Like most Dutch Christian reformed families I knew, we did not really grow up celebrating Halloween. We participated in church events, but not in community events.
Things are different for my immediate family. The military community is a very safe place, and trick-or-treating among base housing is considered more of a social activity. So JB and I have decided to allow our children to participate in trick-or-treating. However, we have made a concerted effort to share the alternative ways of looking at a secular holiday.
One way is through books like Crystal Bowman's (coincidentally, a good friend of Joni) My Happy Pumpkin. Bowman takes an ordinary pumpkin and explains how carving it represents removing the sin in our own lives. God digs out the slop and puts a light in.
My children naturally like to dress up. They like to wear costumes. And they like candy. This is fun for them. They are not celebrating a dark holiday. They are being children. So I have decided to let them. But while "participating" we are setting ourselves apart and looking at the holiday to find examples of Jesus as best we can.
How do you personally handle secular activities with your family? I'd love for you to share your family practices -- either as a parent or your own experiences as a child.
2 comments:
I grew up in the dutch reformed tradition too, however we were allowed to go trick-or-treating. Our town only had a population of 500 so it was safe to go to just about every house. The whole town was made up of dutch reformers. I remember even going to the Pastor's house. Those that didn't want to participate would just keep their lights off. We did NOT go trick-or-treating if Halloween fell on a Sunday. I can't remember if the town celebrated on Saturday instead. (I know the town my brother and his family live in do this - or area churches/college has a community party instead). I'm pretty sure that there was a lesson at school about the reformation and John Calvin (a christian school). My dad never went with. He didn't believe we should go (he also doesn't think we should exchange gifts at Christmas.)
With the boys we've always taken them out. I'm against the scary costumes - more creative is much better - and the scary part of Halloween. We haven't used Halloween to illustrate any Christian values. To the boys it's just a night to dress up, get candy (and hand out candy - which is more fun for them) and have fun.
Bethany
I grew up as a Catholic, and at home we were definitely allowed to trick-or-treat. Our Church (and school) however, was completely against it. We would be given demerits if they found even a pin or a sticker of something resembling halloween decor on our uniforms or notebooks. (No pumpkins, no funny hats, no nothing.)
Last Sunday during Mass, the Priest gave a very objective and interesting homily on the origins of Halloween; where the tradition comes from (a pagan holiday called 'Hallows Eve', the 'eve' of the day when people would remember the 'dead', or those who had 'passed'.) How it wasn't until the beginnings of Christianity, that people began to think of a more 'beautiful' and desirable 'life after death'; How it wasn't until Jesus came to Earth, and opened the way to Heaven that people understood that death was not to be feared. That is were the Catholic feast of 'All Saints Day', and 'Remembrance' day (Nov 1 & 2) came to life: were we remember those who we believe are our role models (those who followed Jesus's footseps), and all those who have passed and are now with Him. These people could then be considered our 'heroes'...
He then proceeded to, not condemn Halloween (as I had heard so many times in my life at Catholic School), but to present it to us a way to remember those 'heroes' in our lives that have touched us in one way or another, taught us a valuable lesson, and helped us be better people. (Even if for children, this means 'super heroes' :)
I think it was actually a very nice form of explaining where the feast came from, and were we can take it as Christians...and it is definitely a tradition I want to keep going in the family.
:)
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