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Original poster

Parents who follow a religion ......

71 replies

superbagpuss · 03/10/2014 11:55

what do you do about halloween?

We are Christian (liberal but church going) and our children go to a C of E school

I don't allow my children trickle treating and we don't dress up but do have a tub of sweets if anyone comes to the door - we live in a family friendly estate and its pretty safe.

As my DC get older they may question this - anyone have any ideas or experience?

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 03/10/2014 18:06

OK combust, but why?

combust22 · 03/10/2014 18:14

So much of christianity has been about destroying these old pagan religions.
Picking apart, assimilating, hijacking, destroying, vilifying, demonising.

Burning women,Turning pagan gods into devils.

Lookingforfocus · 03/10/2014 18:26

The early peoples of the British Isles actively chose Christianity it wasn't forced on them. Christians were in the UK when the Romans were in Britain. St. Patrick was enslaved for many years as a young man when he was captured and taken to Ireland don't forget by the wonderful pagans, he went back to bring them Christ. It was monks and unarmed people that brought Christ.

combust22 · 03/10/2014 18:29

"The early peoples of the British Isles actively chose Christianity it wasn't forced on them"

Yeah sure.

Hakluyt · 03/10/2014 18:30

"The early peoples of the British Isles actively chose Christianity it wasn't forced on them. "

Wow, really? Can you quote your sources?

MollyBdenum · 03/10/2014 18:37

I'm a pagan, so it's a really big religious festival for us. We generally celebrate quietly at home and then join in the trick or treating with the rest of the street.

I am totally happy for my kids to dress up and participate in Nativity plays, which is probably the closest equivalent. But we attend a Unitarian chapel and regularly worship alongside Christians there, so Christian festivals aren't a big deal, and my concept of divinity is less exclusive than that of Christians.

Lookingforfocus · 03/10/2014 18:37

i know it is fashionable to blame everything terrible in British history upon the horrible effects of Christianity but historical evidence doesn't present a bucolic pagan past. Instead there is increasing evidence that Celtic druids in Britain were sacrificing humans as the Romans claimed news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090320-druids-sacrifice-cannibalism.html

Hakluyt · 03/10/2014 18:46

What a very odd thing to say. I don't think anyone who knows anything about history at all would say that the Druids were anything like the white robed computer programmers they we today. Pre Christian religions were generally pretty unpleasant. Does anyone genuinely think otherwise?

Sunflowersareblue · 03/10/2014 18:48

I just say to my children, we don't celebrate that, and then don't! We don't celebrate anything else that isn't christian, like eid or Passover, so why would we celebrate Halloween?

Lookingforfocus · 03/10/2014 19:05

It is not massively surprising then that the Celtic peoples of Britain gradually absorbed Christianity - without being conquered by other peoples. The Celts were mostly Christian when later invaders arrived. Christianization of the Anglo-Saxon invaders began in 597 with the combination of Augustine sent by the Roman church in the South-East of England and the Celtic churches in the North-West of England of which there is a ton of historical evidence if you care to look for it. The later invaders such as the Vikings when they arrived found a Christian culture in place.

AcrossthePond55 · 03/10/2014 19:10

"So much of christianity has been about destroying these old pagan religions. Picking apart, assimilating, hijacking, destroying, vilifying, demonizing. Burning women,Turning pagan gods into devils."

But why does that make my view that it's OK for Christians to trick or treat naive, Combust? I'd agree with it being hypocritical from a Pagan/Wicca point of view, but naive? And it's no more hypocritical than many non-believers participating in Christmas or Easter traditions (i.e., trees and gifts, chocolate bunnies and egg-hunts). This seems to be acceptable from the secular point of view and I have no problems with it as a Christian. So 'turn about fair play' when it comes to non-Christian celebrations. My Jewish friends certainly have no problem with me at the Seder or celebrating Chanukah with them. Many Muslims bring food gifts to non-Muslims during Ramadan when they break their fast. Certainly we've tried to destroy each other's religions in the past (and currently, unfortunately). Perhaps sharing traditions may eventually lead to a greater tolerance for each other.

headinhands · 04/10/2014 08:27

Pre Christian religions were generally pretty unpleasant

Like the OT?

vdbfamily · 17/10/2014 13:47

Christians are advised, in the bible, to steer clear of witchcraft,sorcery and the like. It seems then somewhat hypocritical if you are a 'Christian' family to celebrate one of the main festivals of Wicca, and get your kids dressed up as witches. We never celebrated as a family but I quite like the idea some Christians have of a big carved pumpkin with 'Jesus,Light of the World' lit up in the window.

bigbluestars · 17/10/2014 14:15

I too think it's hypocritical of christians to celebrate Halloween.

specialsubject · 17/10/2014 15:02

I think the point about not celebrating things that aren't part of your religion is perfectly reasonable.

if you celebrated every festival there is you'd never do anything else!

I'm waiting for Nov 1 for cheap pumpkins and marked-down cakes.

bigbluestars · 17/10/2014 17:27

special but isn't Halloween a pagan thing- and therefore "anti- christian"> The bible does warn of pagan practices and cavorting with the devil.

specialsubject · 17/10/2014 18:49

yes, well, hopefully the OP is more tolerant than that. Doesn't mean she needs to celebrate it of course.

NinjaLeprechaun · 17/10/2014 20:43

Now, sadly, American influence has made it more commercial and sweets are replacing the old fruit and nuts that used to be handed out
I moved to the US as a child,and throughout the 70s and early 80s (and no doubt before) it was quite common to get apples and the like when trick or treating. Maybe it was the candy companies who started the rumours about poison in apples or maybe it was Snow White and concerns about potentially contaminated home made food, but by the late 80s it was getting more rare to find those being given out. Small plastic crap toys seem to be currently gaining in popularity though.

NinjaLeprechaun · 17/10/2014 20:48

Oops, meant to add. I'm Pagan and I celebrate Halloween anyway. Although it does make me understand how the Easter Bunny must make some Christians feel.

I also celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah, because those are my childhood festivals. And, as far as I'm concerned, the more celebrations the better.

Hakluyt · 17/10/2014 23:47

"I too think it's hypocritical of christians to celebrate Halloween."

Why? Most people are not actually devil worshipping when they carve a pumpkin! Why can't Christians celebrate it as a cultural thing- just as I celebrate Christmas even though I'm an atheist?

bigbluestars · 18/10/2014 08:45

Because christian teachings warn of heathen ways. Atheists don't have to live by gods advice.

TeaspoonAndAnOpenMind · 19/10/2014 07:50

I'm a Christian and celebrate all Hallows Eve the same as I celebrate Pascha and Christmas. I see it as a time to remember all those who have gone before me, for good or ill, and to give thanks for the lives of the people we have loved and lost. I see it as a chance to look mortality in the eye and blow it a big raspberry.

we don't do seances or ouija boards, or actively contact the dead, but we will light a few candles and ask the saints to pray for us.

I give out sweets and we carve a pumkin to let people know we're a house that can be approached, and we'll tell ghost stories to remind ourselves that it ok to be scared, because He who is in us is bigger than Satan. I object to Christians called 'Hallow' or 'Holy ones' or 'Saints' eve a Satanic festival. He deserves no such privilege.

bigbluestars · 19/10/2014 08:08

Teaspon- it's interesting that you see Halloween as a "Satanic Festival". Is that something your church tells you?
I have never heard of Halloween described as such. Pagan perhaps but Satanic?

AliMonkey · 19/10/2014 08:15

I'm Christian. We don't celebrate Halloween because even if it started off as a Christian festival, it has turned into something that seems to celebrate sorcery etc which is against my beliefs. Even if not a Christian I wouldn't let my kids trick or treat due to the fact that it can be very menacing eg to frail older person who has group of people knocking on door and appearing to threaten them with a trick. I find it frustrating that over half term everywhere you go has Halloween themed activities but don't try to stop my kids joining in with eg making spiders or following pumpkin trails but hope to avoid the ones which are too ghost and witch themed. If not on holiday we will attend our church's big party which has things like Apple bobbing and face painting with a light fun theme.

TeaspoonAndAnOpenMind · 19/10/2014 08:18

Oh I've heard many a Christian call it a Satanic festival - mostly new fangled evangelical churches that hunker down come halloween like the devil has free run outside to cause mischief. Just to be clear I don't call it a Satanic festival. I like it.