I must be getting really old (and wiser, right? ha), because with each holiday that isn't about Jesus, I get a little less enthused. Maybe it's because I see everything through my children's eyes, and I hear how ridiculous I sound when trying to explain some of our country's holiday traditions.
The kids have been noticing Halloween decorations going up around our neighbor's houses, and they're wondering when ours are going up. I'll admit that I have a few pumpkins and a couple of "Happy Halloween" signs, but the majority of my fall decorations are Thanksgiving related. I just can't justify "celebrating" Halloween with ghosts, witches, and goblins - all of the things that we tell our children either aren't real or to have nothing to do with the rest of the year.
I know some Christians are on one side where they don't let their kids dress up at all on the "devil's holiday," or acknowledge it in any way. Then there are other groups of Christians that want to take back the night and call it a Harvest Party (what are we harvesting?) with dressing up and non-scary activities. I remember being in elementary school, and our church, our pentecostal, assemblies of God church, put on a haunted house. I even participated.
My sister and I, along with the pastor's sons, dressed up like zombies and sat in a room pretending to eat our dinner, but there was nothing there. In another room, it looked like an operating room. There was a strobe light going, and the doctor was operating with a chain saw. She pretended to cut off the patient's leg, then held the bloody stump up for everyone to see. There were other rooms, all full of gore and scary things. What a far cry from our harvest parties today. It's one of those memories that I think back and wonder, "did that really happen?"
Anyway, I know I'm on super controversial ground, and it's one of those decisions that each family has to make for itself. I am in no way judging other Christian families out there, or trying to be legalistic and rigid. I'm just thinking things through for us. You'll see my kids dressed up this Halloween and asking for candy... because dressing up is fun after all. And you may even be "Boo'd" by the Velardes this month too. But it won't be a little witch coming to your door. Lots to think about.
I also don't let my kids believe in Santa... or the Easter Bunny... or the Tooth Fairy.
I know, I know... I'm robbing them of a magical childhood, right?
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Celebrating Halloween?
Posted by Lori at 4:08 PM
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2 comments:
We don't do the "scary" Halloween. I decorate for Fall and let the kids dress up. Matthew wanted to be a zombie and I said no. I remember a conversation I had with your sister about pagan holidays and one thing stood out. She said that God created everything and that as Christians we are just taking back what was His to begin with (I totally butchered what she said, but I hope you get the point).
That's a good point. I think I'm so focused on this because this year Josh seems to be obsessed with all things scary. In fact as soon as I was done typing this post, he asked if he could decorate his room to look like a haunted house! I'm trying to remind him that God asks us to think about things that are good, lovely, pure, etc. not scary! He tells me, "oh Mom, you know it's not real though." Oh my goodness.
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