Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Halloween	Carol	Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Question: Im surprised no one has asked about this before... my kids every year dress up for halloween eg, princes, bob the builder, angel, usually home made costumes that don't look evil. however.. I have not taken them to trick or treat for the past 3 yrs and don't intend to .. I don't like the idea of it ... and I think may be evil..contemplating evil things.. I don't like that in the catholic school they decorate with ghostss. and gumblins and scary stuff "just for fun" ... am I going over board? I know that alot of people take Halloween to do wicked stuff.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Carol: You are right to be concerned about Halloween. The traditional images and notions of Halloween engulf us in the culture of death that our late Holy Father John Paul II warned against. We need not boycott the day, however. We can Christianize it by dressing up in bible characters or at least in neutral costumes like princes and such. For Trick or treating we can pass out Holy Cards along with the candy when children come to our door. For our own children we can take them door to door but not with the typical attitude of "trick" or treat, but to bless the houses they come to. For example, the children can say to the people at each house, GOD BLESS YOU, instead of "trick or treat". I have an essay about this subject that you may be interested in. It is called: Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Halloween

Carol

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Question:

Im surprised no one has asked about this before... my kids every year dress up for halloween eg, princes, bob the builder, angel, usually home made costumes that don't look evil. however.. I have not taken them to trick or treat for the past 3 yrs and don't intend to .. I don't like the idea of it ... and I think may be evil..contemplating evil things.. I don't like that in the catholic school they decorate with ghostss. and gumblins and scary stuff "just for fun" ... am I going over board? I know that alot of people take Halloween to do wicked stuff.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Carol:

You are right to be concerned about Halloween. The traditional images and notions of Halloween engulf us in the culture of death that our late Holy Father John Paul II warned against.

We need not boycott the day, however. We can Christianize it by dressing up in bible characters or at least in neutral costumes like princes and such.

For Trick or treating we can pass out Holy Cards along with the candy when children come to our door. For our own children we can take them door to door but not with the typical attitude of "trick" or treat, but to bless the houses they come to. For example, the children can say to the people at each house, GOD BLESS YOU, instead of "trick or treat".

I have an essay about this subject that you may be interested in. It is called: Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum