Why Not Celebrate Halloween: 5 Reasons Why My Teen Doesn’t Celebrate Halloween

Why not celebrate Halloween? This is a question I’ve been asked throughout the years. There are a few answers as to “Why not celebrate Halloween?” Yes we are Christian and yes my family including my teen don’t celebrate Halloween. Many have debated me both Christians and non-Christians over celebrating Halloween. Some Christians use Halloween as a way to evangelize, others see no harm, and some are like me, are adamantly against it.

Fair warning: This isn’t going to be an exhaustive break down in theology, reasons, or turn into a debate in the comments as to why Christians should or should not celebrate Halloween. I’m simply giving reasons as to why we chose as a family not to celebrate Halloween, including my teen, in case you have been on the fence about it. FYI, I’m passionate about this subject so if you’re easily offended, you’ve been warned, proceed with caution.

Reasons why Christians Celebrate Halloween (again not exhaustive):

1) Evangelize-

This is one of the main reasons why I hear Christians celebrate Halloween. Some even say you’re not a Christian if you decide to stay home and not interact with your community on this day.

[bctt tweet=”If I’m waiting for Halloween to interact with my community, then I’m doing it wrong.” username=”@how2loveteens”]

There are either 364 or 365 other days of the year, depending if it’s a leap year or not, where I can be intentional on interacting with my community. I should not be waiting for Halloween to make it happen.

2) Harmless-

Every time I hear this word, I do a double take because usually I’m missing something spiritually wrong. When we say something is “harmless” oftentimes we are covering up what is actually harmful or downplaying the reality of what it is so we can get something out of it. We can take one look around and see how often something “harmless” became crazy harmful and if we traced it back to what started it all it was something labeled as “harmless”. For instance, there is a link to watching scary movies and then suffering from night terrors, severe anxiety, or falling away from the things of God. I myself remember as a kid suffering from nightmares and I watched all the scary movies from to Poltergeist to The Exorcist, you name it, I watched it. This is not a coincidence! How often does Satan disguise something as sweet aka harmless when in actuality it becomes poison to the spirit? Expecting a treat when it’s all a trick.

Why Not Celebrate Halloween: 5 Reasons Why My Teen Doesn’t Celebrate Halloween

1) It opens doorways to the occult.

Scary movies, evil or sexy costumes, tarot card readings, decorations celebrating the dead or undead, it seems like  anything goes on this day. We can’t even act like we don’t see it. We must realize we are choosing not to. We must ask ourselves, what are we opening ourselves and our families up to? If you’re a Christian, you must understand we are in a spiritual battle against the enemy.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12)

“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” (Lev.19:31)

One thing I notice Halloween does, is open doorways and intrigue to the occult or evil across the board. We participate in activities or test out certain things we wouldn’t usually because they are available to us either at a party or given to us through a neighbor’s house. For example, I’ve seen voodoo dolls sent as invitations and gladly accepted or displayed in one’s home. These are all avenues by which the enemy has the ability to come in and wreak havoc.

With Halloween, Satan is not hiding. He is out there in the open and many are opening the door wide open for him to enter in. The occult is let loose with no judgment and that’s scary.

2) It gives them an excuse to dress provocatively.

Yes, on a regular day they can and some do dress provocatively. However, I have seen even the most modest girl use this day to “let loose”. I grew up as a Jehovah’s witness so we didn’t celebrate Halloween but once I stopped going to Kingdom Hall and before I started really walking out my faith as a Christian, I remember using Halloween as an excuse to have my skirt shorter, my cleavage more pronounced, and my attitude a little sexier. It was Halloween, anything goes right? Even the girls who usually dressed provocatively as it was, would always turn it up a notch during Halloween.

“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.” (Prov. 11:22)

We have all witnessed someone who has come across as “sloppy” or all over the place (you can fill in the blank as to what this looks like). We are called to behave in a Godly way and that means people feel comfortable or safe in our presence to the best of our ability. I’m teaching my kids modesty across the board and Halloween is no exception. One day is not more distinctive than the other when it comes to being who you are in Christ. As a parent, we are also called to be set apart. What we do, our kids will follow. They are watching us and how we act. If Mommy is dressing like a sexy nurse, they will eventually follow and want your approval and affirmation.

What are we promoting in our kids?

I’ve seen parents dress their own kids up provocatively because they either want to live vicariously through them or for their own personal enjoyment in other ways like approval from friends. What we don’t realize is we are dressing up our teen and then sending them off into the world where they are vulnerable to the pedophile next door or the horny teenager in their sixth period class.

Rape is never okay or justified even in provocative dress and yes rape happens even in regular clothes sometimes. However, we must realize the doors we are opening in allowing or promoting sexy Halloween costumes or clothes in general to those who have unhealthy sexual appetites and are looking to your teen to satisfy them. Never give someone easy access to your child.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

As parents, we are called to protect our children and this includes our teens.

What do you do if they decide to dress this way anyway? Start discipling them. This may look different in your home. Remember you’re the parent, children don’t turn into teens and then get decide to do whatever they want. If they don’t have the money to pay for this stuff, where are they getting it? Throw items out, take their phone, ground them, your teen’s life may be on the line. This isn’t about being politically correct or trying not to be “that” Christian. You can survive the teenage years with Godly standards in place. The enemy wants your child’s life. Are we giving it to him?

3) It gives them a chance to talk about their faith and find others who are like minded.

Even though this may sound opposite to what I said above and I’m hoping my children will use more than just Halloween to talk about their faith in Jesus Christ but I have experienced this first hand where stepping away from Halloween has not isolated but rather brought together those students who are like minded. It has brought comfort to both students and parents knowing someone else is on their team.

Some may say, “Oh you are making it uncomfortable for them, they might be embarrassed or isolated” or “What a horrible childhood because they didn’t get to celebrate Halloween!” Here have been my answers and experience in answering “Why not celebrate Halloween?“, my kids have grown up this way and with older siblings who have paved the way making it easier, they have been trained to know what to say and they don’t miss celebrating something they never did. If at the end of the day, the only complaint they have is that they didn’t get to celebrate Halloween, then I’ve done a pretty good job of raising them.

[bctt tweet=”“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Prov. 22:6)” username=”@how2loveteens”]

I don’t keep the reason from them but rather give the reason to them.

This way they can say it confidently and they have. Communication with your teen is important. I also have given teachers and staff fair warning ahead of time, so they aren’t caught off guard. I’m in constant communication about my whys because you never know how this can be a testimony to them or to others.

4) It shows them the reality between good and evil.

As Christians, there really should be no question as to whether or not evil exists. We can open our favorite social media app and it’s staring us in the face in the form of news or other updates from people in our life. Some of you can’t even turn off the light without wanting to run up the stairs and you’re in your 30s or 40s and that’s just a lesser form of the fear we may hold in our heart and understanding of the threat of evil. We have all experienced some form of evil in our lives. Evil is prevalent and some are even more sensitive to others in actually experiencing the spiritual realm in real time and in real life.

Children are especially susceptible to the works of the enemy.

Yet we parade them around, bringing them onto properties we know nothing about, accepting candy from a random stranger, and allowing them to be exposed to so much spiritual warfare. Yes, Jesus Christ is greater. However, we must realize when we bring them outside the boundaries of God’s protection and into the darkness, we are inviting the enemy into our home, marriage, family members, and will come under spiritual warfare.

[bctt tweet=”Halloween is the perfect time for me to show them what evil looks like when it unveils itself.” username=”@how2loveteens”]

As a parent, I must show them what evil looks like. It’s ugly, scary, and not for us. If I allow them to interact with it, downplay it, or promote it, how can I possibly start to create a foundation for them to start filtering out evil when I’m not around? I must build a Jesus filter, sight for the things of God and things that are not from God, and the Holy Spirit nudgings He so generously gives us. The enemy is out for my child’s life and I want my child to recognize it and not play with it.

5) It saves them from attending celebrations where evil is a lot more tolerated.

When it comes to Halloween, I’ve seen invites in the forms of voodoo dolls, ouija boards are played, where psychics are going to be present, scary movies are on, and for teens where drugs may be introduced, drinks are spiked, and sexual immorality is more easily accessible.

Yes, this can happen in celebrations outside of Halloween.

However, Halloween becomes the excuse and the justification for trying something they wouldn’t normally. It’s easy to hide when you’re in costume or pretend to be something they’re not. It masquerades itself as freedom to do what you please because it’s Halloween and according to the world no one is allowed to judge. This is both for parents and teens alike. Evil doesn’t discriminate. It wants to take everyone out regardless of age or religious affiliation.

What if we don’t do these things? What if we celebrate Halloween at our church?

It will be up to different households and churches on what they decide to do for Halloween. I have friends who celebrate Halloween and my own church holds an alternative form of celebrating Halloween but for me and my family, we choose not to.

A lot of people have come to know my stance on Halloween or they will soon learn when the time comes around, so my children and I aren’t usually invited to Halloween parties or activities. This comes from being consistent on our beliefs and being vocal about it. I’m not trying to be weird or hide why I’m not celebrating. I’m very clear as to why but I also do it respectfully. I’m not going to disrespect you but I will be firm in the answer to “why not celebrate Halloween” for me and my family. In my own way during this time, I’m preaching the Gospel and I don’t have to wear a costume or give out candy to do it.

Baskets of Blessings,
Nina Daugherty