How can we tell children about the harmful influence of halloween?

Halloween is a celebration of everything that God calls “abominable.” It is an attempt to combine light and darkness, good and evil, to compromise with evil forces. But the Bible says, “… What fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Christians do not celebrate halloween because by participating in it, they distance themselves from God and draw closer to darkness. Halloween dictates death and sorrow, while the Bible speaks of “life in abundance” (John 10:10), of true happiness and joy.

Halloween, especially for children, may seem like a fun and harmless holiday, but it is directly associated with fear, darkness, and the occult.

How can we tell the most vulnerable group—children—about the dangers of halloween?

We suggest using the following steps to help children analyze the harmful effects of halloween on their spiritual state and value formation, hear biblical stories of people of faith, see alternative ways to celebrate goodness, and make their own conclusions and decisions.

Memo: “How to tell children about the harmful effects of halloween?”

1 Facts about the harmful effects of halloween

• Halloween is the main holiday of the Church of Satan, dedicated to the worship of dark forces.
• During this time, there is an increase in suicides and incidents of aggression.
• The name “halloween” is consonant with the word “hell.”
• Since the beginning of the 20th century, the celebration has been accompanied by acts of vandalism and riots.
• The celebration has a negative impact on children’s psyche, awakening their interest in fear and the occult.
• After halloween, there is an increase in the number of visits to psychotherapists due to fears and nightmares.

2 Spiritual danger

Halloween is associated with the cult of death, demonic images, and magic. When we play with evil spirits, we open the door to a curse in our lives. As a result, it will manifest itself in illness, accidents, failures, and obstacles to success and a fruitful life.

3 False values

During the halloween celebration, the game “Trick or treat!” appeared — “Eat or regret it” — when children knock on doors and the owners “buy them off” with sweets. Its roots lie in ancient pagan rituals of offering to spirits. But the constant use of dark images for fun distorts moral values. Christian values, on the other hand, call for light, truth, and purity of heart.

4 Focus on Christ instead of fear

Instead of fearing darkness and evil forces, we trust in Jesus Christ. Halloween dictates death and sorrow, while the Bible speaks of “life in abundance” (John 10:10), of true happiness and joy. “… abhor what is evil; cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9).

5 Examples from the Bible

The stories of David against Goliath, Daniel in the lions’ den, and the three young men in the fiery furnace are illustrative. Courage and strength come through faith, not through magical symbols.

In the Nikolaev region, CITA missionaries hold annual meetings with children who do not yet know God on the eve of halloween.

In clubs, Sunday schools, and circles, they talk about how God views this holiday, helping children make their own choice: to participate in it or not.

The missionaries say that after such conversations, some children even decide not to go to school on the day of the celebration.

6 Alternative celebrations

• Organize an “Evening of Light” or a “Day of Good Deeds.”
• Creative games, master classes, stories from the Bible.
• Talk about saints and heroes of faith, make Christian-themed costumes.

For example, on October 25, the CITA missionary team in Zaporizhia held an educational and entertaining teen meeting called “Jesus is the Light” as an alternative to halloween celebrations.

During the program, one of the mentors shared her testimony: she used to like this holiday, but after coming to know Christ, she realized that behind the outward merriment, it hides fear and impurity.

The young woman urged everyone not to participate in dark traditions, emphasizing that God is light and there is no darkness in Him. She reminded those present that we are called to be a light to the world and to bring that light to those who do not yet know God.

7 Reflections with children

To understand whether something is good or evil, it is necessary to understand the consequences of a particular action. Therefore, it is worth analyzing the results of halloween celebrations together for better understanding and to give each child a chance to express their opinion.

Prepared by the CITA ministry press center based on materials from:

“Хелловін – невинна розвага чи гра у смерть?”

14 фактів про Хеловін, які має знати кожен християнин.