To "Halloween" or Not to "Halloween"? Part 2

First, I want to thank everyone who left a thought or comment on my previous post. You all shared some great ideas and feelings on this matter.

This is the conclusion we came to:

Our youngest son is going to dress up as a fireman, and attend his class party. The situation with our oldest is a bit easier. His class is joining the 7th and 8th graders for a pizza and bowling party. This will not involve costumes, but will just be a fun time.

We're going to follow our tradition of the past by going out together that evening. (We usually go to a fast food restaurant with a play land...though our oldest is getting a bit big for that!) We'll come home and have family prayers, then play some games. The practice in the past was that whoever won the game got some candy. (I took in a pile of caramels one year! :o) ) We usually play Uno or something similar.

After seeing the crowds of children downtown last night, all trying to get their share of the candy offered by the merchants...I was once again thankful that we don't participate in the hullabaloo!

I have to add, too, that our youngest was quite perturbed recently, when he found out that their weekly time of praying the rosary is going to be replaced by their party next week. He didn't think that was right. I have to say, I'm glad he feels that way!

.

To "Halloween" or not to "Halloween"?

Our kids are ages 11 and 8. When our youngest was approaching his first Halloween, back in the '90's, my husband and I had a lengthy discussion about whether or not we should dress our little tyke in some cutesy costume...or let it go. Since our son was only a little over 1 1/2 yrs., we figured we'd let it go. Then the next year came along, and we just sort of ignored the day. Each successive year, it became easier to not deal with it. When our son started kindergarten, we had already pretty much made up our minds that we didn't want to celebrate the day.

Now don't make us out to be scrooges. We both celebrated Halloween throughout our childhoods. But when we were in college, the town was known for its "witches convention" and big, secretive gatherings by those who were into animal sacrifice. The females on our campus were even encouraged to stay inside on that night. Or, at the very least, not to be out alone after dark. It was a very real situation. It convinced me of the evil that takes place on that night. I could give more details, but that's sufficient.

Back to our kids. While in kindergarten, we told our son's teacher that he wouldn't be celebrating Halloween. They didn't force him to sing the songs, and he had the option of making different art projects, etc. On Halloween, we took him out of school for the day, as they were having an all-day party. Our church had a different type of celebration, with kids dressing as saints. Some of the parents in our church agreed with us, so that made it easier.

In the years following this, we have taken that night as a family night. We take the kids to some fast food place with a playland. We come home and play games, with the winners earning free candies, etc. I have gone to Wal-Mart and purchased sale-priced costumes for the kids to dress up in when they are just playing. We just didn't want it to be a celebration of the dark.

However, this year, our kids are not home schooled. They are in school. Halloween songs are being sung. Costumes are being discussed. There will be parties. We are in the very small minority of people who have never celebrated this with our kids. Most people think we're crazy. The Catholic church also celebrates November 1st, which is All Saints' Day. It is a celebration of the lives of those who have stood as examples of living a truly holy, Christian life.

So I'm asking for your thoughts. I really don't know what to do with this situation. Having told our kids all these years the reasons why we don't celebrate this...how do we reconcile that our church's school celebrates it? And should we just lighten up and let them do this...even though that is completely the opposite of what we've always told them?

Let me know what you think!
_________________________

*jack-o-lantern photo by Christopher Walters