As
a young child I enjoyed dressing in a costume and going trick-or-treating, as
well as seeing the other trick-or-treaters in their costumes. As an older child I
enjoyed being at our family’s door giving out candy to the visitors and seeing
their costumes.
I still enjoy certain aspects of Halloween. But I think it is better to replace traditional trick-or-treating with fun alternatives, as I discuss below.
I still enjoy certain aspects of Halloween. But I think it is better to replace traditional trick-or-treating with fun alternatives, as I discuss below.
My current view is that going door-to-door seeking candy is not a good idea for
the reasons listed below:
·
Candy typically has little nutritional
value and its sugar content is harmful to teeth.
·
It seems wrong to impose on people by going
door-to-door asking for treats. For example, many people either can’t afford
candy, are busy with other activities, or just don’t desire to devote an hour or two
to giving it out.
·
Some (much?) of the candy goes to waste as
children only like certain types of it.
·
Walking the streets in darkness wearing
costumes that may limit visibility and make it difficult to walk adds another risk to trick-or-treating.
·
There is also the risk of injury from dog
bites, allergic reactions to candies containing certain things, dangerous objects added to candies, etc.
Brief History of Halloween
According
to numerous sources, Halloween originated from an ancient Celtic festival, Samhain.
Centuries later Christian denominations established All Saints’ Day on a
particular day, which the Catholic Church and some other denominations changed to
November 1. The day before All Saints' Day (October 31) became known as All
Hallows’ Eve, which evolved into Halloween. More about the history of Halloween
can be found in numerous online articles, including a piece on History.com
titled “Halloween 2018,1” a LiveScience piece titled “History of Halloween,2” and a Britannica.com article titled “Halloween.3”
Trick-or-Treat?
Trick-or-treat?
The concept seems unchristian and unethical by secular standards, too. Why? As noted earlier, it encourages
seeking free candy and doing “tricks” to those who refuse to oblige with the
junk food “treats.” Furthermore, it is dangerous for children to walk in the
dark in uncomfortable costumes that may limit visibility to receive candy from
strangers or casual acquaintances.
Thankfully,
in actual practice the tricks are seldom done today, not even the soaping of
windows that sometimes happened in my neighborhood during my childhood in the
1960s and early 1970s, nor the more dangerous deeds that sometimes happened
then (turning over school bus stop shelters, placing tree limbs or other dangerous
objects in roadways, etc.). Still, the name trick-or-treat does not conjure up
great images if taken literally.
An Alternative to Trick-or-Treating
The
alternative? Thank God for a bountiful harvest season. Celebrate autumn harvest
with enjoyable games, tasty but nutritious food, and good fellowship with
friends. Even for kids the best part of this autumn harvest celebration can and
should be godly fellowship with friends, neighbors, and relatives.
This fellowship can take place in homes, churches, or even community centers. Indeed, many churches, other organizations, and towns offer organized alternatives to door-to-door trick-or-treating. Traditional Halloween trick-or-treating seems unnecessary and wrong, as I see it.
This fellowship can take place in homes, churches, or even community centers. Indeed, many churches, other organizations, and towns offer organized alternatives to door-to-door trick-or-treating. Traditional Halloween trick-or-treating seems unnecessary and wrong, as I see it.
Everyone
enjoy a safe, fun Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve. Furthermore, on November 1, All Saints' Day, maybe it would be great to dedicate or rededicate oneself to seeking to live a righteous life. Many "saints" of the past certainly set examples that could help inspire us.
1 “Halloween 2018;” History.com; last updated October 5, 2018, originally
published November 18, 2009; webpage accessed October 21, 2018.
2 “History of Halloween;” Benjamin Radford; LiveScience.com; September 18, 2017;
webpage accessed October 21, 2018.
3 “History of Halloween;” The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica; Britannica.com;
last updated October 9, 2018; webpage accessed October 21, 2018.
NOTE:
This article was last updated on October 23, 2018. It is partially adapted from an article I
wrote that was published on the now defunct website Craft Reports in October 2006. That website was operated by a friend of mine.
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