I have a love/hate relationship with Halloween.
I hate a season in which themes of death and demons take over the shelves of stores and my neighbors’ yards. I can’t wait for the season to pass.
I hate as well the greed that overtakes those who should know better. This year I’m thinking of refusing candy to
• those taller than four feet
• those who come to the door twice
• those who don’t even bother to dress up
• those who are clearly adults.
I had multiples of all four categories come to the door last year.
On the other hand, I love the delight in my son’s countenance when given a chance to dress up in a costume and visit with his neighbors. (When he was five he dressed up as the only five-year old paleontologist on the planet. It was his idea, as was his greeting line, “I’m a paleontologist. I look for dinosaur bones and for candy.” Cuteness won him a haul.)
As well, I love an event that gets my neighbors out of their houses visiting with one another. And as Christians it does little to enhance our battle against the deep wickedness in our culture by turning the lights out on our neighbors’ children who only want to look cute and to get a piece of candy.
So, I long ago gave up the idea that somehow Halloween was going to usher in Satanism, and I embraced dress-up fun and neighborly camaraderie.
Just don’t come to my door twice.
Seth
Well stated. One thing that I have noticed is the death and demons seem predominantly relegated to the store shelves. Most of the people that I see dressed up, excepting the occasional teenager, are in costumes that show off a sense of humor rather that morbidity. One of my coworkers and her boyfriend are dressing up as George and Jane Jetson. How awesome is that!! When I can dredge up enough expendable cash, I want to piece together a Dread Pirate Roberts costume…
Matthew
If we had the cash Alissa wanted to dress up as Mulder and Scully. Left to her own devices she would no doubt dress up as a ray of sunshine or a flower, or something else full of happiness.
Amy
I hear of different roots for Halloween. I think I saw an article last year that was arguing it had Christian roots. Who knows what the real truth is? For most people who aren’t wicka or whatever, Halloween simply means getting candy, spending time with kids, and dressing up.Provided Staci Thomas’ kids are healthy, we’ll be borrowing a Bumblebee outfit for Connar. Its too small for me.BTW-Randy, you need to be a Candy Nazi. Don’t let teen-agers or parents “work the system.” They’ve probably “worked the system” their whole lives and the buck must stop at your house! I would advise getting some face paint to make you look tougher and meaner.Geoff
Gail and Keith
Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, a celebration of the end of the harvest season. Later cultures believed that departed spirits came back to inhabit the bodies of those left behind. To scare them away they began decorating turnips, potatoes with scary faces. Various Popes moved All Saints Day from May 13 to October, perhaps to counteract the pagan festival. You’ll find more than you cared to know by doing a Google or Wikipedia search.G
Randy Greenwald
C’mon, Matthew – Alissa dressed as a ray of sunshine would just look like, well, Alissa! And, Seth, well, as you wish. Connar would be cute no matter what you put on him – it’s Geoff I want to see as a bumblebee. And decorating turnips and potatoes, now that would be fun. I’ll have to think about that.
Geoffsnook
Randy,I could go dressed up as the home plate umpire for Game 5. That dude was every bit as scary as a witch, and without the predictability…Geoff
TulipGirl
A paleontologist? Cute!
Andrea Rowe
Geoff, I want to see some photos of Connar the bubblebee!!
Gail and Keith
You said: “And as Christians it does little to enhance our battle against the deep wickedness in our culture by turning the lights out on our neighbors’ children who only want to look cute and to get a piece of candy.” So, those who do turn the lights out and hide in the back bedroom are hampering the spread of the Gospel? Hmmmmmmmmm. No room for personal conviction???? Just wondering. G
Randy Greenwald
Actually, plenty of room for personal conviction! It is my opinion (conviction) that doing so does not accomplish much. But I don’t at all expect that that would (or should) be everyone’s conviction. Correct? That’s why I put these things out here, so we can have interaction on subjects where we differ.
MagistraCarminae
Well, I’m just glad that Gail is keeping you honest. Way to go, Gail!Chris, off to get some ice cream…
Amy
Randy,Great response. I obviously agree with your assessment on Halloween. But folks are free to differ in their convictions. Our goal at Hope has been to create a place where people can disagree and still love one another. I think posting stuff like this can help us sharpen, question, or hold fast to our specific convictions. Keep it up! Andrea,I’ll be sure to put up some pictures if we get that costume. Otherwise, he’ll probably be a baby buccaneer.Geoff