This was a question that never even crossed my mind until I had children of my own. I was raised in a Christian home, we were at church every time the doors were open: Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and even for every special event. My father was a deacon. I sang in the children’s choir, acted in the church productions, etc., etc., etc. (you get the picture).

And I went trick-or-treating.

I never thought about it being evil in any way nor felt like I was participating in a satanic holiday. My friends and I would put on a costume (usually homemade) and I remember dressing like a “hobo” as being a favorite. That probably would not be considered politically correct today. We walked around our local neighborhood, knocked on doors, and got as much candy as possible.

I do remember hearing of scares from my childhood of evil people putting razor blades in candy and horrible stuff like that. And I believe that my parents did inspect my loot before I dug in. I also remember giving them all the candy that I didn’t like and any “healthy stuff” that some neighbors would sneak in instead of candy. I even remember receiving a Christian gospel tract or two mixed in with the goods.

Then I had children.

I don’t remember us actually ever sitting down as a family and discussing whether or not they should go trick-or-treating, but I remember considering that maybe as Christians, it was something we should not do.

Fortunately, it was never a struggle for us. A local large church (which also houses the Christian school that our children attended for a while) would hold a “Fall Festival” on Halloween every year. They shut the street down to pedestrian traffic only, played Christian music, and had bounce houses, carnival games, contests, and all sorts of fun activities. The kids were also allowed to dress up as long as it was not a “scary” costume (mine never did, they never expressed any interest in dressing up). And there was lots and lots of candy. A wholesome FREE family alternative. And that is what we did every year.

So, back to the question, should Christians participate in Halloween?

You can research the origins of Halloween so I won’t go into the details here, but most sources agree that it is derived from ancient Celtic harvest festivals. It was the beginning of the Celtic year, and the pagan Samhain festival celebrating the onset of winter. The Celts believed that spirits walked the earth during this time and would play mean tricks on humans. The humans would escape by offering the evil spirits sweets or by disguising themselves to look like evil spirits also in an attempt to blend in and go unnoticed. They also thought the evil spirit would be scared off by a gourd (pumpkin) that had a carved scary face with a candle inside. Most of today’s traditional Halloween activities can be traced back to those old superstitions and pagan rituals.

Apparently even today, those who practice witchcraft and follow Wicca, celebrate Halloween as a holy day. They still worship Samhain and believe spirits are released on that day. Scary stuff. These origins to the holiday are why many strongly suggest that Christians should steer clear of any Halloween association at all. There is no question that the Bible speaks strongly against anyone who practiced things like witchcraft, soothsaying, and sorcery (Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:9-14).

Arguments on the other side of the coin recognize Halloween as the eve of “All Saint’s Day,” a Christian festival to honor saints. It is also “Reformation Day,” the day that Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the Wittenberg church door (October 31, 1517). To some, it is a day of celebration of religious freedoms won during that time in history. They argue that Christians should not respond like superstitious pagans and that evil spirits are no more sinister on Halloween than on any other day. Every day Satan prowls around seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Since both perspectives contain truth, it is difficult to know how to answer the question, “Should Christians participate in Halloween?”

Without question, Christians should always demonstrate wisdom, caution, and teach responsibility. Providing a safe, not just fun, environment for your children is a must. An undeniable threat on Halloween is the result of sinful behavior such as drunk driving, pranks, and even unsupervised children. Christian parents on every day of the year should protect their children by ensuring they are appropriately well-supervised and ensure they are only consuming products from trusted sources. And on Halloween, like every day of the year, Christian parents should respond to the world around them with compassion and a desire to reach the lost. They should seek every opportunity to share the hope they have found in Christ.

So should Christians participate in Halloween?

Notice I did not ask “should Christians celebrate Halloween?” There is a difference between participating in something and celebrating it. As Christians, we are in this world, although not of it (John 15:19). We are participants on this earth and cannot hide from evil but we can boldly face it knowing that ultimately God has the victory. We can live our lives in a way that celebrates good over evil and the triumph of God over Satan. We can (and should) teach our children (in an age-appropriate way of course) that there is a spiritual realm of both good and evil and that with Christ we have power over darkness (Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 6:10-17, 1 John 4:4).

For Christians I see three choices:

1 – Completely refuse to participate at all. Don’t allow kids to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, or even attend Halloween alternatives. Leave your house lights off that night or go out for a long dinner or other family activity (although it may be difficult to escape entirely as many malls and even restaurants will have Halloween decorations and even costumes). This option will more than likely raise questions as to why you have made this choice and provide an opportunity to share the gospel when people ask.

2 – Participate in Halloween, but in a non-compromising way. There’s nothing inherently evil about candy. You’d hand it out (or at least eat it yourself) on any other day and not think twice about it. The same goes for costumes. In and of themselves, they are not evil. As long as the costumes and behavior do not dishonor Christ, each of these things can be used to further the gospel. Use the opportunity to hand out gospel tracts (along with a few pieces of candy of course) to those who come to your door. Trick-or-treating can provide an opportunity to meet neighbors you don’t already know. Introduce yourself, and start to build a relationship that can open opportunities to later share your faith. You might even consider having the children dress as their favorite Bible characters and when neighbors ask what they are dressed as it will provide an opportunity to open a discussion on the Bible.

3 – Choose a Halloween alternative, such as a “Fall Festival,” “Harvest Festival” or “Reformation Festival.” If there is not a local church in your area providing such an event, consider hosting your own fun and safe alternative where Jesus is celebrated. Have the children dress up like favorite Bible or reformation characters. Let the children play games such as acting out stories that the character they are dressed as were a part of and let the other children guess who they are. Then you could read the story in the Bible to them. Use the night to find fun ways to share the gospel with your neighbors and friends.

With all three options, talk with your child about what you believe and why you have made the choices you have. With options 2 and 3, your children will be able to talk about the night like their friends, including similar activities (costumes, games, and candy). If you choose option 1, it is important that you prepare your child for the conversations they will hear the next day so they don’t feel left out and confused.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to make the best decision for your family. Some of the best advice I ever received when my children were little was to pray about every decision and then do what I think, with God’s leading, is best for my child. You know your children and your family dynamics better than anyone else. You are equipped to make the best decision for your family. Seeking advice from wise Godly people is always good, but ultimately seeking God’s direction and following His prompting is the best way to answer this question, and every question, regarding your children.

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