Halloween

[KGM]

I’m not sure I understand where Catholics fall when it comes to the celebration of Halloween. I hear “redeem Halloween” and then I here that it’s okay to go out trick-or-treating, but preferably dressed as a saint. I’m not sure where I fall. Not having much understanding of All Saint’s Day and All Souls Day (my parents, though Catholic, did not ever mention these days to me) I grew up dressing up silly and trick-or-treating. I now have a desire to learn about important Cahtolic traditions, but I’m not certain that throwing out the trick-or-treating all togerther is necessary. After all on Christmas we don’t throw out Christmas trees and wreaths. I would like to get together with another family and do some fun things on Halloween and perhaps leave some of the lessons to be learned about All Saint’s and All Soul’s for those days (I homeschool and could easily incorporate these lessons on those days). Do people engage in any activities on these days? Or should I say is it permissible to teach your children on these days separate from the fun experienced the night before. I guess I need to know exactly what does the Church expect people to do on the eve before All Saint’s and All Soul’s Day? I’m struggling with this and would appreciate some replies.

Thanks in advance,
God Bless You,
KGM

 

[SeekerJen]

I’m a cradle Catholic and attended Catholic elem. school in a fairly orthodox parish. We learned about All Saints Day and were expected to attend Mass on that day, but it was assumed that the kids were going to be trick-or-treating the night before. In fact, I remember that some of the best Halloween goodies came from the parish rectory and convent (and yes, they were both open for trick-or-treaters).

 

[BayCityRickL]

The origins of a secular observance such as Halloween go back centuries, and whatever reasons there are for or against the modern observance may have no connection to those origins.

You might have as well asked why the modern version of Halloween is observed with the cantation “trick or treat”? What kind of trick would suffice? And, what sort of trick was intended?

The modern observance is based on children having fun by dressing up in make-believe, and by an all-too-rare practice of visiting your neighbors and committing small acts of generosity.

I’m sure that candy makers, retailers, and dentists all get their take on the observance, as well.

 

[Fashina86]

Well, I went to Catholic school and am one of five of very Catholic parents, and we still celebrate both Nov. 1 and Oct 31. We go trick-or-treating as a family and dress up in crazy ways to celebrate. We don’t celebrate maliciously or in an evil intent. It is all fun… right?

 

[kp1]

I know many of Chirstians who struggle with the holiday of Hallowen and what they think it implies. I too had some mixed emotions about it, until I started teaching CCD to Pre-K. I was forced to do some more research and discovered a few things. (When I was preparing for my lessons, if I found something very interesting, I copied it for the parents who most like me were “cradle” Catholics and might not know either.)

We as Christians should celebrate Halloween and dress our children up as skeletons and othr symbols of death. Also carving of the pumpkin. The Christian part is the next day being the celebration of Christ winning over death! The article I read said to let your children smash the pumpkins the next day to symbolise the triumph of Christ. We Then Celebrate All Souls and All Saints days to continue in this celebration. The article also pointed out how in Mexico they purposly pump their children up with sugar for these special days following “death” to show the excitment of life. It can be associated to with the death of a loved one (which we are sad to loose), to the celebration of being joined with Christ in Heaven.

I do not remeber exactly where I got the article for my preps, one of the many places I would get things for the children. If you are interested, I can give you a listing of these Catholic websites I use to get my info for the classes.

 

[deb1]

Wow, KP1. I really like the symbolism behind smashing the jackolaterns or tying Christ’s resurrection into the celebration of All Saints Day. My b-day is October 31, so I have a partiality toward this holiday.

 

[Giannawannabe]

I have, in the past, opted for the All Saints Day parties over going trick or treating for Halloween. However, as my kids have gotten older, we now go out for trick or treating. They have a blast. We live in a small, small, farm town. Everyone knows everyone. So, as we go from house to house, they see many friends from school and have fun hooking up with them. Afterwards, we get donuts and cider at the firehouse.

I think as long as the kids do not dress in a bloody, gory, or satanic costume, it’s fine. We avoid houses that look “too scary or gory”. I remember Halloween as being one of my fondest childhood memories. That’s why I decided to allow it for my children.

The next day, I keep them out from school and take them to Mass. This has worked well to keep the holiday in perspective.

 

[CarrieMG]

I homeschool too. We trick-or-treat in our neighborhood. My kids are allowed to be anything that “would not be offensive to God.” The next day we go to Mass with our homeschool group and then get togther with them for an All-Saints Day Party. The kids dress as Saints and we play a “here are clues, guess which saint I am” game. I have learned much about the Saints though this simple game. Then we play saint games - everything from bowling type games where SAint Michael is knocking demons to Hell to searches for symbols associated with famous saints. (CHC’s Year With God has good suggestions). For years, I was in the South surrounded by fundamentalists who would never dream of celebrating Halloween. I feel I found a treasure of my faith in learning to celebrate Halloween and All-Saints Day) In Christ, Carrie

 

[BlestOne]

hehehehe…I actually got hung up on years ago when the 700 club had an anti-halloween program on and I called them on several points. First of all, the people that say that since Halloween is a Pagan Holiday so we shouldn’t let our kids go trick or treating have to be childless. What does Halloween mean to a kid? Cool, I get to dress up funny and stay out late to get candy…that’s about it!! Does anyone really think that kids think, gee maybe I will become a pagan? Second, legend has it that the Pagans gave food to the Christians when their harvest failed (sound “unchristian” to you?), they supposedly dressed up so that they could give their gift anyonomously…hmmmm…so they basically saved the Christians from death and didn’t take credit for it…what did Christ say about not looking for rewards? Oh yeah, he said that if we look for our rewards for good deeds on earth then we were already rewarded. When I was a kid, we went trick or treating then the next day we went to mass, everybody in my neighborhood did. The public schools around here and the Lutheran school have banned “Halloween” parties in school. The Catholic school here has a tradition that the kindergarteners dress up and have a party then go to the haunted house in the gym that the 7th & 8th graders set up. The kids love it! I am sure that they are not teaching them to become pagan.

 

[surfinpure]

Giannawannabe:

The next day, I keep them out from school and take them to Mass. This has worked well to keep the holiday in perspective.

Thanks, Gianna! This is a great idea. When my kids are old enough to trick-or-treat, I’ll do the same thing.

 

[Fashina86]

surf(name removed by moderator)ure:

Thanks, Gianna! This is a great idea. When my kids are old enough to trick-or-treat, I’ll do the same thing.

Yep… back in grammar school (or rather when Fr. Lawerence was still at St. Bede) we had a special Halloween Mass that everybody would come in costume… jack-o-lanterns were the candles… and his homily was one about all the saints and why it is “all hallows eve” or the holy night before souls/saints day. We learned a lot. (part of the reason I LOVE this holiday!)