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HALLOWEEN ALTERNATIVES

Chapter One

by Louis merryman

When I was a lad in the 1940s in South East Washington, D.C. we celebrated Halloween for two nights. On October 30th, Beggar's Night, everyone went "Trick or Treating." Even then, we went to selected houses for treats. Tricks were mild at best - not like the good old days when the emphasis was on tricks - like dumping over out houses.

On Halloween Night everyone went down to Pennsylvania Avenue for a costume walk. This was our Fall Easter Parade. That's a thing of the past, too.

While I was getting older, GREED entered the Halloween festivity scene. Halloween became a major commercial event with merchants pushing "Halloween" products such as decorations, candy and costumes. There was a lot of confusion on which night was Trick or Treat Night. Kids went out two nights. Kids are not stupid. Two nights means twice the amount of candy. Then, somebody in authority decided Trick or Treating was to be only on one night - Halloween. Now, only one night is celebrated with the expected costumes and begging.

After Greed came true evil. Nuts came out of their shells. Candy and treats were spiked with chemicals and sharp things. Authority warned Trick and Treaters to accept only sealed wrapped treats. Treat givers were told to only give sealed wrapped treats. Candy corn, and stuff, wrapped lovingly in napkins and tied with a bow became a thing of the past. Danger stalked the streets. Beggars beware!

A rise in interest in the occult and the establishment of pagan religions who seriously celebrate Halloween also came into the festivities. A harmless holiday became a serious religious holiday. This woke up many Christians. To protect the children of a community from Halloween dangers to body, soul, and spirit churches began to offer alternate celebrations. These alternatives have varied from small house parties to community wide "Harvest Festivals."

"Harvest Festivals" are carnivals with booths for food, face painting and skill games. Participants receive candy after they have tested their skill. The festivals are free or have a nominal charge. They are geared to meet the needs of young children.

Many traditional Halloween activities continue in these festivities: Bobbing for apples, costumes, giving candy away to children, pumpkin carving contests, etc. Biblical costumes are promoted. Occult and death theme costumes are frowned upon. Children wearing such garb are lectured or turned away. Conversely, the kids in occult costumes should be most welcome-they really need Jesus.

This work is designed to cover all aspects of a community serving event. Topics covered include event organization, event menu, event booths, and dramatic walking tours. Smaller churches are encouraged to scale down the ideas presented to meet their situation and needs.

Christians should have no part of anything that celebrates a pagan celebration of Halloween and the dark powers it promotes. Christians should celebrate the fact that they are the joyous living alternate to Halloween. Christians are historically known for their conquest of pagan holidays. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, used Christian lyrics with secular music when he was winning the world for Christ. Amazing Grace can be sung to tunes other then traditional music. My favorite is the folk song: House of the Rising Sun. Easter and Christmas were pagan holidays. Now they are Christian. Why not take over Halloween?

If I have any criticism of the Christian alternative celebrations of Halloween, it is this: The alternative celebrations look like secular token - religion celebration, i.e., with traditional symbols (witches and ghosts). To correct this problem, "Walking Tours" and activities with Biblical costumed characters are featured at the festival.

Biblical themes teach things about the Bible. To a Church School Student the themes reinforce things learned in class. Children and Adults, who are not familiar with the Bible learn things. They may even decide they want to know more. Use a secular theme, teach a secular theme. Use a Biblical theme, teach a Biblical theme.

What is a "Walking tour?" A "Walking Tour" is the walking version of an amusement park ride that takes you via vehicle or vessel past several amusing scenes centering around a common theme. The Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney Worlds features the ultimate in such "Riding Tours." Included in this book are six walking tours.

How do walking tours evangelize? It is very difficult to do much child or adult evangelism in the organized confusion of a large party or carnival. People need quiet and time to think. The walking tour is serious pre - evangelism. The end of the walking tour is evangelism. After seeing a variety of Biblical micro-dramas that stress the need for Jesus/God in one's life a costumed tour guide presents the plan of salvation to tour members.

Now, let's take a closer look at these Halloween Alternatives.