Halloween

Tough Questions Kids Ask

October 2006: Does God Approve of Halloween?

Since Deuteronomy 18:10-11 declares, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead," some Christians hesitate to celebrate Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, when spirits of the dead honored on November 1st, All Saints' Day, supposedly roam the earth. However, since modern-day Halloween events seem to be more concerned with candy, action figures, and pouffy princesses, many Christians see no harm in the festivities.

At least one church, which runs a preschool, approaches the occasion in the following way. The preschool celebrates the holiday with costumes, a party, and a parade. However, each year before the parade, the church's Minister of Education meets with the children enrolled in the school. Passing out plastic rings with spiders on them, he points out that although the spiders may look scary, they are harmless. He then encourages the children to wear the rings while trick-or-treating, as a reminder that ghosts, witches, or other spooky creatures they may see on Halloween also cannot hurt them. Like the plastic spiders, they are just part of the fun and nothing to fear. Finally, he reminds the children that God loves them and promises protection.