At our local church you'd be talked about forever if you came in skeleton tee shirt and devil horns. But they are very born-again. Some of the more old fashioned churches are more laid back about Halloween. Ours has virtually banned it from the village.

Toddlerteaplease · 31/10/2017 05:47

A middle aged member of our congregation turned up to mass last Sunday, completely dressed in black with a huge spider attached to her hat. That was completely inappropriate but I don’t think a toddler wearing horns is.

lunabear1 · 31/10/2017 06:03

I wouldn't. DH is a Christian and I attend his church (although I'm an atheist) and 99.9% of attendees hate Halloween. The pastor and his is wife have children around 5 and 3 and she posted a rant on Facebook saying how awful it is to see Halloween costumes in supermarkets. They even go as far to throw a "light" party to give the younger attendees an alternative to Halloween parties.

Also even as an atheist I think it's disrespectful to wear devil horns in a church regardless of whether it is a church led group or not

sashh · 31/10/2017 06:09

"Might sound trivial to some but for Christians it is not and might upset them."

It's the eve of two of the most holy days in the RC (if not all denominations) calendar.

The type of Christians who object believe Satan buried the dinosaur bones and the great flood created the Grand Canyon.

Catholic priests don't have wives.If you don't know that, how can you know wether they'll give a toss or not?

Actually some do. Many of the ones who fled the C of E either when women started to be ordained or later when they were allowed to become bishops brought wives with them.

WanderingTrolley1 · 31/10/2017 06:12

I wouldn’t put my child in devil-horns, at any time, let alone a party.

CallMeDollFace · 31/10/2017 06:17

Absolutely fine. I honestly don’t think anyone would notice or care. It’s just a Halloween costume! 🎃

EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/10/2017 06:25

I think if you're not sure then don't do it. The church I go to holds a Light party as an alternative to Halloween. Some people are offended by Halloween. I haven't got a problem with it but I know people who do.

To all.the posters who are urging the OP to "just go for it". If the OP had posted that she takes her child to a group in the hall attached to the local Mosque, and that the Imam and his wife helped run the group, and then asked if everyone thought it would be ok if she took bacon sandwiches with her for snack time, I suspect she would have very different responses.

newdaylight · 31/10/2017 06:29

Absolutely fine. I go to church. They'd only get offended if they're nutters. In which case they need yo get offended.

Pengggwn · 31/10/2017 06:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eeanne · 31/10/2017 06:35

Every church I've been involved with asks parents not to dress children in scary-type costumes (e.g. devils, ghosts, witches) for Halloween parties. I think it's not appropriate OP.

Mummyoflittledragon · 31/10/2017 06:39

Hallowe’en is not a pagan festival. www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/all-hallow-s-eve.html

Your ds is a little kid, personally I don’t see a problem. The odd christian will. I’m not catholic btw just found this article.

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