Should I wait to put out the spooky Halloween decor?

[gatorsmom]

Two of my boys are in the alter-boy guild at our church. It’s a great group of boys- we like their families and it’s very active. Our parish and most of the families at it are very conservative.

Once per month, the alterboys get together to do fun activities together such as playing paint ball, canoeing down a lazy river, having a video game play off in the church basement, etc. In 2 weeks, we are hosting the guild to swim and play lasertag at our house. We have done this before and it’s been a lot of fun for everyone. But this is the first time we are having the kids (and their parents too) over in October. I love decorating for Halloween. I didn’t think I put out any gruesome or offensive displays- I get almost all of it at Hobby Lobby. But last year one of the boys’ said they weren’t going to go trick or treating because they felt it was supporting and participating in an event that celebrated and encouraged the occult. I had never thought of it that way but I guess my decorations could offend some people. I plan to put up bats and spider webs along with some different-colored glass bottles that say poisons and potions on them. They are very colorful and pretty. I have a jar of ping-long balls that look like eye-balls, and some black-feathered and glittery trees that my kids joke look like “Halloween-Christmas trees” on my dining room table as a display with some lots of spider-candle holders. I also had a punch bowl decoration that says, “witch’s brew” and a glass jar with some glittery skulls in it. I also had some colorful witches’ hats I sat next to the potions jars.

Should I forgo the glittery skulls and witches hats and stick to the bats, spiders and trees? Or should not decorate for Halloween at all until after the alterboys get-together? I don’t want to offend anyone.

In case anyone is worried why I enjoy decorating for Halloween, I’m not practicing the occult or anything that goes against Church teachings. I just have a creative streak and enjoy decorating for holidays and seasons. Our house has paintings of saints everywhere so I’m definitely emphasizing our Catholic faith more than anything else in our house. Thanks in advance for your kind opinions.

 

[EasterJoy]

Maybe a Día de los Muertos theme? Lots of skeletons, but very Catholic. You’d also bring out pictures of your deceased loved ones, serve foods they enjoyed, and basically have an all-hands-on-deck wake. November is the time of year to consider our mortality; it is not an occult thing.

 

[Catholic1954]

It’s your house decorate it anyway you like. Maybe you could stick to more harvest theme items for the party if you wish not offend someone.

 

[oldgraymare2]

It’s your house decorate it anyway you like. Maybe you could stick to more harvest theme items for the party if you wish not offend someone.

I agree.

I think that I would go this route–with the harvest theme.

 

[Crown_of_Stars]

Personally, I’m turned off by the demonic and overly gory Halloween expression. I’m not even that keen on skeletons. What I like are spiders and webs, bats, jack o’ lanterns, cute ghosts and witches stirring a brewing pot or riding on a broomstick. Also, I like the Harvest theme, but that’s a little different from actually Halloween. Harvest celebrates the season of Fall, then there’s Halloween. Halloween is supposed to be a little chilling, but like I said, I don’t at all go for Satanic or gory.

 

[Rosebud77]

Honestly cannot imagine why anyone would want to … celebrate. Hallowe’en in this way. Only ns to benefit are the shopkeepers in their profits, Far more sensible ways to spend money frankly.

 

[Irishmom2]

Whether it’s spooky or cute Halloween decorations, it’s just too early!!

 

[AClaire11]

I love Halloween, but would wait until October to put stuff up. The decorations you mention sound great!

 

[EasterJoy]

I love Halloween, but would wait until October to put stuff up. The decorations you mention sound great!

Whether it’s spooky or cute Halloween decorations, it’s just too early!!

This is true. It is fall, but the time for celebration around All Saints is very short. I wouldn’t put the skeletons up until shortly before the days and they should not stay up for very long after.

(The brief duration is actually some of the charm of the holiday, if you ask me.)

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I agree.

I think that I would go this route–with the harvest theme.

The problem with the harvest theme is…well it looks more similar to how the pagan Celts celebrated Samhain. Did my research years ago when I was acquinted with druid types.They stick to the traditional bobbing for apples and all those folksy activities. Kind of makes me wonder what both groups would think when I see churches do the Harvest thing over the Halloween thing. I guess their intent is way different but it would look very similar.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I love Halloween, but would wait until October to put stuff up. The decorations you mention sound great!

Whether it’s spooky or cute Halloween decorations, it’s just too early!!

The party is in two weeks and is in October. Depending on how quickly the OP can get things set up it’s not too early. One way to approach it is to add a little each day; that’s what I try to do with Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter.

 

[Allegra]

The problem with the harvest theme is…well it looks more similar to how the pagan Celts celebrated Samhain. Did my research years ago when I was acquinted with druid types.They stick to the traditional bobbing for apples and all those folksy activities. Kind of makes me wonder what both groups would think when I see churches do the Harvest thing over the Halloween thing. I guess their intent is way different but it would look very similar.

There’s nothing in Christianity that prohibits the celebration of the beauty of fall. I already put up my fall decorations. Pumpkins, gourds, indian corn, and fall color wreaths. Maybe the week of Halloween, I will pull out the spooky skeleton and the cobwebs and “haunted house” sign for the house, then I put those away. I love the fall decorations and leave them up until Thanksgiving.

I don’t think the OP should worry. Her decorations don’t sound offensive. Skulls may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but normal people won’t be offended or upset by them, even if they don’t participate themselves. That being said, gourds and indian corn are beautiful décor for any party. Also have plenty bowls of equal parts peanuts and candy corn.

 

[EasterJoy]

The problem with the harvest theme is…well it looks more similar to how the pagan Celts celebrated Samhain. Did my research years ago when I was acquinted with druid types.They stick to the traditional bobbing for apples and all those folksy activities. Kind of makes me wonder what both groups would think when I see churches do the Harvest thing over the Halloween thing. I guess their intent is way different but it would look very similar.

It is possible for different groups to be offended at the idea of making witches and the occult into buffoonish cartoons for quite different reasons. That doesn’t put those who choose to leave that kind of decor behind into total agreement, not by any means.

There is nothing occult-themed about apples, pumpkins and decorative squash, decorative varieties of corn or any other “harvest”-themed decorations.

I would caution against making too much of any of this excepting when you have a real reason to believe it is an issue with someone else’s weak conscience. (see 1 Cor. 8)

 

[gatorsmom]

The party is in two weeks and is in October. Depending on how quickly the OP can get things set up it’s not too early. One way to approach it is to add a little each day; that’s what I try to do with Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter.

This is how I plan to do it. I really can’t devote a chunk of time to putting up decorations. I’m too busy with my kids! Adding a little each day works well for us. And like another poster said, I can start putting fall-themed things up early and leave them through Thanksgiving. But I always enjoy putting out the black spiders, creepy black crows, hanging up some bats, and my Halloween-themed Christmas trees! I’m going to add those bits this week. I’ll add the skulls and witches caldron after the guild party.

Thanks for the great ideas!

 

[Bruised_Reed]

There’s nothing in Christianity that prohibits the celebration of the beauty of fall. I already put up my fall decorations. Pumpkins, gourds, indian corn, and fall color wreaths. Maybe the week of Halloween, I will pull out the spooky skeleton and the cobwebs and “haunted house” sign for the house, then I put those away. I love the fall decorations and leave them up until Thanksgiving.

I don’t think the OP should worry. Her decorations don’t sound offensive. Skulls may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but normal people won’t be offended or upset by them, even if they don’t participate themselves. That being said, gourds and indian corn are beautiful décor for any party. Also have plenty bowls of equal parts peanuts and candy corn.

To be clear, I wasn’t saying there was a problem with it. I suspect that the ancient Celts would be less offended by harvest festivals and more wary of the modern/western celebration of Halloween.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

It is possible for different groups to be offended at the idea of making witches and the occult into buffoonish cartoons for quite different reasons. That doesn’t put those who choose to leave that kind of decor behind into total agreement, not by any means.

There is nothing occult-themed about apples, pumpkins and decorative squash, decorative varieties of corn or any other “harvest”-themed decorations.

I would caution against making too much of any of this excepting when you have a real reason to believe it is an issue with someone else’s weak conscience. (see 1 Cor. 8)

To the bolded; see my reply to Allegra. It’s just that the efforts to remove anything too Halloween-ish (or Catholic) just results in a group celebrating Halloween the way that ancient pagans did.

 

[EasterJoy]

To the bolded; see my reply to Allegra. It’s just that the efforts to remove anything too Halloween-ish (or Catholic) just results in a group celebrating Halloween the way that ancient pagans did.

Yes: every culture that has discernible seasons celebrates the seasons. I’d really say that decorations that merely reflect that it is fall are appropriate from the end of summer until after Thanksgiving. Decorating for Halloween? Do it or not, as you see fit, from my point of view, but only close to Halloween. Many people who have no children don’t. The only thing the trick-or-treaters really care about is whether you have the loot to pay them off to refrain from TPing your front yard or putting a potato in your tailpipe (since almost none of them have any intention to make good on the traditional-but-toothless “implied threats” they use).

I did see one parish decorate in a way I would strongly advise everyone avoid. One of the ladies on the decorating detail found these very lovely leaves, both glossy and colorful, to use in all the table arrangements for their annual parish dinner, held at the end of September.

The leaves were undeniably very pretty. They were also poison oak.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Yes: every culture that has discernible seasons celebrates the seasons. I’d really say that decorations that merely reflect that it is fall are appropriate from the end of summer until after Thanksgiving. Decorating for Halloween? Do it or not, as you see fit, from my point of view, but only close to Halloween. Many people who have no children don’t. The only thing the trick-or-treaters really care about is whether you have the loot to pay them off to refrain from TPing your front yard or putting a potato in your tailpipe (since almost none of them have any intention to make good on the “implied threats” they use).

I did see one parish decorate in a way I would strongly advise everyone avoid. One of the ladies on the decorating detail found these very lovely leaves, both glossy and colorful, to use in all the table arrangements for their annual parish dinner, held at the end of September.

The leaves were undeniably very pretty. They were also poison oak.

That is really unfortunate.

 

[ameliepoir]

I just wanted to say that I think your decorations sound super fun! In my future home, I hope to have a collection of decorations for all the holidays. During Christmas growing up we always said my mom decorated our house like the North Pole. We were somewhat joking, but always really proud of her good taste and effort to make our home fun and beautiful.

 

[EasterJoy]

That is really unfortunate.

The mistake was only discovered after it was too late. The lady who made up the table arrangements was a mess–I guess they must have assumed that she got into the poison oak while out in the woods gathering her materials, and didn’t dream that she’d put any in the arrangements themselves?–but other than that there weren’t any reports of anyone allergic having a reaction. I guess people don’t tend to touch the table arrangements, thank goodness. The flower lady was pretty miserable, though, as I was told.