for those who don't do halloween

I need advice on how to explain the evils of the holiday while balancing out the celebration of the beautiful season...What can we do instead of trick or treating? MIL's started this one...Angela and I had planned not to dress up or trick or treat and now MIL's been talking all about it and I'm at a loss for what we can do....suggestions?

[danou]

i am curious as to what is wrong about dressing up? i'm not trying to start anything- just curious & respectful...

we just weren't going to do anything this year...I don't personally see a problem with dressing up...When she was 4 she dressed up as a cat and let me take pics of her....I just didn't want to do the whole trick or treat thing..kwim?

some folks have problems with it...i remember feeling so bad one year for this little girl who showed up at our church party dressed like a witch...she wasn't but maybe 9 and they SENT HER AWAY!!! i was so upset, i chased after to catch up with her but her mother was so offended she took her away :cry: i think maybe that could have been handled differently imo..

i personally don't like the witches and goblins costumes but i wouldn't send a child away for dressing like that...i would have made up a more appropriate costume for her..but thats just me

[Aalena]

That's horrible to send a child away because of the costume!

I personally don't find anything wrong with Halloween or dressing up if it's done appropriately. But I do respect the wishes of others that don't agree and understand completely where they're coming from.

When I taught at churc, I had a special night where we would talk about Halloween began, how it's evolved and things you could do now. We had treats and games. Plus I bought this book that I read to them every year. It's called, "Halloween, Is it for Real?" By Harold Myra. I would try and find a copy of it - maybe at the library - and read it to Angela or have her read along with you. It's a Christian book and really good.

[Aalena]

Here's a link I found that actually has the book written out. It doesn't have the pictures for kids, but at least you could see what it's like. Or if you read it and have Angela make her own pictures to go with the story. She could make her own book.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/halloween/features/real.html

Thanks, I just got back from an afternoon of shopping with hubby so..I will surely look at that link sometime between now and Halloween...I'd never heard of that books...thanks a bunch :D

[wesleysmom0604]

Does your church have a Fall Festival? Mine has a great one and kids are allowed to dress up in things, but nothing scary (of course I don't belive they would turn someone away like the one church mentioned did). You could have a costume party, but make the costumes fun.

Personaly, I have no convictions against Wes trick or treating. I won't let him dress up in anything evil or scary. This year he is gonna be Thomas the Tank. I know the history of Halloween, but Christmas also has some evil things in its history.

Yup! I'm not sure what we'll do...I don't care to go out on that night...There's alot of egging and rock throwing around here...

[BornInSeptember]

I don't have a problem with some of it, but I hate the witches, goblins, dead people and all the creepiness associated with those. I don't like it. Family.org is always a good place to look when you need help explaining things.

http://www.family.org/topics/a0017957.cfm

[kymommy]

"The Pumpkin Parable" by Liz Curtiss Higgs is an excellent childrens book to read this time of year. It compares carving a pumpkin to accepting Christ. God makes us, like he makes pumpkins, he takes out all the bad stuff inside (sin), and puts a light in us (like Jesus). We read the book every year with the kids at church and demonstrate with a pumkin. It should be at your local book store.
kymommy

One of the churches near us organized a Saints and Angels sort of thing last Halloween. Perhaps Angela could dress up as an angel and maybe instead of trick or treating she could knock on peoples doors and give them something she made? Does she like to bake?

[7thHeaven]

Wow, some great ideas already Lis. There is a church (that may be our home church) that has a fair-type thing that they do every year. The kids get a bag of candy and their is music and all kinds of activities to do. Maybe you could take her to something like that? And she'll still get to dress up too! :wink:

[jengrant]

That is what we did growing up along with our school carnival, our church had a fall festival where we could dress up and play games, I think we even bobbed for apples one time! I am sure you could find something like that.