6 Reasons why we don't celebrate Halloween

This may well be the most controversial post I’ve ever written but I‘m not writing this to be controversial.

We do not celebrate Halloween.

I’ve never celebrated Halloween. I grew up without celebrating it and for what I consider valid reasons, which I will explain at the bottom, still don’t. Apart from my sixth form and university years where it was more a “social drinking and getting laid event” it’s never been anything that I wanted to participate in.

Here are 6 reasons why we didn’t and still don’t:

Sugar Rush

I spend a lot of time trying to steer the boys away from intense, sugary treats. They are pretty much seen as a “treat” and even then a small amount goes incredibly far. I get that the aspect of “trick or treat” is getting the treat but where is the line drawn? Where do other parents draw the line? Are they stored up and rationed throughout the following months or is it a sugar rush in one go? What about allergies or e numbers?

Personally, I buy a treat for the boys, know what I am getting and not have them expect more.

Non-Celebrating Houses

Now, I know everyone is different. Some will see it as a community spirited event where people dress up and come together. The problem with the area we live in currently is that there are a lower percentage of houses and families who actually take part.

Instead we have elderly people who are scared or frail, families with young children not to be woken, people with disabilities and some with mental health issues with anxieties and fears.

Yet every year we get people knocking on the door taking part in the annual activities. Yet, we never put signs out or imply in any way that we are celebrating Halloween.

Unless you know the person in the house I don’t think it is fair to knock. If you have rung the doorbell and you have made a person struggle to open the door then it is out of order.

Teenagers

Teenagers come out in their droves. They have been brought up celebrating these activities and go out door to door and usually unsupervised. The part I struggle with is when they take the whole “trick or treat” thing too far. If you don’t treat then they will trick you; something that has happened to my elderly father’s house 3 years in a row!

Last year I even had the pleasure of a teenager ask me “Well if you don’t have sweets I will take money” and there was an adult at the top of the drive waiting! I would hate the idea that the boys would grow up doing this and I had encouraged this behaviour.

I don't want to stereotype as I am sure not all teenagers are like this but we have had an exponentially bad run of it with them.

Begging

We have, as a society, seemingly changed what we deem to be acceptable and what isn’t when it comes to charity. We, for some reason, can’t shake a charity tin in the street, have limited food banks and even have clauses on charities where they have to say “Don’t feel like you have to give” but we can go to someone’s home and ask for something because we are “celebrating”.

In my eyes, I see that as the same.

Would you give a treat to anyone who came to your door at any other point throughout the year because they were dressed up carrying a swag bag?

Halloween over Bonfire Night

I find this a really sad fact that the commercialisation of one event seemingly now overshadows another. Where the charitable event of “penny for the guy” is classed as begging and inappropriate but the above point is still acceptable. Health and safety are obviously important and I would never want to imply anything different but with more and more firework accidents the more events are being stopped where it is deemed too dangerous. Yet, it is a great event and one with historical importance.

We have a light party every year. This is based around Bonfire night and supports the historical event, traditions and our Christian values.

We are Christians

I am not going to preach because anyone who knows me will know that I don’t do the whole Christian standing on a soap box thing. Yet, I won’t disregard it too.

Halloween has many different sources, some Celtic, some Pagan and some Christian. I totally get that somewhere through history it progressed, merged and blended together to dressing up in guises, pumpkin carving and trick or treating but although it may have cultural and historical Christian ties doesn’t mean I focus on it now.

Dressing up to scare, trick, ask for things, fill children with sugar and vandalise people’s homes in my opinion do not represent Christian values.


I grew up without celebrating Halloween and for the reasons above and I don’t feel like I missed anything. I know that it is now a culturally acceptable holiday and I really don’t write this to cause conflict. I have no “I am right and you are wrong” attitude these are just our reasons that I wanted to share.

Does anyone else not celebrate it? for similar reasons?