How should we handle Halloween?

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I heard some people say that Halloween should not be practiced. I mean, I don’t see any harm in dressing up as Darth Vader (mainly because I purchased a $750 costume this spring), but I condemn all satanic activity on that day. I don’t have children, yet, since I’m only 22, but if I do have children down the line, I will always teach them to remember All Saints Day and All Souls Day as more important, but Halloween being just a fun holiday.
 
JDGaney said:
I heard some people say that Halloween should not be practiced. I mean, I don’t see any harm in dressing up as Darth Vader (mainly because I purchased a $750 costume this spring), but I condemn all satanic activity on that day. I don’t have children, yet, since I’m only 22, but if I do have children down the line, I will always teach them to remember All Saints Day and All Souls Day as more important, but Halloween being just a fun holiday.
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Great that people still remember the Poor Souls in the Purgatory!

If I were you I would also do the same. Instead of focusing on ‘Halloween’ and all those potentially satanic stuff, focus on praying for the Poor Souls! What would be of greater joy and laud to God, when His people of Salvation are purified and eventually enter the Eternal Glory!

Say the Rosary for them. Offer up Masses for them.
 
My Ex Wife… Being a little unsymperthetic … Would Yell at some poor kid knocking at the door, We Don’t Believe in that rubbish, then slam the door,.
Praise The Lord things have moved on from there…
 
How should we handle Halloween?
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I try not to, but it keeps coming around every year. The only think I like about it are all the movies on TV. Other than that, I don’t get into it at all.
 
anonymous1995 said:
Great that people still remember the Poor Souls in the Purgatory!

If I were you I would also do the same. Instead of focusing on ‘Halloween’ and all those potentially satanic stuff, focus on praying for the Poor Souls! What would be of greater joy and laud to God, when His people of Salvation are purified and eventually enter the Eternal Glory!

Say the Rosary for them. Offer up Masses for them.
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:confused:

Have I missed something along the way about Halloween?
 
It’s certainly not wrong for a Catholic to play along with Halloween–and that’s really all it is anymore–a day to dress up silly and have fun. Don’t let anyone guilt-trip you over something inconsequential and that the church absolutely does NOT teach is sinful.

I go a step further though–and may have to go to confession next weekend because of it. I always and with full knowledge and intent, steal all the Snickers bars out of my grandson’s loot under the pretext of “checking” out his candy before letting him eat it–infact, I actually give Snickers bars away just so I can steal them back! And before the grandkids–I stole my own kids’ Snickers bars! Sometimes, I covet their Baby Ruths too! If that’s not Satan at work and a grave sin of theft, I don’t know what is! BWA-HA-HA!

PS–LOL–and HAVE FUN, DARTH!
 
When I was a child and even through my teens, we had none of that commercial goblin and ghoulie Trick or Treat nonsense - that stuff migrated over to the UK from the US in the early 1970s. Here in Sheffield some of our parishes have organised vigils and the like in the churches where we can pray for the Holy Souls while the Trick or Treat events go on in our absence. We also pray for those who organise and encourage such ‘secular’ events that seem to reinforce spiritual ignorance and naivety while masquerading as fun.

Fortunately the practice of numbers of groups and individuals knocking on doors appears to have hit a spike and is now in decline.

Don’t forget to offer your [plenary] indulgences to the Holy Souls - particularly during November. I always ask the Divine Mercy to - in His love and mercy - multiply the merits and graces, so that many such souls may speedily find Heaven. At this time visit cemeteries and pray there with and for the Holy Souls. While those souls are unable to pray for themselves, they can I feel [out of love] pray for others.
 
The general opinion of adults in Australia is that - we wish it hadn’t arrived here, it is an American thing, and we wish they’d take it back. We try to be polite as we send kids away empty handed - as far as I can see, it is threats with menaces.
 
My wife and I completely ignore it, which is easy to do in rural Alabama. In the 11+ years that we’ve lived here, not one person has knocked on our door.
 
The Church does not have a “position” on Halloween. We have the Holy Day of Obligation from whence the name comes. We have teaching to avoid the occult. Within this, everyone is able to do as they see best in accordance with their conscience.
 
JDGaney said:
I heard some people say that Halloween should not be practiced. I mean, I don’t see any harm in dressing up as Darth Vader (mainly because I purchased a $750 costume this spring), but I condemn all satanic activity on that day. I don’t have children, yet, since I’m only 22, but if I do have children down the line, I will always teach them to remember All Saints Day and All Souls Day as more important, but Halloween being just a fun holiday.
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Buy some candy, turn on your porch light, and then open your door and give the little kiddos some goodies.

Oh, and don’t get these:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...SQIwqewaZFjdUfCpSliNrxDNfjzWnC-JXNGeRiOV9r7_A

Icky! Every child looks at those and thinks, “Those go in the trashcan when I get home.”
😉
 
pnewton said:
The Church does not have a “position” on Halloween. We have the Holy Day of Obligation from whence the name comes. We have teaching to avoid the occult. Within this, everyone is able to do as they see best in accordance with their conscience.
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This is probably the best statement on the subject that will come up in this thread.
pnewton said:
Or candy corn - the evil Halloween version of peeps.
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I love candy corn!!! If your kids get some and they don’t want it, email it to me!
 
All Hallows Eve (Halloween) was the unofficial holiday in which the European (mainly French and Irish brought the customs to America if I recall) Catholics would celebrate by reminding each other how real Demons and Hell are. This would be done before all Saints day and All Souls day which were official Holy days.

The dressing up came from possibly Plague times in Europe or even earlier to ward off evil. The pumpkin carving can be traced back to turnip carving from Irish Catholic tales.

americancatholic.org/features/default.aspx?id=23

There are some other really good articles out there but I am in a rush right now. It is good to read up on however.

Today we glorify the evil parts while simultaneously denying it exists and utterly ignore the next two holy days.

I for one am trying to bring the Catholic parts back in and let my kids dress up for All Hallows Eve (more as an American Tradition) but I try to emphasize the next two days while using Halloween to have frank talks about what my kids think evil is and what their thoughts on the demonic and Hell are.

God Bless
 
How do I handle Halloween??? Still give out full size candy bars! I consider it spreading good will!
 
Simple, gather your family, order pizza watch a movie and call it a movie night 😉
 
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