When you think about Halloween, some familiar images come to mind, such as witch costumes, cartoon ghosts, pumpkins, and, of course, tons of candy. While I agree Halloween is a very enjoyable time of the year, it’s not the same for everyone, and their experiences with the celebration of Halloween can vary depending on things like culture and religion. And so, to be frank(enstein) with you, I am not an exception to this certain group of people.
As someone who was raised in a Christian household, I grew up learning about what Christians consider “bad” about Halloween. One of the biggest examples of this is dressing up like a devil, because the devil is seen as the “enemy” in the Bible. Another is the use of fake blood in costumes, because that is seen as a way to promote violence rather than peace.
Just like any other Christian kid, I absorbed and went along with Halloween lessons just like I would in class; I did not disagree with any of them.
The way my family and I celebrated Halloween throughout the years was not quite consistent…well, except for the fact that we always kept it Christian-friendly. When I was younger, I remember going to a couple of Halloween events hosted by our church. My favorite one was a Trunk or Treat where many church leaders and volunteers decorated their cars and handed out candy to kids.
When I was in fifth grade, I remember attending a pumpkin party hosted by my sister’s friend. It was one of those family-friendly parties where the parents would socialize in the dining and living rooms, while all the kids would be playing together elsewhere in the house. All of the kids at the party were attending the same private Christian school at the time, including my sister.
Until my freshman year of high school, I was not allowed to go trick or treating in my neighborhood. My parents believed I shouldn’t associate with people who wear costumes that may clash with our religious beliefs. The only reason they allowed me to trick or treat in high school was that they knew I was responsible and mature enough to not be influenced by the anti-religious things that people do or say on Halloween (i.e. dressing up with fake gore).
Now that I am in college, you may be wondering if I ever felt like I missed out on all the fun stuff that people would typically do on Halloween.
Well, yes and no. Even though I have not been able to get the typical neighborhood trick-or-treat experience as a kid, I was still socially involved with the holiday by attending events where you can play games, receive candy, and hang out with friends. However, sometimes I would wonder if it was much more fun to celebrate Halloween in a non-Christian context.
And if you’re wondering if I’ve completely changed the way I celebrate Halloween because I’m in college now, I’m still pretty much the same. I have never been to a non-Christian Halloween party in my college career so far. The only Halloween-themed events I attended in college so far include going to a pumpkin patch, karaoke, and a couple of game nights.
Attending a large public institution like CU Boulder has helped me meet people of various different religions, cultures, and beliefs, and because of that, I have been able to develop a more open perspective toward how they celebrate certain holidays, such as Halloween. In a broader context, this makes me appreciate the diversity of CU Boulder. Of course, I am aware CU Boulder still has some work to do on improving its diversity, but I am glad to see some students and groups are highly enriched and embracing of traditions that identify who they are.
Halloween is a delightful time of the year, and at the end of the day, whichever way you spend your time with it is ultimately up to you. Even though my Halloween experience may have been different from many other people’s, I appreciate that I was still able to have some fun. Have a happy Halloween!