A friend recently asked me about Halloween and whether Christian families should participate. Here’s my honest take on finding balance in a controversial topic.
The Question That Started It All
“Hey, do you celebrate Halloween? I’ve noticed it’s become a big theme lately – a lot of people are kind of boycotting Halloween, saying Christians shouldn’t be celebrating it. Have you talked about this?”
This text from a friend made me laugh because honestly? If there’s anyone who understands going down rabbit holes about spiritual topics, it’s me. I’ve researched everything from energy harvesting to the origins of our cultural traditions. But here’s what I’ve learned about Halloween – and really, about making any family decisions as a Christian mom.
My Personal Halloween Boundaries
Let me be clear upfront: I don’t do spooky things. I never have.
Even as a kid, I hated Halloween because I’ve always had this intuition that certain things can open spiritual portals. My husband and I have been together almost 20 years, and we don’t watch horror movies. Period. I have a deep conviction that portals can absolutely be opened through what we allow into our homes – whether through television, books, or decorations.
We don’t sit around watching Halloween movies or consuming scary content. That’s just not what we do.
But here’s where it gets nuanced: I do dress my kids up for Halloween and let them go trick-or-treating.
The Energy Harvesting Reality Check
Yes, I understand the concerns about Halloween decorations creating energy sources in neighborhoods. I’ve seen the viral videos about former satanic church members warning against these things. I get it.
But here’s what I find fascinating – and what I think gets missed in these conversations: energy can be harvested from anything that captures mass attention.
Think about it:
- The Super Bowl halftime show
- Major memorial services (even with worship music)
- Any event that gets millions of eyes glued to screens
The enemy is manipulative, and he can use good things for his own benefit too. So while I understand being cautious about Halloween, I think we need to be consistent in how we apply this discernment.
The Inconsistency That Makes Me Laugh
Here’s what I find ironic: some of the loudest voices saying “we’re not doing Halloween anymore” are the same people who fully embrace Christmas and Easter traditions.
Let’s be honest – Christmas and Easter as we celebrate them today are also rooted in pagan traditions. Santa Claus, Easter bunnies, egg hunts – that’s all paganism too.
But somehow, Halloween gets singled out while these other traditions get a pass.
How We Do Christmas Differently
Speaking of Christmas – we don’t do Santa at our house. My daughter is almost four, and she knows what Santa means to other people, but she doesn’t think Santa visits her.
Why? Because I want my children to understand who and what we’re really celebrating. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ (even though I believe He was actually born in September, but I digress).
More practically, I’m not having some imaginary man get credit when mommy and daddy bust their tails to buy these gifts. My daughter knows that when I do client work, that work pays for her toys. She understands that work equals provision, and I think that’s important.
No judgment for families who choose differently – this is just our personal conviction.
The Trend Factor
I’ve watched this anti-Halloween movement gain momentum, and honestly? I think some people are hopping on board without being truly convicted about it.
I see social media accounts posting about going around their neighborhoods praying over houses with spooky decorations, and while I understand the heart behind it, I wonder how many are genuinely led by the Spirit versus following what’s trending in Christian circles.
There’s a difference between authentic spiritual discernment and jumping on whatever bandwagon is popular at the moment.
What I’m Teaching My Kids
At the end of the day, here’s what I want my children to learn:
Make decisions based on genuine personal conviction, not peer pressure – even Christian peer pressure.
Whether we’re talking about Halloween, Christmas traditions, movie choices, or any other family decision, the question shouldn’t be “what is everyone else doing?” It should be “what does the Holy Spirit convict us about in our home?”
Some families will feel led to skip Halloween entirely. Others will participate with boundaries. Some will go all-out with decorations and celebrations.
All of these can be right if they’re rooted in authentic conviction rather than trend-following.
The Bottom Line for Moms
As moms, we’re constantly making decisions about what to allow into our homes and our children’s lives. The pressure to get it “right” – especially within Christian circles – can be overwhelming.
But here’s my encouragement: You don’t have to follow someone else’s convictions.
Seek God’s wisdom for your family. Set boundaries that align with your values. Be consistent in how you apply spiritual discernment across all areas of life, not just the controversial ones.
And please, don’t let the fear of judgment from other believers drive your family decisions. Whether it’s Halloween, holiday traditions, or any other parenting choice, you have the freedom to follow the Spirit’s leading for your specific family.
That’s what real conviction looks like – and it’s worth so much more than following the crowd.
