No, We Don’t Celebrate Halloween, and Here’s Why
I don’t know how it is done in other countries, but here in Singapore, in the month of October, it seems to be the popular thing to see Halloween-themed events, products, including children toys, being sold EVERYWHERE.
And while I know many people feel it’s okay and fun to celebrate Halloween, our family chooses to not celebrate it. We have never celebrated it, and we never agree with the whole idea behind it.
We also don’t see ‘Halloween’ as a time for our kids to wear ‘cute costumes’ either.
Well. It’s just a personal choice.
And here are some of our reasons:
– We don’t believe in our kids seeing frightening, gory, bloody faces and images as fun and as something to celebrate about. We don’t believe that there’s any goodness in exposing our little children to such things
(Although of course there’s bound to be something scary that the kids will see at shops, etc when Halloween is near, it’s still different compared to us actually ‘celebrating’ it)
– We don’t endorse violence. We don’t encourage violent physical interactions / role-plays amongst our kids either. So it is simply unimaginable for us to introduce to our children that being killed/slashed by a sword, or axed on the head is cute or funny or even ‘festive’.
– We don’t believe in celebrating nor being part of anything related to witches, ghosts, the devil, or the dead, however ‘harmless, fun, cute, and festively packaged’ the whole Halloween event is planned
– If as family we celebrate Halloween – in however way that’s suitable for small children – children will naturally accept Halloween as part of their annual tradition spent with friends and families. And when they’re in their teens, when cute costumes and candies are no longer relevant, it’ll be highly likely for them to continue celebrating Halloween with friends, in the way that the ‘real gory Halloween should be’.
And so, no, we personally choose to not be associated with any of it nor introduce it to our children, thank you.
(Of course they do see Halloween toys and decor at shops, etc. Realistically, they can’t completely be shielded from it since it’s everywhere. And so when they ask questions – they almost always do anyway – we simply explain it to them)
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Btw, I thought I should also share that I saw photos of a marketing campaign here in Singapore where so called ‘zombies’ roamed around the streets giving out flyers. SO glad I didn’t happen to be in the area with my kids! How traumatising it’d be!
I also walked past shops today and saw dolls being hung by the neck, blood-splattered shirts, a toy knife with blood, etc.
(Companies sure are riding on the whole ‘festivity’ to make anything, just as long as they can make heaps of profits out of it)
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I know, many will disagree with me. Because many do find it acceptable or are feeling neutral about the whole Halloween idea.
Every family is entitled to their own opinion on this of course.
For me, I just can’t stay neutral on this though.
Again, it’s a personal thing.
I just feel I should write and share my personal thoughts on this. Especially since it’s ‘Halloween season’ right now.
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PS: I thought I should also add :
> As much as I don’t believe in celebrating Halloween, when others celebrate it with cute children costumes and harmless children games, it is, to me, still a much better alternative than having people getting all dressed up to look like, say, car accident victims holding a smashed baby doll, or rape victims. Because really, they’re just, too real? I mean, there ARE actually people out there who DID lose loved ones in such tragedies, and having fun while dressing up like real victims is just, wrong. If we personally knew someone who passed away in such a tragic way, would we get ourselves dressed up to look like the victim? I don’t know. I just feel that one sure can have fun, but there needs to be a degree of humanity, sensitivity and respect towards others in it.
(Even dressing up like Frankenstein, a witch on a broom, or Darth Vader would be a ‘better alternative’, because they’re all known fictional movie characters)
> To me, Halloween is not similar to the 7th month Hungry Ghost Festival (although both ‘celebrate the dead’). Because during the 7th month, children see joss sticks, tents, stages, and people praying, etc … but at least there’re no people walking around in gory, scary and bloody costumes.
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We do not just ‘don’t celebrate’, we don’t think we should even be involved, regardless whether the whole event will be eerie or not.
As Christians, it is important for us to take note that our actions will not be a stumbling block to non-believers or those of younger faith.
By agreeing to attend non-eerie Halloween events, we are also sending an indirect signal to others that we accept this Halloween celebration. As a blogger, i am very mindful of that. What kind of message will i be giving to my boy if I were to bring him to a Halloween event even though it may be non-eerie.
Jenn – mylilbookworm recently posted..[Media Invite] Gardens By The Bay – The Garden Troopers! (Junior Horticulturists)
When we were in states, Halloween was really enjoyable with kids dressing up in some really cute costumes going treat or tricking. In singapore, i think people just go so overly extreme! Even dressing kids up in scary costume…. that i do not agree….
Hi friend!
We’ve always grappled with the Halloween issue in our family but chose to have fun with it with close family and friends within a reasonable Christian mindset. This is a quote from another blog I read. I love how she worded it so thought I’d share.
“I know Halloween can be controversial. We’ve always felt freedom in Christ to redeem this day. We fill it up with friends, creativity, light, laughter, fun, food, and fellowship. We pray those things are honoring to God and bless Him on this day that thankfully still belongs to Him. I pray you have a sweet weekend celebrating (or not celebrating), but still rejoicing that Christ purchased freedom for each of us to live out our convictions, to go to the Bible, and with wisdom and discernment make God-honoring decisions for our families. Ah. Freedom. It’s one of my favorite things about following Christ.” http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/
like you mentioned , luckily my dd school dont have any halloween celebrations.. I really dont understand the fun behind it.. In our house we dont even watch any voilent movies, or serials.. anything thats gory,has voilent scenes, unplesant stuff completely banned .. and now am not allowing my dd to watch tv when theres any programme reltaed to halloween is on.. she even asked me why we dont celebrate halloween and what it is all about.. i just had to explain to her thats not our culture and theres no meaning behind such celebration. i hate spooky stuff and scaring the hell out of ppl and going on trick or treat.. luckily we dont live in the USA its worst there.
I personally dislike anything that is gory, frightening, or has any element of horror in it. That’s why I dislike exposing my kids to any horror scenes too! So, my stand is, since Halloween is filled with horror images, I don’t like my kids to be exposed to it.
We were at downtowneast last week and there was this huge poster with a bloodied ghostly face, advertising a Halloween event at escape theme park. I was really glad that my kids were too busy playing to take note of the poster! First thing that came to my mind was: Why such a scary poster in a place which is supposed to be so popular for kids and families???
Well, totally don’t understand the whole idea behind Halloween.
I totally dislike horror movie posters as well (that they tend to post at MRT stations and sometimes at bus stops).
I found out that Downtown East is also having a Halloween event (unfortunately, from the nuffnang banner ad on my own blog which I can’t control). Can’t imagine if I was there and my kids get to see the poster too! Yes, I agree with you … scary posters in a family friendly place where really young kids visit the place??
If you really feel so strongly about this whole halloween issue, then take down the nuffnang ad widget too! Or do you not care about it as much making $$$???
Hi Karen,
Here’s my earlier reply to your earlier message yeah:
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Hi Karen,
After reading your message, I managed to find out that apparently I CAN remove the Halloween ad. So really, thank YOU for dropping a note on my blog 🙂
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=)
Yes no Halloween , I completely agree with you. I some how can’t relate to that culture at all. And I also don’t like these children cartoon channels showing Halloween themed programmes. Totally against it.
Oh yes, the Halloween themed children programmes. Sigh. It really penetrates and goes to all levels, doesn’t it …
and, interestingly, the ad at the top of your blog is a Halloween add with the word “hell” in it.
Hi Jenn! Thanks for sharing ….
As for the Advertisement…sigh, can’t control that one … I’m only hoping this will pass real quickly. But anyway, with so much hype going on right now on Halloween here in Singapore (ie. heaps of gore and all), I just thought I really should share my personal views on it …
Please lah….If you really feel so strongly about this whole halloween issue, then take down the nuffnang ad widget too! Or do you not care about it as much making $$$???
Hi Karen,
After reading your message, I managed to find out that apparently I CAN remove the Halloween ad. So really, thank YOU for dropping a note on my blog 🙂
Have a great day!
I respect your opinion, Leonny, and agree with you on the violence/gore of the whole thing. And I understand where you are coming from with regards to the origin of Halloween. We do allow our children to dress up and go to Halloween parties of friends that we know. We don’t do Santa with our children, however, and many people do. 🙂 (but that’s a whole other issue for another day!)
Yes,i agree with u!
How about anya and vai’s school?is there any halloween celebration?
Here in indo,some international school that NOT based on christianity of course,has some activities for halloween,and i really relly disagree with it…
Glad that there’s no such celebrations at their school!
Well, they did have one room decorated and all (to look like a really scary room) during their open day where parents and the public can come and see the school … There were lots of other activities that day and the kids didn’t get to see that room … Phew.