Why We Don’t Celebrate Halloween (and What We Do Instead)
I’ll be honest, Halloween used to be one of my favorite holidays right behind Christmas. I grew up on horror movies. My family loved them. We were like horror movie junkies, and Halloween was one of our favorite times of year. We loved the haunted houses, the scary mazes, the haunted hayrides, all of it. We’d laugh, scream, and get chased by people in costumes and think it was the best thing ever.
But when I came back to the Church, things started to change for me. My eyes began to open to the spiritual side of it all, what was really behind what I used to think was just fun.
My first year giving it up was hard. My flesh wanted to still go, still watch, still be part of it. But as I grew in my walk with God, something in my heart shifted. By the second year, I didn’t want it anymore. In fact, it started to deeply bother me.
Now, I can’t walk into a store without feeling uneasy at the sight of all the gore, demons, witches, and darkness everywhere. It’s not just harmless décor anymore, it’s glorifying what’s unholy, and my spirit can feel it.
What Halloween Once Was
Historically, Halloween began as All Hallows’ Eve, the vigil before All Saints’ Day. It was meant to honor the saints who’ve gone before us and to pray for the faithful departed. In the early centuries, the Church often placed holy feast days near existing pagan festivals, not to join them, but to redeem that time of year and turn people’s hearts toward God instead of superstition.
But over the years, culture took over. What started as a day of reverence slowly became one of fear. What was meant to celebrate the light of Christ now glorifies darkness.
What It Has Become Today
Let’s be honest, it’s not the same as it once was. You can’t walk into a store this time of year without being surrounded by blood, skeletons, witches, and horror everywhere. The movie posters are full of gore. Even the “family” decorations lean toward darkness.
And it’s not just the stores anymore. When you drive through the neighborhoods or walk down the blocks during trick-or-treating, it’s everywhere. The streets are filled with giant demons, witches, ghosts, and gore covering front yards. You see massive skeletons hanging from porches, fake graveyards lined with tombstones, and even homes decorated like haunted houses. The lights flash red, eerie sounds fill the air, and it all feels like a celebration of fear and death.
The whole atmosphere feels heavy, dark, and unsettling, like the world is celebrating everything Jesus came to free us from.
It’s no wonder my heart couldn’t find peace in it anymore.
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” – Ephesians 5:11
“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” – Romans 12:9
Those verses hit different when you really start to look around and realize what’s being glorified.
Why Our Family Chose Different
I want to be clear, I’m not here to judge anyone else’s choices. Every family has to follow the conviction the Lord places on their heart. For us, it’s about peace. We want our home to be a place that honors God, even in how we celebrate.
When something glorifies death, fear, or darkness, I can’t invite that into our home, not even for one night.
So, years ago, we made the decision to step away from Halloween completely. Not out of fear, but out of faith. We prayed about it and felt God’s gentle conviction to pull back and choose something different, something that reflects the light, joy, and peace of His Spirit.
What We Do Instead
Now, we’ve created our own little family tradition that we look forward to every year. I buy bags of candy, ice cream, and chips. We bake cupcakes and cookies together, play games, and watch wholesome family movies and Hallmark fall movies (my favorite). It’s simple, cozy, and full of laughter.
There’s no fear, no darkness, just family, fun, and the sweetness of peace in our home.
This year, on top of all the fun, we’ll be going back to the true origins of All Hallows’ Eve, a night meant for honoring the saints and praying for the faithful departed. We’ll be spending time in prayer and reflection, gathering together as a family to pray the Rosary and lift up the souls in purgatory. It feels good to bring the day back to what it was always meant to be, a time to honor heaven, remember the faithful, and keep our hearts centered on God.
If you’re looking for some alternative ideas for your family, here are a few we’ve loved or plan to try:
Family Game Night: board games, charades, or even Bible trivia.
Baking Night: cupcakes, caramel apples, or pumpkin bread.
Movie Marathon: pick cozy fall favorites or wholesome family classics.
Craft Night: paint pumpkins, make bookmarks, or do fall leaf art.
Gratitude Jar: write down what you’re thankful for and share together.
Prayer & Praise Time: light candles, play worship music, and spend a few quiet minutes praying for your home and community.
Bless Your Neighbors: make small “light bags” with candy and a note that says, “You are loved. Jesus is light.”
It’s amazing how peaceful the night feels when you fill it with joy instead of fear. It’s become one of our favorite family traditions and a reminder that we don’t need the world’s version of fun to experience warmth and connection.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21
Encouragement for Other Families
If you’ve ever felt uneasy about Halloween but didn’t know what to do, I just want you to know, it’s okay to choose different. You’re not depriving your kids of anything good. You’re protecting their hearts and your home. You can still give them joy, laughter, and memories that honor God.
You don’t have to fit in with the world to live in it.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” – Ephesians 5:8
So, this October 31st, while the world celebrates fear, we’ll be celebrating peace. While others fill their homes with darkness, we’ll be filling ours with light, warmth, and love.
And honestly, that’s exactly where I want my family to be.
