So today is Halloween...and I wasn't going to post anything about it...but a buddy of mines who has a little girl asked that I post this...so I decided to spark some debate around this topic.
This was found in Monday, October 30, 2006 Express Newspaper:
Pagan Prisoners in the U.K will get the day off from labor on Halloween in respect for their religious beliefs. Convicts who label themselves as Devil-worshippers and Satanist will take a break from jail work to be able to celebrate their ”Holiday” on Tuesday, and they will also be given rune stones, twigs and robes to be used in their worship.
Now I personally don't celebrate the Holiday, the fundamental history of the holiday alone is enough for me NOT to partake in the events.
I will be giving out NO candy from home, and as a little girl we would have the Christ-ween party were we dressed up as people from the Bible...but what do you think? Do you think that we shouldn't, as Christians, let our children participate in this holiday. I personally will not allow my children to participate and my buddy isn't letting his daughter dress up, but isn't just a part of just being a child? What happens when my kid is the only kid that doesn't have a costume, won't he/she be embarrasseded? Am I looking at this too deep?
Talk to me people
9 comments:
Thanks alot Sunnie!
Well, as a kid who was deprived of sugar and meet when everyone else could eat it, I know what it's like to feel left out in that regard. However, I also know how great it is to have a substitute. My Dad would always take me candy shopping after Halloween so I could trade in every piece of real candy I got for sugar-free stuff. I think it added a level of discipline for me to have to wait.
Me personally, I wouldn't let my children dress up as devils or anything like that, but I can't say I wouldn't let them get candy. Again, substitutes are a great thing. Christ-ween sounds like a great idea! And just give them your own candy. I think we have to look at things for what they are. Candy harmless. Dressing up like evil spirits. Not cool. Doing something on a certain day harmless. Doing something on that day with the mindset of celebration. Not cool. Hope I helped.
Peace,
Kep.
@ano-no prob!
@kep-makes total sense!
The idea of joining in on a celebration associated with death, spirits, paganism, terror, witchcraft, etc. seems quite disturbing to me. That reason, along with the fact that it's contradictory to Bible principles, will force me to keep my children as far away from the holiday as possible.
Side note: Mike asked me to post on the spiritual/religious views of Halloween. Check it out.
@brilld-I can't get on your page any more...and I think my kids will just get over it...
@jac-yeah my opinion about the holiday hasn't changed...my kids won't be participating either...they will just have to get over it...the only issue will be with them in school and stuff like that, but I will deal with that when it comes up...that's what at least another 10-15 (geesh) years down the road...LOL
I've always seen Halloween more as a social event than a celebration. My kids have always dressed as characters such as Buzz Lightyear or a princess. Get togethers, pumpkin carving and trick or treating as a family makes for really fun memories. It's also a great 'real' example of all the safety issues we stress throughout the year such as not talking to strangers, being careful of what you're given, pedistrian safety rules, .... They've never been allowed to dip into their stash until Mike and I have checked it because, and we stress this, there are real sickos out there and you have to stay aware of that. It reinforces team work, at least, in bigger families that go out together. It fosters creativity as well in putting together the 'best' costume or carving the neatest pumpkin. Our Halloween events have always included roasting pumpkin seeds and making special treats, another fun family thing to do that masks the math and cooking lessons involved.
I think it's up to parents to decide what their kids will or won't do, but I've always tried to take the 'bad' and turn it into something good. Now that my kids are older, we watch scary movies together which spawns some interesting conversations. It's what you make of it, I think, that counts.
n0name 28 (quackthis)
@noname-HEY!!!! How have you been? Long time no hear from...I hope that everything is alright with you!!!! I hear what you are saying, and I like the idea of doing family stuff and I especially like taking something negative and making it positive...I will probably make it a point to do family stuff all the time, but especially on days like Halloween and other holidays where I won't let my kids participate in "commercial" stuff...I can see me having a "October Fest" as a family where we do stuff and play games and things to substitute for what is going on outside of the house...
I hope all is well...take care!
congrats on your 100 posts...
@sarccastik-Thanks!
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