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Original poster

Halloween Fancy Dress

44 replies

Kezzballs · 23/10/2015 11:56

My 2 1/2 year old daughter is in nursery part-time and they are having a halloween/autumn themed fancy dress day on the 30th.

I am a devout Christian and I don't want my little girl to be involved with anything Halloween and I don't want her to be dressed up as anything as I don't want any significance to be brought to the day.

If I take her out of nursery for the day I will have to take a day off work.

I know I am not going to be able to shelter her from Halloween forever.

What are your thoughts and opinions on this?

Many thanks

OP posts:

200threads · 08/11/2015 09:23

The local kids get an empty house.

Lovely christian attitude.

Djelibeyb · 05/11/2015 16:30

They learnt some halloween bits at school and DS told the teacher he "doesn't like halloween" Mine are pretty sensitive though and none of them actually like it. We have never pushed it (even when not christian) just ignored it for the most part tbh until last 2/3 years.

I don't like randomers knocking on my door so we now take them out to a "light party" they started doing at church and we are all happy. They dance and bounce around with glowsticks and eat sweets til they puke and I sit outside drinking coffee and having a chat. The local kids get an empty house.

capsium · 27/10/2015 07:54

I struggle with your opinion on this. I don't think any child sees Halloween as a bad thing they just see it as fun. fun is good.

Funnily enough Heyho I have one that has never been that keen. We've been pretty low key with it and give out sweets. The sweets are liked but the costumes not so much. Has dressed up before but doesn't like the gruesome stuff. I don't like the cliche that they all like it.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 27/10/2015 05:33

Yes, I did realise after I posted but just thought I'd check!

seasonoflists · 27/10/2015 04:32

Sorry Thumb, typo - Jesus obviously.

Heyho111 · 26/10/2015 23:15

I struggle with your opinion on this. I don't think any child sees Halloween as a bad thing they just see it as fun. fun is good.

capsium · 26/10/2015 19:09

I am a Christian and I told my DC, when small, that part of the celebrations were about showing that we don't need to be scared of monsters etc. People dress up and have fun looking scary but they are just people behind the masks and makeup...who like eating sweets!

Seriouslyffs · 26/10/2015 13:21

season it was quite extraordinary! Especially as I was sat there with my Mil expecting her to appear as a robin or holly berry!
However as she's now struggling to reconcile enjoying the contrast between her RC upbringing and her Christian Union social life at University I don't think any harm was done!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 26/10/2015 09:49

Who's Jess?

seasonoflists · 26/10/2015 08:48

You're very sensible to be thinking about it now. In the next couple of years you'll be able to talk to her about how evil is real and powerful and what Jess has done to overcome death. This year I would dress her in green/ orange and send her to an 'Autumn party' and if she learns the word Halloween just tell her we don't celebrate it, but you went to an Autumn party.
The dancing round as red devils - I think many Christians would be pretty angry. What on earth did the school think to include that in a Christmas play?!

Boredofthinkingofnewnames · 25/10/2015 21:25

How bizarre. Send her as a leaf or a twig. She's 2.5!

shutupanddance · 25/10/2015 21:06

"My issue is that I do not want my little girl to be brainwashed into celebrating something"

Mwaaaah

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 25/10/2015 21:04

Also, from your own op, you have stated that they can go in autumnal themed clothes - so why on earth don't you just dress her as a brown leaf and have done? Or are you seriously worried that she will instantly turn into a wiccan or satanist from being exposed, at 2.5, to other small children dressed as witches and devils?

Seriouslyffs · 25/10/2015 18:09

What's to believe in? I'm a Christian and we were asked to send in red clothes for the Christmas play. Baubles or robins I guessed... They painted their faces red and had them dancing around singing 'I'm a little devil'

I was not impressed but DD had such fun I grinned and bore it.

AnthonyBlanche · 25/10/2015 17:20

Hilarious OP that you are worried about your DD being brainwashed into believing (actually not sure what you think she will be brainwashed into believing - is it that every child who dresses up and has fun at Halloween is worshipping pagan gods??) something, but you don't recognise that by indoctrinating your DD into your religion you are doing exactly the same thing!

howtorebuild · 25/10/2015 16:58

Dress her as a saint for 1st November.

gingerdodger · 25/10/2015 16:55

I'm Christian but don't have an issue with Halloween, however, if I had I think at this age I would just take her out for the day. Obviously as she tried older its going to get harder so you will need to explain your reasons. I suppose it is similar, in some ways, to the children of atheist parents where Christian festivals are celebrated in that you need to make a proactive decision as to whether you allow your child to partake but explain your stance to give a balance or if you remove completely. Neither is easy but there are other fun autumn things you can celebrate and I love All Saint's/Hallow's Day as a special day to remember the departed and bereaved.

Obs2015 · 25/10/2015 16:19

I don't think you can protect her from it. But you can explain how you feel, very simply that mummy doesn't agree with it.

I don't actually agree with Santa or tooth fairies, but that's more about ' lying', but I get round it, by not lying: I just say you put your tooth under your pillow and when you wake up there is money.
You can go similar, if that suits you.

specialsubject · 25/10/2015 15:50

your choice, really - cope with it (bearing in mind she is 2.5 and doesn't really know Halloween from anything else) or use a day's holiday.

but as someone else mentioned, if the nursery does events from other beliefs are you going to 'shelter' her from that too?

the more she knows about what others do, the more tolerant she is likely to become. She'll want her own choices later too.

AuntieStella · 24/10/2015 17:11

Sorry, that was meant to be just God (not a God).

musicinspring1 · 24/10/2015 17:11

Oooo and what scatterthenuns said too.

AuntieStella · 24/10/2015 17:10

I think your best bet is to tell her the Christian version of the festival. My suggestion would be along the lines of:

"Hallowe'en is short for All Hallows' Eve. That means that, like Christmas Eve, it's the day before a major (Christian) festival, and this one is called All Hallows Day also known as All Saints Day. That's the day when Christians in the past believed that God through all his Saints was particularly close and influence extra strong. So there grew up a superstition that the day before that powerful day, the influence of satan and all his demons was particularly strong and Hallowe'en reminds us of the potential evil that exists but also the coming of more power from a God to vanquish them"

You might like to add, if this reflects your belief: "We don't really celebrate Hallowe'en because we believe the All Saints Day is more important. But the two go together, so remember that if you're included in other people's parties"

scatterthenuns · 24/10/2015 17:05

You could dress her as the holy ghost

scatterthenuns · 24/10/2015 17:03

How would you feel if the nursery class made lanterns for Diwali? Or later on, she used henna for Eid with friends?

It doesn't mean that she'll be brainwashed and start believing. Just that it is nice to celebrate with other people sometimes.

musicinspring1 · 24/10/2015 17:03

I'm a Christian mum. Dd went to the halloween disco at the school as a happy cat. I had a discussion with her about it and said I was.happy for her to go but I didn't like some aspects of Halloween etc and we agreed on a happy cat. We have a 'pumpkin party' at church where they carve a happy face in their pumpkins and do autumn games such as Apple bobbing etc. I don't think you can avoid Halloween and I don't want dd to feel isolated so just explain in age appropriate terms how you feel and why and let her take part in as much or as little as you feel appropriate.

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