For those with kids and dont do Halloween

[Momvic5]

This is what I find interesting...So I respect those who do not wish to celebrate it for whatever reason. What I find intersting is the people attach bible versus/booklets to the candy. I am guessing those people really dont like the Halloween holiday or dont really celebrate it, yet they give out candy with bible tracts(Isnt that what its called?)
A very good friend of mine who lives in a different state, does not celebrate Halloween for religious purposes. Her church doesnt do any fall celebration of any kind. Yet she told me she would not take her kids trick or treating, but hand out candy with bible tracts to the kids who came by?

I honestly respect people who do not celebrate it, but why bother with the candy and bible stuff then?

I, personally, think it is to be apart of the neighborhood - to show that you care about the people who make up your community and that you are willing to help make it fun and safe.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I, personally, think it is to be apart of the neighborhood - to show that you care about the people who make up your community and that you are willing to help make it fun and safe.

... And to "spread the word". I'm not knocking it, just posting fact. My mom's old boss was a Witness.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

You know, I feel the same way. Annoyed. The thing that bothers me is the 6 week buildup where we are treated to skulls, ghoulish creatures, naughty costumes,etc. Halloween isn't uplifting, it doesn't celebrate the gathering of family, it doesn't help anyone else. It's a purely selfish day with no redeeming value.

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because there are no presents, it's all about being grateful for our blessings, and gathering with our families, whoever that may be.

This is an interesting post to read after the discussion DH and I were just having about how much fun we had last night! We had a houseful of family and friends from dinner on all the way til the end of the baseball game. The weather was beautiful, and all the neighbors were out and about, half the houses were having parties of some sort throughout the night. Kids of all ages were all outside playing, even after they were done getting candy. We had so much fun I told DH I wish we had Halloween once a month! No other event gets so many people out having one big old block party like Halloween does.

AND, we had no unusual treats that I only hear about on the DIS- no religious tracts or other wacky stuff. Although I'm sure some of you would have been appalled to come to our house- we were also handing out adult beverages with our candy.

 

[Momvic5]

... And to "spread the word". I'm not knocking it, just posting fact. My mom's old boss was a Witness.

I totally agree! What dedication to print and attach verses to each piece of candy! No matter the reason, I appreciate the fact that they are helping keep the holiday fun and safe for the children.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I totally agree! What dedication to print and attach verses to each piece of candy! No matter the reason, I appreciate the fact that they are helping keep the holiday fun and safe for the children.

Oh, I think regular bible verse, kids activity pamphlets are sweet. What I don't want to see in my kid's Halloween buckets are the Chick Tracts- calling the Holy Communion the Death Cookie, etc. And somehow, I don't think the people who hand that crap out have the best intentions.

 

[Momvic5]

Oh, I think regular bible verse, kids activity pamphlets are sweet. What I don't want to see in my kid's Halloween buckets are the Chick Tracts- calling the Holy Communion the Death Cookie, etc. And somehow, I don't think the people who hand that crap out have the best intentions.

I agree...I have never seen what you are talking about...but it goes without saying, we have to monitor what goes in our children's bags. I think most people have good intentions and are looking to enjoy the hoilday, but as with everything, there are always the exceptions.

We like the Bible verses too - a piece of Candy and a verse....that's a double treat in our home.

 

[Colleen27]

For those with kids(who arent babies)and dont do the whole trick or treating/Halloween thing, why dont you?? Just curious thats all.

Around here, it is mostly a religious objection to the "pagan" nature/origin of the holiday, which I don't get since I know these are people who put up a Christmas tree and color eggs at Easter, but what do I know...

 

[Colleen27]

Your opinion is certainly your opinion but my opinion is that you aren't celebrating it right if you don't think it doesn't celebrate gathering of family. My son helped me make his costume, we went to my dad's house tonight and laughed while chatting and sharing candy. My dad loves handing out candy and seeing all the costumes. It is a giving holiday. It is a family holiday. It is fun and we all enjoy the time spent together before and during the actual day.

I think Halloween goes beyond family - it is a holiday that celebrates and strengthens communities. We live in a time where too often we don't know our own neighbors, but on Halloween we have a chance to open our doors and greet the neighborhood kids and parents, and share a smile with those that live around us. We really enjoy it, and I was so glad to see that most people in our new neighborhood celebrate as well because for years we lived in an area where few houses would have lights on and a surprising number of those that did were passing out church pamphlets.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I loved growing up celebrating Halloween...our entire street would come out, all of the adults would sit in the driveways together...we always looked forward to hanging out with our neighbors. Definitely a holiday for bonding!

 

[MiniGirl]

I think Halloween goes beyond family - it is a holiday that celebrates and strengthens communities. We live in a time where too often we don't know our own neighbors, but on Halloween we have a chance to open our doors and greet the neighborhood kids and parents, and share a smile with those that live around us. We really enjoy it, and I was so glad to see that most people in our new neighborhood celebrate as well because for years we lived in an area where few houses would have lights on and a surprising number of those that did were passing out church pamphlets.

Well, I got a chance to meet one of our local sheriffs last night. LOL!!! He was in the street right in front of our house. He was playing Hide-n-Seek with some kids last night. He found two in the bushes right up against my house while the others opened the gate to my backyard ran through and then jumped the fence into a neighbor's yard. My neighbors and I will also get to know each other better as we dig up and replant/repair the shrubs and sprinkler heads that were damaged. We also got to spend time together today as we cleaned candy wrappers, cans, and bottles out of our yards. Oh, and I also got to "meet" a lovely man who thought it was funny to pound on my window as we were trying to drive back to our home. He scared the tar out of my young girls.

Yeppers!!! Good times.

 

[ReneeA]

Well, I got a chance to meet one of our local sheriffs last night. LOL!!! He was in the street right in front of our house. He was playing Hide-n-Seek with some kids last night. He found two in the bushes right up against my house while the others opened the gate to my backyard ran through and then jumped the fence into a neighbor's yard. My neighbor's and I will also get to know each other better as we dig up and replant/repair the shrubs and sprinkler heads that were damaged. We also got to spend time together today as we cleaned candy wrappers, cans, and bottles out of our yards. Oh, and I also got to "meet" a lovely man who thought it was funny to pound on my window as we were trying to drive back to our home. He scared the tar out of my young girls.

Yeppers!!! Good times.

That's really sad.

We had a great time. My sister and her kids drove 250+ miles to share Halloween with us. We had a great time with our neighbors, and it was a fabulous social occasion. On Friday, our school had a fall festival with games, food, and hayrides.


I wish everyone had that kind of experience because I really enjoy it more than any other holiday. Every other holiday is spent running from one home to another and chaos. Halloween is our family/neighborhood time.

 

[sunlver]

Oh, I think regular bible verse, kids activity pamphlets are sweet. What I don't want to see in my kid's Halloween buckets are the Chick Tracts- calling the Holy Communion the Death Cookie, etc. And somehow, I don't think the people who hand that crap out have the best intentions.

Ok, call me dumb, but what exactly is the chick tracts??My kids did get some of those.. we just threw them away...

 

[lillygator]

HALLOWEEN ROCKS!

The ones that I know for sure that don't--don't do so b/c of their particular beliefs. But then they do "trunk or treat' which is trick or treating tailgate style. I get why they don't "celebrate' the holiday--but they are still "celebrating" the holiday. They'll just do it on a different day.

just like certain people at my office who don't celebrate any holiday with us as a group, but sure are scarfing down leftover "insert holiday" cake and cookies that get put in the kitchen...if you don;t celebrate don;t eat my darn ghost cookie, xmas cake or sugar easter egg.

I was just wondering if your family decorates a Christmas tree for Christmas?

I mean no disrespect

I wonder the same thing! Do you do Easter egg hunts?

Pagan origins? I suspect that some don't know the full story of the other holidays.

Anyway, we were lucky enough to attend a hayride that is strongly themed around Halloween including some of the darker images. We were surrounded by huge family groups with everyone from small kids to the elderly all having a wonderful time. That is certainly family enough for me!

ding ding ding!!!!!

and my word - how can Halloween NOT be a family oriented thing? since I was born -----34 yrs ago, Halloween has always been a FAMILY thing.

 

[bgirldeb]

I was just wondering if your family decorates a Christmas tree for Christmas?

I mean no disrespect

I wonder the same thing! Do you do Easter egg hunts?

No, and we don't celebrate Christmas or Easter for the same reasons

 

[Tiggerlover91]

No, and we don't celebrate Christmas or Easter for the same reasons

 

[Colleen27]

Ok, call me dumb, but what exactly is the chick tracts??My kids did get some of those.. we just threw them away...

It is a religious company that publishes "cartoons" and other pamphlets. They're way on the extreme side and take great liberties with history to attempt to make a point. The Halloween tract talks about human sacrifice and features Satan with a jack-o-lantern head awaiting trick-or-treaters with a chain saw. I grew up Catholic and every now and then someone would see fit to leave on each car's windshield during mass a tract about how Catholics are non-Christians celebrating Pagan rituals under the influence of Satan.

 

[Ember]

It's nice to see such a respectful thread.

And I really respect those who don't celebrate Halloween also not celebrating Christmas or Easter. I always try to respect religious beliefs, but the whole Halloween = bad, other traditionally pagan holidays=good always befuddled me. I would never say anything to anyone about it, but I have wondered.