Is Halloween Bad for Christian Children?

Is Halloween bad for your kids? It is a good question for Christian parents to consider and one with a variety of answers. My answer? I really think it depends on you.

Many Christians are concerned mainly about the origin of Halloween. Of course safety is also a concern. But lets personalize this a bit. Let’s not worry about the origin. We have overhauled the holiday anyway. And let’s  assume you have covered safety from top to bottom and move on to the topic of little Suzie or Johnny. Is Halloween good or bad for them? Will it lend to healthy hearts and minds in the long run? You are going to have to decide.

Are little Suzie and Johnny vulnerable to the things of the world? Are their young minds wide open and thirsty for new information?  You bet. And what you feed their minds stays with them for life. Do you still remember The Great Pumpkin?  That’s not a bad memory, but you get the point.

And then there’s the fear. Fear is a base emotion that gives birth to countless negative emotions, attitudes and then actions. Frightening events and situations can increase anxiety in children and sleepless nights.  With those key points in mind, is it really a good idea to frighten our children intentionally, stuff them with sugar and send them to bed with a kiss and a “sweet dreams, honey.” Did Dracula ever follow you home from trick-or-treating or a movie, and into your nightmares? Case in point. (If your child experiences anxiety and bad dreams, don’t miss the opportunity to teach them to pray and believe. Prayer can help young children feel safe in their beds.)

There’s one more thing to consider and that is trust. We tell our children about Santa. Then we tell them he isn’t real. We tell our children about witches, ghosts and goblins, then we tell them they aren’t real. When they’re facing spiritual warfare, we tell them witches, ghosts and goblins are real.  Then we wonder why little Suzie and Johnny don’t believe us when we tell them about Jesus.

I’m not trying to rob you of your Halloween fun. I had lots of fun with my own daughter. I was prepared to tell you Halloween was perfectly harmless, but I’ve given this a great deal of thought. Looking at the above points, my thinking has changed. I encourage you to change your thinking as well.

You can change the way your family celebrates Halloween and still have loads of fun. Start by sharing your heart. Tell your kids you plan to spend Halloween differently this year and tell them why.  Truth might actually be easier for them to digest than ghost stories. Instead of a witch, be a frog. Instead of scaring some poor kid half to death, tell a funny story. Spend the afternoon on a hay ride, outdoors in the sun. In other words, instead of celebrating darkness and confusion, celebrate light and truth.

Some Scripture on the Matter

These verses aren’t about Halloween and witches. They are about the human mind. I recommend you put them into practice with your children on Halloween and every other day of the year. The mind controls the entire body, so protecting it and renewing it is crucial.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

Phillipians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Are you saying witchcraft is real?

I didn’t really discuss that, but according to the Bible, it is absolutely real. And though I realize we are under the new covenant, this clearly states it is absolutely not ok for God’s people to participate, so be on the safe side with your Halloween celebration.

Deuteronomy:18-10-12 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.  Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

The Origin of Halloween

In case you are still wondering about the origin of Halloween and what all the fuss is about, I found a couple of reliable sources for you.  In short, the holiday began as a pagan ritual, but then, so did Christmas.   Perhaps the origin is not as important as the manner in which it is celebrated today.

Excerpt from The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry - The word Halloween is derived from the term “All Hallows Eve” which occurred on Oct. 31, the end of summer in Northwestern Europe. “All Saints Day,” or “All Hallows Day” was the next Day, Nov. 1^st. Therefore, Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day. Apparently, the origins of Halloween can be traced back to ancient Ireland and Scotland around the time of Christ. On Oct. 31^st, the Celts celebrated the end of summer.  Read more.

Excerpt from University at Albany  -    Peter Tokofsky, an assistant professor in the department of folklore and mythology in UCLA states, “The earliest trace (of Halloween) is the Celtic festival, Samhain, which was the Celtic New Year. It was the day of the dead, and they believed the souls of the deceased would be available. Read more on the history of Halloween.