Today’s a new day! I wanted to take some time this morning to repost my thoughts about Halloween from last year. I did update a few parts.

It’s hard to outright ignore Halloween. It’s everywhere. In our condo, several people have their doors directed for this October 31st holiday. Have you walked into a store lately? Most are stocked with various Halloween items. In 2024, Americans spent $11.6 billion on Halloween. That’s a lot of candy and costumes.

So there’s no hiding from Halloween. But should Christians participate in it? Should Christian children be walking the neighborhoods trick or treating? Or should the Christian community rise up and boycott Halloween altogether?

Some say, yes, Christians should boycott Halloween. In arguing that Halloween should be off-limits for Christians,people will site the origin of Halloween back to pagan festivals in the first century AD. Some people will claim that blood, witchcraft, and horror have become the dominate themes of the day. Furthermore, Christians opposed to Halloween will cite Bible verses that condemn witchcraft and sorcery, as well as Bible verses that command Christians to separate themselves from all that is impure.

Others will say, no, Christians don’t need to boycott Halloween. I read where several writers call it revisionist history to claim that Halloween is rooted in a pagan festival. They each wrote that Halloween is actually rooted in Christianity. All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day (Nov. 1). These writers challenged Christians not to back down to the culture, but instead to reclaim Halloween. Many feel it’s possible to “soften” the holiday by wearing non-scary costumes like classic superheros and princesses and establishing wholesome family customs.

But here is something that is always on my mind during this season: Halloween is a rare occasion for many in a busy world, to get out of their homes and interact with our neighbors.

I have been so amazed and happy how interactive the neighbors in our condominium have been. I have lived in neighborhoods where neighbors barely spoke with each other. That’s a totally different blog post, for a different day.

Let’s keep in mind, that God is infinitely resourceful. What if, in His perfect wisdom, God desires to leverage Halloween to build community among people? Halloween can be a strategic time to see your neighbors face to face (or maybe mask to mask). Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) We understand “neighbor” to mean any human being … which includes actual neighbors in your neighborhood.

Everyone has their individual opinions on Halloween. We need to be respectful of those opinions and the choices people make about this holiday. So whether you choose to boycott or celebrate Halloween, I encourage everyone to look for opportunities to positively engage with your neighbors. That’s just my two cents on Halloween. ~OC