Customer Reviews

Mommy, Why Don't We Celebrate Halloween?

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I applaud the author's attempt to foster Christian values in a secular and often anti-religious society. However, equating trick or treating with Devil worship is uniformed and grossly misguided.

It's true that Halloween has its origins in pagan religions, however these were NATURE worshipers, NOT Satan worshipers! Ignorant of the truth, these Druids and Celts tried to manage in a hostile and unknowable world. When Christianity came to Ireland, it was embraced and celebrated. Residual practice of some Halloween customs continued as a cultural, NOT religious observence, in much the same way not all people who celebrate St. Partick's Day are Roman Catholic.

More disturbing, Winwood reveals a rather ugly prejudice by describing the Pope's moving of All Saints Day to November 1 in the 7th century to supplant Halloween as "playing Let's Make a Deal with the devil". A "Christian" book for children is hardly the place to vent such anti-catholic hate mongering, and it smacks of the "My Jesus is better than your Jesus" mindset. (She also seems to forget that December 25 was likewise once the pagan holiday Saturnalia, "Christianized" to replace the earlier feast by papal writ. So is celebrating Christmas on that date equally Satanic?)

Last, she misses the message that Christ HAS conquered death and Satan, eradicating fear of the unknown. What was once a dark pagan feast is now a time for candy, costumes, and visiting neighbors --- what a wonderful example of "good conquering evil" and "light overcoming darkness"! Teaching kids to cower in the darkness, smugly telling themselves that they are faithful "friends of Jesus" while their peers go trick or treating to "honor the devil" is sorely inaccurate and unfair. (That sentiment actually attributes MORE power to Satan, as if we are in his grasp and are left without hope.) After all, Jesus himself did not run from "evil doers"; he mixed with them, broke bread and participated in cultural festivals alongside "the wicked".

A better message to kids is that Halloween is a reminder that unlike the Druids and other pagans, Christians no longer have to fear spooks and spirits, or worry over our ultimate fate, for death has lost its sting. What we celebrate is NOT the power of Satan, but the reality of Salvation through the sacrifice of Christ! Now THAT'S a message I want to give my kids!

I think that Halloween is an issue that Christians either find absolutely abhorent or no big deal. For those of us who choose *not* to celebrate October 31st, this is a great book to have. It explained to my children why we don't do all that stuff, without going into really scary detail.

I don't see the prejudice described by the previous reviewer. Instead, I saw history described accurately. Yes, both Christmas and Halloween [and Easter, too] were changed from pagan observances to Christian celebrations to appease the people. However, while Christmas and Easter have remained Christian celebrations, I don't see that as happening with Halloween.

Therefore, for us, this book is a useful tool. Others, who have decided to ignore the bad and celebrate the good, may find the book "Halloween, You For Real?" more to their liking.

Scripture tells us why we shouldn't celebrate Halloween or even imitate it. And that's where we need to go to find the truth about it. For my Christian brothers and sisters who defend Halloween and decide to resort to name calling or fake outrage, these are for you..and I pray God speaks to your heart and you can no longer defend it in the face of His truth:

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 ("Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.")
James 1:27 ("keep oneself from being polluted by the world")
3 John 1:11 ("do not imitate what is evil")
Romans 12:9 ("abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.")
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (do not learn to imitate detestable ways, including spiritists, sorcerers and witchcraft)
Ephesians 5:11-12 ("Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness" / "live as children of light")
1 Timothy 4:1 (don't "follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons")
1 Corinthians 10:21 (You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.)
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 ("what fellowship can light have with darkness?")
Philippians 4:8 (think about pure, lovely, noble things)
1 Corinthians 11:1 ("follow the example of Christ")
1 Corinthians 10:31 ("whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God")
James 4:7-8 (submit yourselves to God / resist the devil / purify your hearts)
Ezekiel 44:23 ("...teach my people... to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.")
Proverbs 22:6 ("train a child in the way he should go")
Matthew 18:6 ("if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin...")
Hosea 4:6 ("My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.")
John 3:19-20 (people love darkness instead of light)
Romans 13:12 ("put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.")
Ephesians 6:11-18 ("take your stand against the devil's schemes.")
1 John 5:19 (We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.)
2 Chronicles 7:14 (and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. )
Leviticus 20:26 ('Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.)
Isaiah 5:20 (Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter)

Teach your children early to stand up for Christ and be set apart from the world, or they will imitate your excuses for following darkness and end up in the midst of sin.

I have not read the book yet, but I am purchasing it today...I have read many articles, though, written by Orthodox Christian writers about dangers of participating in Halloween for Christian children....I can tell you for sure that my own daughter got sick when she came home last year after Halloween parade. I heard from other Orthodox Christian parents that the same things happen with their children. It is not possible to serve God and Satan at the same time.

If this holiday is innocent, like many people believe, then why not give your children chance to get candy from neighbours some other time of the year? Why does it have to be on this certain day and accompanied by costumes, etc.....People simply do not want to think. I hope they will have the courage to research this topic and also to pray that God will open their spiritual eyes...I am not surprised that many people do not understand the dangers of Halloween....many people today can not differentiate between right and wrong, black and white...what, then we expect our children to understand? More importantly, how we, as parents will look at God when we will have to give account of our methods of their upbringing during our earthly lives? Think about it...now it's fun, constumes and candy, soccer/baseball practices on Sunday mornings, but the day will come when we will wish we had more faith and wisdom than what we have now.....but it might be too late then.

We don't celebrate Halloween, but I find it really hard for my 5 and 7yr old to understand. We know lots of christians that do celebrate it, which can make our decision ever harder. It is hard for them to always be "missing out"! This book helped them to understand how Halloween began. It was very educational for me! We want to teach all things to the Glory of God and as a mom I fall short in so many ways. I am glad to find a book that helps them to understand why we choose to different and that it isn't something they are "MISSING" out on!

Around fall time every year, the stores fill with every conceivable Halloween item. That's why I'm so glad to have this book to explain to my son why we don't celebrate this holiday.

The book is clear and conceice as to the origins of Halloween and the biblical reasons why Christians shouldn't participate. It is written in an easy to understand format and I think the author did a wonderful job.

It's hard enough as Christians to take a stand for Jesus in today's world, especially when holidays such as Halloween come up. This book helps both parents and kids give and answer to those who question our actions. Great job!

Sometimes the truth is hard to hear. This book is a wonderful way to explain to your child/children WHY your family doesn't celebrate Halloween. I love the fact that this book also gives *notations* to look up scripture in the Bible to confirm the TRUTH even more. I highly recommend this book. The Bible says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God". Romans 12:2 The Bible also says Avoid Wicked Customs, "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations". Deuteronomy 18:9 Keep reading through Deuteronomy 18:10-14....Its very simple, just pick up your Bible and read it for those that are giving this book negative feedback. Stop going on YOUR own opinions, and what YOU feel is right. Get facts, not opinions.

Satan has a great way of making bad things look fun! This is what I'm always telling our children. This book does a great job in explaining the history of Halloween. Sure getting dressed up and getting candy seems harmless, but is it really??? Does God really want us living in a way that celebrates fear, death and horror when He himself does not give us a spirit of fear? I'm not saying all costumes and all people dress up in scary ways, but the main focus of Halloween is death and hauntings,etc. Reading this book is a wonderful way for the family to come together and understand the history of this day and not in a holier than thou way! I'm really sorry others feel that way, but we have to remember that doing what is right isn't always the popular thing to do.

Although the book is about the history behind Halloween and attempts to give children an understanding of it, it truely isn't what Halloween represents in 2011. Never will I forget as a child being paraded around the school playground in a line with all the other children wearing their costumes as I was humiliated not to be dressed up. My mother would say, "come out from amongst them and be thee separate." I grew up and vowed to stay away from "religion." Although I'm forever grateful that mom's relationship with Jesus helped lead all 8 of her children to Christ, she told me how misguided she had been and sorry she was. My children were allowed to dress up and trick or treat and enjoy being children. No they weren't allowed to wear devil costumes or anything that represented evil - but they were allowed to dress up and get candy and enjoy being children. The Lord knows our hearts and that's all that matters. My children are grown now and my granddaughter is a bumblebee this year. I thank Jesus constantly for allowing me to raise 2 beautiful children who put others needs before their own. We watched mom, their grandmother last year leave her earthly body behind. I can hear Jesus say, "well done my good and faithful servent."

Using this book is an excellent way to help explain why we do not celebrate Halloween to our children. It is fully factual while leaving out the gorey details of what goes on behind the celabratory veil of "Halloween". As with many things, the enemy would very much like us to believe that celebrating Halloween is NOT bad. Adults should educate themselves regarding the truth behind Halloween. Rent "Halloween: Trick or Treat?". It is a great starting point. DO NOT VIEW THIS DVD WITH YOUR CHILDREN. [...]