If you had told me a few years ago that our family would stop celebrating Halloween, I probably would’ve laughed. It used to be one of our favorite holidays, not because of the candy, costumes, or scares, but because it was something we did together. Every year, our family would come together, decide on a theme, and all four (or five) of us would execute it as a team. It was a family event that brought us joy, creativity, and connection.
I even remember the year we won a costume contest, we were so proud!
But as we’ve grown in our faith, and as the Lord has opened our eyes to more of the spiritual realities around us, we’ve felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit telling us to stop participating in this day.
Many people say, “It’s just candy,” or “It’s just costumes, it’s all fun!” And we used to feel the same way. But when we took the time to truly study the origins and meanings behind Halloween, and prayed over it as a family, we realized that even if our intentions were innocent, the roots of the day are not. We asked ourselves: Why are we comfortable celebrating something that glorifies fear, darkness, and death, when we serve a God of light, peace, and life?
We explained to our kids why we felt convicted to step away from Halloween. We gave them all the information, prayed together, and even voted as a family. The decision was unanimous, we would no longer celebrate Halloween.
Some people have told us we’re being too strict or that we’re “bad parents” for making our kids miss out. But we don’t see it that way. We are raising our children to follow God, not the crowd. When they’re adults, they’ll be able to make their own decisions, but for now, we are teaching them what conviction, obedience, and discernment look like.
Do we still celebrate fall? Absolutely! We go to pumpkin patches, enjoy the harvest season, and thank God for His creation and provision. The Bible often talks about sowing and reaping, about harvest and abundance, and those are the things we celebrate. We simply choose not to celebrate a day that glorifies the opposite of who our God is.
I don’t know where you are in your walk, but I encourage you to pray about it and do your own research. God calls us not to conform to the world, but to live in it and be different, to shine His light in the midst of darkness.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”
— Romans 12:2
This isn’t about judgment, it’s about obedience and revelation. Our family found peace and joy in letting go of what once was a favorite tradition and embracing something even greater: walking in the light God has called us to.
