Halloween Reflections

It is that time of year again.

Halloween.

Most children look forward to it.

Most parents are ambivalent about it, unless this blogger is mistaken.

Many young-hearted adults enjoy it and wear costumes, even into their jobs.

Families with children with special needs often dread it.

Many child advocates warn us about its dangers and its opportunties for predators to prey on children.

More and more dedicated Christians are denouncing this day as Satan's day, unScriptural and antiChrist.

Survivors of Satanic ritual abuse dread this day.

The Issue


I was raised to believe that Halloween was no more than a fun, harmless holidy. It was not an offical holiday like Thanks giving or Christmas but still a holiday. Fast forward a few decades later and still Halloween is seen in this way. Though I did not like it and would have opposed celebrating Halloween, I still felt I had to go along with my family so that our daughter "would not feel a misfit." The connections with occultic symbols, the opportunity Halloween provides child sex offenders and predators, and the waste of money for candy with little or no nutritional value, convinced me that Halloween was a waste of a holiday. The candy my daughter typically got were cheapie Tootsie Rolls and hard candies. A dentist's dream! More seriously, in the media, I heard more and more about how pedophiles and predators were using this day to lure unsuspecting children through handing them candy. Most seriously, the occultic imagery especially though witch, warlock, ghosts and goblins costumes and accessories, to many in the faith community, just gives the Devil an open door to prey on people and a place in people's life through demonic oppression that can take many forms from depression to addictions as so many of us celebrate this day as a day of harmless fun. More and more, it is being suggested that Halloween is anything but harmless.

Should This Day Be Observed?

Yes, many families still celebrate Halloween. But should it be observed? That is the question. With the common sense observation that Halloween candy is bad for our teeth and has little nutritional value, and that it costs money that can go on other things, is an opportunity for predators and has occultic ties, I do not recommend it for anyone. That is, it should not be celebrated in the traditional way, if we wish to keep our children safe, stay healthy, save money, and avoid ties with the occult--even seeminly harmless ties. Our culture has told us that for our children to "fit in" and not be "misfits," they have to do the things they see their peers doing, including celebrating Halloween. But are the highest goals in life to fit in and to conform to the status quo?

Alternatives to Halloween?

Only the strictest people of faith oppose alternatives to Halloween that many congregations and other outreach services offer. These people have valid concerns, citing the reason that even the appearance or association with Halloween does not eliminate the risks of predators or occultic involvement. But when these events are done in controlled, wholesome venues, they reduce these risks. We are not obligated to celebrate Halloween or any other holiday. We have no right, however, to criticize or judge people who celebrate this day in a wholesome, safe way just as they have no right to criticize those among us who do not like Halloween, think it is evil and pagan and occultic, and choose not to even have anything to do with alternatives.

Halloween: What Is it All About Anyway?

It is only a few days away.

It is a big money-maker for many retail stores and specialty party stores. It greatly increases the profit margins of those in the dental profession because of all the sweet treats that we consume. It is a delight to young ones except the minority who deal with developmental or sensory differences. It is tolerated by adults who only want to "make our children happy."

Yes, I mean Halloween.

At the same time that many of us are spending money on Halloween festivities, other things continue. Halloween may not be nearly as expensive Christmas if you celebrate as tradition dictates. But you know what continues to go on while so many of us enjoy this day's festivities?

In the US alone we have great need. We lose four children a day to child abuse. We lose some thirteen veterans a day to suicide. We just learned about another school shooting in Washington State; does this not point to the crying need to increase affordable mental health services to the general population? I can go on. If you think of yourself as a world citizen you are aware of the sea of need, especially all over Asia and Africa. From late October to the end of December, many dollars are lavished on festivities when so many in need are crying out for our help. Yes, I know this is not pleasant to think about. Reality often is not pleasant.

No, I'm not against anyone of any age having good, wholesome fun. This brings us to another point. Is Halloween fun actually good and wholesome? Even if we have our children wear wholesome costumes and observe child safety, such as never leaving children unattended and inspecting their candy, many children (and some playful adults) will dress up as witches or warlocks or some other unsavory or creepy character. I don't know about you but my Bible tells me that in this world we have a personal devil who hates humanity and is bent on destroying us. Halloween, with its overtones of occult and pagan roots, is an open invitation to this devil to wreak havoc upon us. This havoc can take many sickening forms such as child abductions, adult abductions (especially of women) shootings, knifings, gangs, rapes, human trafficking, and other horrific things that are blights on us and that break the heart of our Creator. And to some people who have suffered satanic ritual abuse or experienced satanic oppression, this time of the year can be upsetting and disturbing. To Christians who take Satan's existence seriously, Halloween is a real concern.

So what if you plan to participate in Halloween anyway? That is your choice. A local church in your area will offer Halloween events that will be far safer and more wholesome than the traditional trick or treating. If you decide to participate in traditional trick or treating this Friday, ask yourself what memories this will give your children of your involvement in their lives? What will it teach them? All of us who celebrate this day use it to have fun, or let our children have fun. I "get" that. There is a but. Can you be more creative in your family fun than observing a supposed "child-centered holiday"?

Keeping Safe This Halloween

Yes it is that time of the year. Halloween costumes. Halloween candy. Halloween parties. It's that time of the year when even those of us who are on diets, will "splurge" and "cheat." Many of the holidays, like Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, are more solemn and are not seen as mainly "fun" holidays. But holidays like Halloween are. Yet the potential and the pitfalls on "fun" days like this are many. It is not for nothing that Halloween has been called "the Devil's holiday." Many children and families come out at night to "trick or treat." So do predators and they are hard to identify. Many, for religious reasons, choose not to celebrate Halloween, and I don't blame them at all! For many, Halloween is a hard time, especially those who have lost children to having gone missing, or to death. Survivors of something called satanic ritual abuse also find this to be a hard time. Children with sensory issues due to autism or a related disorder, also find Halloween tough because they dislike the sounds, lights and smells of it all. Many single people may also struggle with especially acute feelings of loneliness at this time of the year.

Yes, I know that many adults also celebrate Halloween and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as it is good, clean, safe fun. I know of some who do. I, who am based in St. Louis, Missouri, consider "splurging" on pizza from Pizza Hut to be celebrating, as I enjoy Pizza Hut pizza. My mom and her boyfriend went to a Halloween party the other night and were asked to wear costumes. I know of others who have, too. I know that the bars will no doubt be packed with people tonight. Yet we know that at this time of year, many people, children included, turn up missing. Many may see all the witches, ghosts, goblins, vampires, and warlocks costumes to be just innocent fun, but can these open the door to evil? Can these put "trick or treaters" at risk of something called satanic oppression, even bodily harm due to being preyed on, even the unthinkable?

No, I'm not one of those who wants to take the fun out of anyone's Halloween. People who don't celebrate usually don't wish to take the fun out of that day and probably have other ways, if they have young children, of offering wholesome alternatives to their children. It is possible to keep your children and yourself safe and having fun, believe it or not, whether you celebrate Halloween or not. You may be one who has already participated in Halloween parties or events that have already been held, including through churches or through your places of employment.

So what are the best ways to keep your children and yourselves safe if you plan to go out tonight?

First, I know that many children are going out tonight to "trick or treat." I would assume that every child would be attended by a parent or another trusted adult. Children alone are easy prey for predators at any time or day during the year. On Halloween, they probably are even more vulnerable. Also, don't go in to the homes of people you don't know. I'm sure most of you know this. I don't want to insult anyone's intelligence. And when you get home safely with your children, you still need to ensure their safety. You need to check their candy. If it looks suspicious or if in doubt, throw it out! It is better to be safe than sorry. Also, people love to hand out lollipops and Tootsie Rolls. Aside from their total lack of any nutritional value, these hard or gummy candies are choking hazards. I recommend throwing them out. If you go out as adults, it is strongly recommended That you go out in groups and stay together. There is a campaign called "You Came Together? You Leave Together!" and at LostNMissing, Inc., you can learn more about how you can keep your friends and neighbors safe.

And please don't forget those who don't see this time of the year as "fun." Whether survivors of satanic ritual abuse, those with sensory processing issues, those with missing or deceased children, many lonely individuals, and those who don't believe in Halloween for religious reasons. Feel free to enjoy this day but don't "show it off" to those who would be offended by it. You need to do all those things that can keep yourself and your children safe.

Bottom line: Have a safe, clean and fun Halloween!

Photo courtesy of MorgueFile.com.
Photo by cohdra.

This photo can be found here.