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To Trick Or Not To Treat: 5 Alternate Ideas For Halloween

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To Trick Or Not To Treat: 5 Alternate Ideas For Halloween

One of the big questions people face during this time of year is how to approach and respond to Halloween. As Christians, what is our responsibility?

Halloween doesn’t have to be about spiders and ghouls. Here are 5 alternate ideas to do this Halloween:

1. Hold a Pumpkinpalooza. Invite a bunch of friends over for grand occasion of pumpkin carving. Just be sure to provide enough trashcans to clean up all the goop. Bake cupcakes or cookies and decorate them with orange and green frosting. Sprinkle tiny pumpkin confetti on the counters to add some themed glitz. Throw some apple cider in a slow cooker to mull throughout the party for an autumn refreshment.

2. Make your home kid-friendly. Peggy Randall loves to greet kids with a smile at her door to be an example of salt and light in our world. Alina builds an interactive driveway, complete with a chance to take a picture with a giant inflatable cat! She enjoys standing at the bottom of her driveway to talk with other parents as they trick-or-treat with their kids.

3. Celebrate Reformation Day and read Scripture. Dunia Edwards talks about Martin Luther and the 95 Theses he nailed to the Wittenberg church door in 1517 every year with her kids. Transition from talking about the church to talking about God’s victory over evil. As Christians, we do not need to fear the darkness of this world. Grab your Bible and read passages that celebrate God’s triumph.

4. Knock for charities. During the holiday season, seeing a man or woman in a fake elf costume ringing for spare change is not uncommon. Instead of trick-or-treating for candy, use the time to collect spare change for a charity. UNICEF hands out  “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” boxes each year to raise money. Check out local schools and churches to see if they have a similar program.

5. Create your own tradition. Misti Michaels holds a character PJ party with her kids each year. Her parents come over in the evening for a simple meal and a fun, spooky movie like “The Sword and the Stone”. Or, if the trees turn where you live, collect pretty leaves throughout the season. Then make wreaths or pictures out of the colorful foliage. Make it a competition by giving a small award to the most creative piece.

Will you and your family spend Halloween trick-or-treating or doing something less traditional?

*This adorable little one’s name is my friend Kate’s son, Brody.

Thank you for reading. I’d love to connect with you through the comments. Don’t forget to subscribe via RSS!

80 Comments

  1. Travis Mamone
    Travis Mamone on October 31, 2012 at 6:08 am

    Me, I’m going to go into my job at the library dressed as Doctor Who (the current one as played by Matt Smith) and then watch zombie movies tonight!

  2. Margaret
    Margaret on October 31, 2012 at 6:13 am

    I’m going to turn off all the lights and hide in my basement surrounded by candy wrappers. Just kidding. (Though I admit that’s a temptation). Actually, Leif and I are going out to dinner for a much-needed date night.

  3. Cynthia smith
    Cynthia smith on October 31, 2012 at 9:14 am

    That sounds cool margaret! I hope you guys have fun! I am going to work! Have a blessed day!

  4. Margaret
    Margaret on October 31, 2012 at 9:16 am

    Cynthia,
    Maybe we should leave a pumpkin full of candy on our front stoops 🙂

  5. tanyetta
    tanyetta on October 31, 2012 at 11:29 am

    I like to leave a bowl of candy with a note to please take ONE and leave some for the friend behind you. I am NOT sure how much it works. I am not out there taking a tally. I just leave it up to their consciences. 🙂

  6. Margaret
    Margaret on October 31, 2012 at 11:30 am

    Kid. Conscience. Candy. Hmmmm. One of those temptations seems stronger than the other. I think you should put out a video camera–I bet you’d catch an America’s Most Funny Home Video for sure.

  7. Doug Bursch
    Doug Bursch on October 31, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    We celebrate Halloween. Was raised in a Christian home that celebrated Halloween…some of my favorite memories come from the joy of those days together. Didn’t hurt our faith as all my brothers and sisters are in ministry (three pastors, a worship leader, and a Bible study leader). Since God is real, He does a good job of distinguishing Himself from fiction. It’s a great day for Christian to be light in the world…and to show that we know the difference between God and vampires. I’m not against others not celebrating, I’m just saying why I’m going to enjoy a night of trick or treating with my family and friends.

  8. Margaret
    Margaret on October 31, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    Doug,
    But what I really want to know is what’s your favorite candy??????

    I’m a Whopper girl myself.

  9. Margaret
    Margaret on October 31, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    Saw this on a friend’s facebook and had to share:

    Tonight, a lot of creatures will visit your door. Be open minded.

    The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues. The child who does not say “trick or treat” or “thank you” might be painfully shy, non-verbal, or selectively mute. If you cannot understand their words, they may struggle with developmental apraxia of speech. They are thankful in their hearts and minds. The child who looks disappointed when he sees your bowl might have a life-threatening allergy. The child who isn’t wearing a costume at all might have SPD or autism.

    Be kind, be patient, smile, pretend you understand. It’s everyone’s Halloween. Make a parent feel good by making a big deal of their special child.

  10. Doug Bursch
    Doug Bursch on November 1, 2012 at 12:00 am

    Hershey chocolate bar dipped in peanut butter and shame.

  11. Renee
    Renee on November 1, 2012 at 7:25 am

    snickers and milky way…you can pop them in the freezer! The caramel apple lollipops are really good for some reason??? 🙂 🙂

  12. Margaret
    Margaret on November 1, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    Those caramel apple lollipops ARE delicious, but get SO stuck in your teeth!

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