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When parents come to the realization that Halloween is not Set-apart (holy) and therefore SHOULD NOT BE CELEBRATED by the Creator's Set-apart creation (us), they are faced with the task of how to help their children transition out of celebrating Halloween.
Some families have been celebrating Halloween for years and find it to be an integral part of their family culture as they plan their costumes, decorate their home, and perhaps even help plan or work their church's Trunk-or-Treat or Fall Festival.
While we want to UPHOLD THE COMMANDS given by the Father in His Scripture and we want to follow the promptings His Ruach (Holy Spirit) places on our hearts (minds), we must also recognize that not everyone in our family may be at the same SPIRITUAL CROSSROADS or have the same understanding as us.
Because of this, we want to be mindful not to BULLDOZE OVER OUR LOVED ONES. We should strive to approach our loved ones with the fruits-of-the spirit of gentleness, kindness, peace, and patience while upholding the Biblical commands.
For those with young children or families who homeschool, the transition may be naturally easier. For those with teens, children in public school, or those who find themselves living in the city surrounded by trick-or-treaters and neighborhood decorations, the transition might be more difficult.
Here are some ideas for helping children transition out of Halloween:
EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING
Explain the reason for your family's shift from celebrating Halloween to NOT celebrating in a matter-of-fact and unemotional way by stating the facts.ING
Truthfully, although we may hold nostalgia for the holiday, it isn't an emotional decision. Scripture tells us that the Father HATES MIXTURE and will not tolerate it.
Read the Teaching on THE NOSTALGIA OF CHILDHOOD MAGIC
May we be like King Josiah and immediately turn to the COMMANDS rather than hanging on to the nostalgia.
By factually explaining to children why our family no longer celebrates Halloween, regardless of our emotions, we are modeling how to TESHUVAH (repent/return) to the Father's commands.
PURPOSELY SEEK OUT OR CREATE OPPOTURINITIES TO DRESS UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Celebrate book readings your family does by having family book parties where you dress in character. Plan a book party in the park with friends each school semester.
Allow children to choose a birthday theme and dress up on theme.
At Celebrating the Bible, we love finding ways to dress up together. We have enjoyed dressing up in the following ways:
- butterfly wings for a butterfly-themed birthday
- nobles and ladies-in-waiting for our Lady Godiva-themed birthday girl
- wolf ears for a wolf birthday boy
- birthday theme of Israelites and David with a giant cardboard Goliath and a real sling
- Civil war soldiers and prairie girls for a Civil War History Reenactment party
- Charlotte's web animals for book party
- Random afternoon tea party with costumes
- Robin Hood and friends themed dinner
- Dressing up as brides and groomsmen during SUKKOT for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb
PLAN A FAMILY EVENT
Help older children who feel they might be missing out enjoy a family evening by making favorite snacks and laying out a snack board on the living room floor. Play a game as a family, have a dance party, or watch a favorite movie while you enjoy special dinner snacks.
Lay out an apple cider bar with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and fresh apple slices for children to enjoy while you spend time together.
Prepare a soup or chili and carve out a pumpkin to place the soup in and serve with fresh bread. As you carve out the pumpkin for a holy purpose (serving food and enjoying the Father's creation) discuss the origins of the jack-o-lantern and why your family doesn't participate in that tradition.
Make bread soup bowls filled with warm soup and roast marshmallows for s'mores in your fireplace inside.
Make homemade marshmallows to use with fresh hot chocolate
READ SCRIPTURE
Remind children of WHY your family has transitioned out of celebrating Halloween by taking time to read Scripture while you enjoy your snacks. Pray that others would see the TRUTH and begin following the COMMANDS.
Read SHOULD CHRISTIANS TRY TO SANCTIFY HALLOWEEN FOR THE KINGDOM?
CONSIDER PULLING YOUR CHILD AWAY FROM CELEBRATIONS
If Halloween falls on a school day, consider pulling your child out of school for part of the day and doing something fall-themed together, such as baking apple pies.
Consider delivering an extra pie to an elderly neighbor. Halloween includes a lot of self-focus and tricking of others. We can model what the opposite looks like by finding fun ways to serve others instead.
SEARCH OUT THE SCRIPTURES FOR HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS DANGER AND INTRIGUE
For older children who enjoyed the "danger" and "intrigue" that running around hidden in costumes in the dark provides, shift their attention to the intrigue and danger that saturates our Scriptures. Holy intrigue and righteous danger.
Find ways to bring the intensity of Scripture to life. Read the stories of Paul of Silas escaping prison, Lazarus rising from the dead, and Elijah slaying the prophets of Baal.
Read the teaching on WITCHCRAFT
AN ENCOURAGMENT FOR PARENTS OF TEENS
Depending on your relationship with your teen and your teen's relationship with the Father, navigating this new territory of not celebrating Halloween may pose a challenge.
If your teen seems uninterested in joining in family activities, or even responds poorly, do not despair. Treat them with the fruits-of-the-spirit and go about quietly preparing for your activity, laying your own emotions aside.