Should Christians celebrate Halloween? What about Reformation Day? How can we make this season of darkness something our children can understand? I wrestled with these questions and more this year, and what came of it was a plan for Halloween and Reformation Day that has me excited to share with my children!
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The only child in our family who remembers trick-or-treating is my oldest son. The last year we took the kids out for Halloween was the year his little sister was 10 months old. He was 3.
How we avoided Halloween
After that, we decided Halloween wasn’t something we wanted to celebrate anymore. I’m pretty sure my mom grieved the loss of adorable grandkids in cute costumes because she kept telling me how much she loved trick-or-treating when she was a kid. I was terrified of Halloween as a child, so it wasn’t any big loss in my world.
We did replace the trick-or-treating with what we began calling Fall Festival. I didn’t want to take all the fun away from my little guy, so on that day his Grammy and Granny would come down and we would eat snacks and play games until the wee hours of the morning. It was the one night a year I let my kids stay up entirely too late.
But as my son grew up and the other children behind him had no concept or memories surrounding Halloween, the tradition of Fall Festival became less important, and we often found ourselves treating it like any other day. We didn’t trick-or-treat, we didn’t greet trick-or-treaters, we didn’t pass out tracts, we didn’t pretend the day didn’t exist (although Ty’s mom would never say the word “Halloween” in front of the kids – I’m not exactly sure why). We just had a normal day, made sure we put our pumpkins on the back porch (we had our pumpkins stolen one year and it about broke my kids’ hearts!), and kept our front porch light off.
Celebrating Reformation Day
Over the years I heard about Reformation Day parties where Protestant kids would dress up as Reformers, play games that revolved around Martin Luther, and bring home goodie bags, but we never participated in one, and it never seemed like a good fit for our family.
But, this year I changed our plans. I could give you an entire litany of how I got from where I was to where I am, but it is such a crazy, long bunny trail, you’d never be able to keep up! Suffice it to say it started with a Google search of the Church Year and ended with me putting together an entire day full of plans!
I was going to just keep all of this to myself, but the more I looked over it, the more I felt compelled to share it with others because for once in my life, I’m excited for Halloween to come! (did I really just say that?)
If you are looking for ways to make your holiday homeschool special, you should get my Holiday Homeschool Thanksgiving Planner (or snag the Planner Pack for Thanksgiving and Christmas!). This is how I plan, keep track of, and preserve all those wonderful holiday homeschooling memories!
A Christian Plan for Halloween & Reformation Day
Please understand, I believe every family needs to treat this day with prayer and personal conviction. I don’t believe for one moment that my ideas are the only right ones. These plans are for the family who wishes to offer the light of Christ to their kids on this day while still having some fun. So, here is what we will be doing this October 31st, along with links and notes explaining the why and how behind what we are doing.
>> Talk about Halloween and what it used to be and why Martin Luther chose that day to tack 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church.
Note: Halloween was originally All Hallow’s Eve, the night before All Saint’s Day for the Catholic Church. This was a very important holiday and a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning the parishioners must attend Mass on that day. Martin Luther knew his 95 Theses would be seen. This was a gutsy move, but he believed so strongly that the Church needed reforming that he was willing to put his life on the line. You can find a brief synopsis HERE.
>> Watch something about Martin Luther as a family.
Martin Luther LEGO short film
Martin Luther Torchlighters Series – Find it on Amazon Prime or RightNow Media (if your church has a subscription)
Luther – the MGM movie
Martin Luther Documentary on PBS (OLD) – I watched this in college. A new version premiered this September because 2017 is the 500th year anniversary.
>> Set up Reformation Stations around your home.
DOWNLOAD REFORMATION STATIONS HERE
NOTE: You can find games/activities to do at each station HERE if you wish, but we are going to do a much simpler version of this since it is just with our family.
>> Sing A Mighty Fortress is Our God & Make a Fortress Craft.
DOWNLOAD COLORING PAGE (for younger kids)
DOWNLOAD FORTRESS CRAFT (for all ages – this site has a lot of Reformation resources, so take a look around while you are there!)
NOTE: If you don’t have a hymnal or don’t know this hymn, you can find many versions on YouTube with lyrics. HERE is one to give you a feel for the full chorus and organ or HERE is a more contemporary rendition (no lyrics) that doesn’t get too crazy.
>> Talk about the scary “monsters” of Halloween and what the Bible says about each.
Skeletons
You could watch this fun rendition of Dry Bones by Delta Rhythm Boys
Mummies
NOTE: This link lists the people who were raised from the dead in the Bible. This is your jumping off point for the following activities. Some of these people were buried and wrapped in grave clothes, like mummies, but they were resurrected. God is our source of LIFE, and Jesus has conquered the grave! Now THAT is something to celebrate!
>> Play Lazarus Race
NOTE: Teams wrap one child in toilet paper as fast as they can, and when you call, “Lazarus, come forth!” they try to break free from the toilet paper. A more competitive version can be found HERE.
>> Make Mummy Luminaries
NOTE: This is a super simple craft project that becomes a powerful object lesson. It is the light of Christ that makes us ALIVE! Even if our body dies, we are alive in Him and we will not stay dead!
>> Have a Mummy Meal
Mummy Hot Dogs
Mummy Calzones
Mummy Brownies – (we are planning to use white frosting instead of white chocolate)
>> Enjoy an evening of pumpkin carving.
NOTE: Read The Pumpkin Parable as a family (if you don’t have the book, this pdf on The Pumpkin Gospel is very good.) And again, stress the importance of Christ’s light living in us and shining through us. Try roasting the pumpkin seeds, sharing an easy homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Hot Chocolate, and a piece of my Pumpkin Crumble Cake, or simply sit back and enjoy the flickering of each tiny flame within each tiny child in your home!
And there you have our October 31st plans! Now, I realize this might be a lot to tackle in one day, so go easy on yourself and either cut out some things or slow your pace down and spread the activities out over a few days.
Salo says
Hi Amy,
I really like this post alot.
I am from Germany and when I was a kid nobody did even know Halloween but it had come over to us from the U.S. in the last 15 years and now its a big deal here also. Even in nurserys and schools they “celebrate” Halloween.
I do not like it and as a christian I attend reformation service at our church.
I have never heard about the dressing up as reformers though.
I do read a lot of blogs and/or watch youtube channels from women from the U.S and I am always amazed what big of a deal Halloween is to most U.S. americans – how religious they might be.
I have asked a mormon family in the comments of their youtube videos about that but I got no answer.
Greetings from Germany
Salo
Lynn says
Catholics still celebrate All Hallow’s Eve with All saints parties. The children dress as saints and play many activities very similar to what you have described. The Church has been healed in many ways. Continuing to celebrate reformation rather than looking towards full reunion seems harmful. This division in the Christian church is tragic in the eyes of our Lord.
R March says
The division is truly tragic. If only Catholics would read the Bible with an open mind, untainted by the Nicolaitan doctrines of Rome, perhaps Christ would give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
Lynn says
Your post seems full of hate. I am so sorry. If anyone who is Catholic has hurt you in some way then I apologize for them and invite you to true healing in the Church. My God bless you.
Lea says
I just read about a similar idea from Luke and Tricia Gilkerson over at http://www.intoxicatedonlife.com.
Sounds like a wonderful idea and your enthusiasm must be quite contagious to your kids!!!!
Amy H says
Amy, this is awesome. Thanks so much for sharing. It seems like it would be a great fit for our family too!
JEN s. says
Thank you for sharing your discovery. Given how society has hijacked Halloween (much like Christmas that has been turned into something entirely opposite of it’s original meaning), it is important to seek the truth and retain the original intent behind our holidays. As a Catholic, it saddens me the way Halloween has been corrupted by popular culture. It’s a good reminder though, that we must stay true to God’s way, living in the world, but not being of the world. In all honesty though, the posting of Luther’s 95 Theses is also a day of sadness for it was the beginning of the many divisions between Christians. While we did have the great split between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches previously, Luther set a precedent which has had far greater lasting damage. Rather than working to reform the wrongs that were happening in the Church, he broke away. Now, 500 years later, we have tens of thousands of Protestant denominations, each with their own doctrine. Surely this is not what Christ wanted when He taught of the One Body, the One Church. Thank you again, my sister in Christ. Hopefully we will all live to see the day when we are all united again in the One True faith.
Lisa Gray says
Jen, as a new Catholic. Christian all my life. I was told some very untrue things about the origins of Halloween and since becoming Catholic I have done research and now know the truth. As Christians our roots are in Judaism and they start celebrating their feasts, and holy days the evening before. Just as we do before All Saints Day. Halloween is just the Scottish word for the Eve of all Hallows (Holy) As one who has been on both sides my heart breaks for the split in the body of Christ.
R March says
Catholicism is a rejection of the truths of scripture. As I understand it Catholics practice a form of Nicolaitan doctrine.
Jen S. says
There are often many misunderstandings about what Catholics believe. If you have any questions about specific teachings or doctrine, I’d be happy to try and answer them for you. :o)
BraNdy says
Soooooo basically you’re still partaking just not fully? What about not having anything to do with the unfruitful works of darkness but to reprove it. If we do anything on 10/31 it will be to go out and witness to people as we normally do and to reprove darkness. Anything else is participating and accepting it.
Amy says
No, I don’t consider this partaking. We don’t dress up or go trick-or-treating, but I want to use the day to explain to my children the TRUTH of the things they see and hear this time of year.
Erica says
Thank you for sharing this post! Every family is different. I never liked the “gross” things about Halloween. I too, wrestled with what to do on this day every year. We go to the Fall Festival at church and we dress up and trick or treat, but costumes are always princesses or historical or Disney (all daughters). Instead of treating it as a religious issue, in our home its about being American. That’s because I married an Englishman, so we talk about their dual nationality, but its important for us to do things the American way. It’s something my husband never even heard of until moving here 20 years ago. I am carving a cross into our pumpkin this year, so people can ask if they like and we pray for the people who come to our door just like any other day. ?
Autumn Kerr says
Hi Amy! I love all of this information! We have never done the trick or treating. I’ve allowed my children to dress up and hand out candy . In the past we’ve made little bags with candy and a Bible verse to give out. This year my children have pushed the hardest to dress up and go trick or treating and I’ve been struggling. This post came at jist the right time. Also, seeing some of the comments about the division Luther’s 95 theses caused is food for thought for me. My initial reaction is that we live in a fallen world and God is a big God who can and will redeem the mess we make of things. Maybe Martin Luther’s 95 theses caused a lot of division, but it also woke a lot of people up to the wrong teaching/thinking going on at the time. Thank you for this!
Tara says
Thanks for the resources! The point that we have always tried to drive home with our kids is that no matter how much a Christian chooses to participate he should never celebrate death. Death is a result of sin. Jesus conquered sin and death. That is what’s worthy of being celebrated!
S.T. says
I like that perspective!
Sarah says
Yes!! I love this idea and we love reformation day but never really knew what to do with it!! Thank you!!
Lynn says
I have a question about Reformation Day? Luther’s intent was to reform the Church, not to leave her. Do Lutherans still look to see if the Catholic Church is reformed enough with the intent of rejoining when she is?
Marilyn says
I enjoyed this post. Every one has a right to choose how to accept or disregard a holiday or celebration. I am Catholic and I never went for all the ghoul and darkness. I always wore fun or pretty costumes when trick or treating.
Marilyn
Michelle Salas says
Absolutely love this!! Been looking for a way to celebrate Halloween and still be a good Christian family. Trying to didn’t the true meaning and how not to make it scary.
Tracy says
Thanks Amy! You have done a wonderful job of putting this all together. I am looking forward to using some of these ideas in our day! Lord bless you!
Alison Lawrence says
Blessings to you! Halloween is not Biblical. It is on the 31st that evil satanists hold their evil celebrations. While you and your children are being distracted (halloween is a front) innocent animals and people are being tortured to dearh. Satanists abduct children while everyone is distracted entertaining themselves, having fun. All Christians must boycot halloween for as the Bible says we must flee all appearance of evil. I used to be a catholic and am now born again. All hallowes and saints days are catholic celebrations. Catholism is a religion not Christianity. Some catholics may be born again but they should join a Bible believing church and both they and us should stay far away from halloween. All Christians must pray, pray, pray against evil at this time and for protection of people and animals.
ROBIN GUERTIN says
Thanks so much for this post, You just helped me plan out our Tuesday, right down to the roasting of the pumpkin seeds.
Milos Bogdanovic says
Please, read and share with others – “Civilizational Significance of Protestant Reformation”:
http://enlite.org/Reformation.pdf
C says
I would like to hand out something to children along with their candy. It needs to be small like a 1/2 sheet coloring sheet. But I can’t find something that would be appealing to kids in kindergarten. Any ideas? I was hoping it can be something related to reformation day. But it can also be about Jesus. Hopefully something that tells about God and who Jesus is. I live where there are many who have never heard of Jesus. Thank you.
Lou Hunley says
What great ideas! I also appreciate learning how you got to this point. I just stumbled on this. I look forward to exploring this further.
Becky O. says
My husband and I decided when our oldest was two that we would no longer celebrate Halloween. I only became Christian earlier that year ( I was an atheist until I was 29.) But God worked mightily on me, and what was once my favorite holiday quickly became very evil in my eyes. I no longer liked all the scary stuff and what it stood for. Now, we decorate for fall and do fall crafts, etc. I absolutely love the Pumpkin Parable idea! It is just what we needed, as we are carving pumpkins this week!
Amy says
What a fantastic testimony!!!
Kate says
Thank you, Amy. This is a blessing. We dropped trick-or-treating many years ago and each year we try to teach our kids why we’ve made this prayerful decision. It’s hard for kids to understand why we choose to do things differently from many others in our neighborhood. These resources will help explain why we’ve decided to celebrate fall in a different way.
Jessica says
Amy, we too are a Protestant family. We were able to have a great celebration at our church last week with activities and a play put on by the kids for Reformation Day. But all that still leaves us with nothing to do on the day of Halloween. It’s hard when all the other kids in the neighborhood are trick-or-treating. I would like to replace it with something like you have here. However, I feel like I would lose an entire day of homeschooling with planning, shopping, and doing. How do you work all this prep in and still make dinner? I know you have a plan! 🙂
Amy says
It includes dinner! (and lunch!) We make the mummy dogs and calzones and brownies 🙂 And, for our family, this isn’t “losing” a day – it’s all part of the homeschooling journey! The plans aren’t super intensive (I like things simple!), so it doesn’t take a lot of foresight. 🙂
caroline says
I’m so sorry but I’m just not getting the “eating mummies” part of your party. Especially the red meaty filled ones. This is really quite sicko. 100 % why we don’t celebrate Halloween in the first place. Changing the name doesn’t change the practice.