Halloween Is More Than Trick or Treat

Many children look forward to Halloween for the candy. Others live for the chance to dress up and be outside after the streetlights are on. Some simply like the scary stories, pumpkin patches, and carving jack-o-lanterns. For that day, it seems as if every child and parent of a child is eating candy, collecting candy, or answering the door to give out candy.

Then there are some who choose not to participate in the Halloween tradition. Mostly Christians, they cite that the day has strong roots in Pagan culture, so it should not be celebrated by those that are Christian.

Pagan Celtics celebrated "Samhain" as the last day of harvest and the last day of summer and the start to a harsh winter. Later, when the Roman empire took over the Celtic lands, the Romans created All Saints Day to honor the dead. "All Saints" was also called "All Hallows," which later turned into Halloween.

While some choose not to celebrate Halloween because of its origins, other Christians see no problem with the children going door to door in costume and asking for candy. In our family, we dress up multiple times and trick or treat as much as possible. Boo at the Zoo, the mall, and our neighborhood are must stops on our list.

What does your family choose to do? If you trick or treat, do your children know the history behind the day? If you do not trick or treat, do you do an alternative activity such as a festival or harvest day?