Catholics should not participate in these sides of Halloween. Now, I am not saying that we should reject Halloween all-together, rather I am suggesting that we need to start to think about it now in order to plan on how we might redeem the good in it.
But, first, let us look at the bad, by way of introducing a few costumes.
I remember dressing up as a kid as a robot, superman, cowboy, etc. I also remember some ghosts, princesses, etc. But, I certainly don't remember the tawdry outfits that we have today.
WOMEN STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES. Who do you think designs all these "sexy" and "adult" costumes? It certainly isn't your neighborhood feminist, religious sister, or anyone else who respects women. It is someone who wants to use your beauty to incite lust in others. This not only is scandalous and sinful, but it is just downright nefarious.
MEN AREN'T OFF THE HOOK EITHER. You don't need to wear anything offensive or sexy either. The most offensive costumes I have seen were for men. Men do not need to parade themselves as objects of sex or evil either.
Think of it this way - what being would want men and women displaying themselves for others in bars, streets, and parties?
Hint - it ain't anybody in Heaven...
As you can probably tell, this really upsets me, because it is filtering into our kids. Don't believe me? Here are some costumes they now make which are from kids characters (WARNING: these are not modest costumes)
- Transformers - Optimus Prime Sexy Deluxe Adult Costume
- Classic Snow White Adult Costume
- The Jetsons Jane Adult Costume
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Sexy Raphael (Red) Deluxe Adult Costume
- Sesame Street - Elmo Sassy Female Adult Costume
- Wonderlands Queen of Hearts Child Costume
So, what is a Catholic to do? There are some who say that Catholics should not partake in anything that has to do with Halloween, because of it's association with evil, the devil, and the occult. While we certainly shouldn't have anything to do with those things, we need not throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are some good things about Halloween as expressed in these Catholic articles, which can be redeemed:
- How Halloween Can Be Redeemed
- Surprise: Halloween's Not a Pagan Festival After All
- Can Catholics celebrate Halloween?
- Wear an modest and appropriate costume if you dress up. Nothing "sexy" and nothing having to do with the occult. Make it fun or creative.
- Learn the truth behind Halloween and share it with others.
- Don't forget to celebrate All Souls and All Saints with even more gusto.
- Be temperate at any celebration you attend.
- If you have kids, teach them about the Catholic roots of the days surrounding Halloween, dress them appropriately as well, keep them safe, and don't expose them to the occult practices that surround Halloween.
- Avoid the grotesque, terror, and horror of Halloween.
- Pray for the souls in Purgatory and with the Saints in Heaven.
- Don't let kids trick-or-treat without adults, late, or in unknown/dangerous places.
- Don't watch horror movies or dabble in "games" that have occult origins, such as Tarot cards or the Ouija board.
- Have fun, be creative and don't let the culture define your Halloween.
12 comments:
So what about dressing up as a witch, which has always been associated with Halloween?
I guess it all depends on what you are trying to portray. I know some Catholics who would put an all-out ban on witches. But, for me personally - I would be more moderate about it.
If the costume is playful and fun - think of a group dressing up like characters from Oz and you have someone as the Wicked Witch of the West, you would be ok. But, some are just over-the-top or too "sexy" for me.
Thanks Marcel. You make some good points and I have to say, Classic Snow White, does seem to Classic or Classy to me!!
Abby and I got our 4-month old a costume...he's going to be a hamburger. Its pretty cool. That's all.
Bottom line, if it has a whiff of skank, don't buy it, don't wear it.
My daughters have been witches and Olympian Godessess, queens, peacocks, Unicorns, Ninja warriors and Moaning Myrtle. My sons have been mostly race car drivers, trains, orcs (oldest), soldiers and one year, James Bond (he rented a tux himself).
But I have decided that they shall not go into the Halloween store, after the dress yourself as a giant phallus costume was displayed prominently.
Even Bachanalian stupor would not be sufficient reason to ever consider wearing this sort of costume.
Twenty years ago would make it 1990. By my lights, Halloween had already descended to the pit of sex and the occult. Our daughter was born in 1984. By 1990, we were taking her to "Bible Character" alternatives organized by our church.
If we want to take Halloween back to its Catholic roots, let's stop and think about the reason behind dressing up at all. We as Catholics have been given a beautiful day to celebrate all the saints of the Church. What does dressing up like anything outside of our great saints, or as one person mentioned, Bible characters, even have to do with the Catholic meaning of Halloween? What exactly are we celebrating? Just something to ponder.
I don't think we have to be so restrictive that one "must" be dressed up as a Saint. It is one alternative, and a good one, but not the only one.
I agree with Marcel re: it's a good alternative, but not the only one.
When I was growing up, we had fun on Halloween (usually with very sophisticated homemade costumes, like Trash Bag Witch or Hobo) and then we dressed as saints the next day for school. I feel like if all the normal, non-skanky-costume people drop out of Halloween, it's no longer a fun neighborhood activity and becomes just the trashy thing everyone here agrees is to be avoided. We have lots of elderly people in our neighborhood who love seeing little kids dressed up in cute costumes. Can't we keep that part and still celebrate All Saints as well?
My 3-year-old absolutely loves going to Target right now and seeing the "scary ghost" decorations. I think it's fine for kids to enjoy the make-believe aspects of Halloween and it's up to each family to decide what's too scary.
Thank you so much for this post. Every year I have Catholic friends who send out mass emails about how we, as Catholics, should stay away from Halloween. As a child I dressed up as a witch (by 70s standards), a mummy, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and more. Our adult neighbors dressed up, too. One man who is 6'9" dressed as Frankenstein and it was always so fun and safe. I went to Catholic School and there were no limitations on costumes. I still look at pictures of my classmates and we had witches with green plastic faces, Frankenstein, etc... I was raised to believe it was a fun holiday to dress up and go trick or treating and that's all it was to me. I loved the fun activities and parties in school. I believed what my parents taught me and that's how I raise my kids. They have no idea about evil/cults/demons at the ages of 2, 4, 6, and 8. So I will let them continue to have fun as I did. I would let them dress as evil/scary costumes and I am blessed that they do not want to. Halloween has already been cut out at schools, just let the kids be kids and participate in your parish's All Saints Day activities as well. We get a bonus because we are Catholics. Proverbs 22:6 Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not swerve from it.
editing earlier post: would NOT let them dress up as evil......
Loved this post Marcel! My oldest and I were just having this conversation the other day about what's appropriate and not appropriate "for our house." We choose to celebrate, but opt for the fun, non-scary costumes. The kids enjoy All Saints Day at Catholic school, and we do, too. Win-win!
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