Should Christians celebrate Halloween or not?
One controversial view is that Halloween customs pay homage to the devil and glorify superstitious pagan rituals, thereby opening a gateway to hell, a perusal of Christian websites reveals.
But for most people, Halloween is just a holiday for kids — tinged with spookiness and offering keiki a chance to go trick-or-treating in costumes. Still, there’s always the fear factor of letting children go to strange houses in the dark and get candy from unfamiliar people.
Several local churches on Oahu are offering a solution to this parents’ dilemma with free "alternative" Halloween events Friday. The emphasis is on family fun and safety for kids, and the usual request is that no one come wearing scary or grotesque costumes.
Other churches are holding harvest fairs after Halloween as a throwback to the season when ancient Celts celebrated the sun and the abundance of nature before bracing themselves for the scarcity that came with a long winter.
"Halloween" is actually the shortened version of "All Hallow’s Eve" — the night before All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1 — officially established by the Roman Catholic Church in the ninth century to remember martyrs and saints. "All Souls’ Day" on Nov. 2 was added by Christians in the 10th century to commemorate all who had died.
BALANCING VIEWS
Tim Newman, pastor of Calvary Chapel Windward since 1989, said his church is holding its first Harvest Festival in years from 5 to 9 p.m. on Halloween at Aikahi Shopping Center.
The church used to have these events regularly in the 1990s, but the custom fell off as membership evolved.
Although Halloween does have links to satanic practices — "it’s a historical fact," Newman said — celebrating the holiday is not the same as dabbling in the occult.
Participating churches are celebrating spooky holiday
Other alternative Halloween events and harvest fairs will be held by the following churches:
» First Baptist Church of Wahiawa, 1233 California Ave., 622-4321. Hallelujah Blast!, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, with food, games, prizes, bouncy castle, keiki crafts and more. Email fbcwahiawa@yahoo.com.
» United Church of Christ, 467 N. Judd St., 285-8623. "Under the Big Top" penny carnival, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, with food, games, prizes and more. Bring your pennies!
» New Hope Oahu, 290 Sand Island Access Road, 842-4241. "Superheroes: An Alternative Halloween Event," 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a costume contest for kids, petting zoo with three riding ponies, games and fun. Food available for purchase.
» Manoa Valley Church, 2728 Huapala St., 988-3271. 44th annual Harvest Fair, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 1, with pony rides and games for keiki, unique handcrafted wood creations, boutique/gifts booth, white-elephant bargains, all kinds of food and baked goods, fresh produce and plants. Free admission. visit www.manoavalleychurch.org.
» Church of the Crossroads, 1212 University Ave., 949-2220. Fall fair, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 8, with a rummage sale, food, baked goods, auction, plants, and music. Chicken and sushi pickup is from 9 a.m. to noon.
For a full listing of events, visit www.honolulupulse.com/2014/10/2014-halloween-events-guide. |
"I don’t think kids who go out collecting candy on Halloween are worshipping Satan in the process," he said. "It’s just a fun, safe thing for kids. I know parents are a little leery to let their kids go trick-or-treating. You probably have to inspect all their candy before you let them eat it. People don’t even know what the tradition is about."
GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY
First Assembly of God Red Hill in Moanalua will integrate a spiritual message in its Hallelujah Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Along with free game booths, hot dogs, shave ice and candy, half-hour shows will be offered that associate pastor Andrew Yasuhara said will tell people "Jesus loves them," with novel approaches that appeal to kids.
The church has been presenting this "gift to the community" for 24 years, enjoyed by some 3,000 people.
"No scary or grotesque costumes" is the church’s only request because they would frighten young children, Yasuhara said.
Daryl Yamada, pastor of Mililani Missionary Church, said his church’s Harvest Fair from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Halloween is "a way to bless the community" by giving families a fun, safe environment to enjoy themselves, he said.
"We know that society changes," he said. "When I was a kid, you could go to anybody’s house and it wasn’t a problem. Now you’re just not as certain."
He was referring to past news reports of people on the mainland finding tainted candy or treats imbedded with needles or razors.
Yamada said asking people not to wear scary costumes is in line with taking the focus away from Halloween’s satanic aspects and creating "a lighthearted atmosphere" instead. All games, candy, inflatables, clown, balloons and a photo booth will be free, but nominal amounts will be charged at food booths and a country store.
GOING TO THE GRAVEYARD
David J. Gierlach, rector of St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Kalihi, is taking at least 50 youth to Oahu Cemetery at 6:30 p.m. on Halloween "to light candles and sing songs and pray for the dead" before they return to the church for a dance and other festivities.
The purpose of the service is to remind the kids that Halloween is really the eve of All Saints Day, to remember not only beloved relatives, but those "who died for the faith, all the saints and martyrs who helped pass down to us the good news of Jesus Christ."
"And also, we want our youngsters, especially at this time in their lives when they believe they are immortal, to remember that not one of us gets out of this life alive. It’s a time to reflect on the frailty of life, its vulnerability to so many things like disease and storms and accidents. It’s been said that until you come face to face with death, you never really know how to live," Gierlach said.
