I grew up in Savannah, Georgia in the 90s and early 2000s (hands down the best era!) and had a magical childhood. Apart from chasing the ice cream trucks in the summer and going frog hunting with the neighborhood kids after an evening storm, my fondest memories are of Halloween. I know that’s an odd thing for a kid who grew up in a Christian household to say, but we celebrated Halloween a little differently in our home.

You see, my parents were intentional about making every holiday a Christ-centered holiday. From the big ones like Thanksgiving and Christmas, to the smaller ones like Saint Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day, my parents would find a way to bring God into focus. Halloween was no different.

They refused to hide from the world one night of the year because it was supposedly the Devil’s Holiday. So instead, my mom (armed with the voice of an angel and an imagination that would put Walt Disney to shame), she created a catchy, Christ-centered Halloween song called “Shining Out the Darkness of Halloween” (I’ll put the lyrics at the end of the post), had us carve a heart into our pumpkins (instead of a scary face) while telling us the story called Jack’s New Heart (a story she made up and had illustrated just for Halloween 🤯).

Then on Halloween day, when night fell, we’d put a candle in our pumpkin and go trick or treating. But instead of just receiving candy, we’d also give out candy wrapped in home made gospel tracts.

I believe this is a beautiful way to turn a day meant for evil into a powerful testimony of Christ’s triumph over death and Satan. I will keep these traditions alive in my own home (adding a few here and there) and hope you find ways to make October 31st a Christ-centered one as well.

To help you out with that, here are 7 ways to honor Christ on Halloween.

#1. Dress your kids up as Biblical Characters

This is an easy one. People love seeing kids in cute costumes and always ask who or what they’re supposed to be. Dressing your kids up as Biblical characters (minus any images of God), is a great way to honor Christ this Halloween and share your faith. It’s also a good way to train your children to see men and women of God (and not just Superman, Batman, etc.) as heroes and aspire to be like them. Get creative too! Explore God’s word with your children and come up with unique costume ideas.

#2. Turn the scary decorations in your neighborhood into teachable moments

Unfortunately, there’s no avoiding the darker aspects of Halloween. Your own neighborhood might play host to some creepy and demonic decorations. While not ideal for little minds, this is an opportunity to teach your children some Biblical truths. Remind them that even though the world is dark and scary at times, God has overcome death and Satan. The demonic realm is real but Christ is more powerful than demons. Read the Gospel accounts of Christ interacting with demons–how frightened they were to be in his presence and fled at his command.

While we shouldn’t trivialise the demonic we also shouldn’t cower before it (and teach our children to do the same).

You can even have an impromptu anatomy lesson. If they see a skeleton in someone’s yard, tell them that’s what God put under our skin to hold our body together. Depending on your child’s age, name some of the bones and their function and marvel at God’s awesome handiwork.

#3. Pass out candy wrapped in a Gospel tract or Bible verse

This is another easy way to honor Christ on Halloween. We did this as kids and had amazing reactions from our community. My mom called our tracts Jack Tracts (to go along with the story she created) and as I mentioned above, we helped her make them and put the candy inside.

Doing this not only spreads the good news, it encourages your children (and us as parents) to be bold witnesses before Christ. It also teaches us to be givers instead of just receivers.

#4. Remember the Reformation

Over 500 years ago, on October 31st, Martin Luther nailed his now infamous 95 theses on the doors of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. These theses protested the Catholic Church’s wicked practices, the worst one being the selling of indulgences. This sparked a debate that launched the protestant Reformation.

Remembering the Reformation is a great way to honor Christ on Halloween because it shows how God can use anyone, even a lowly monk like Martin Luther, to change the world for his Kingdom. It’s also a great picture of God’s divine providence and preservation of his word and people.

Martin Luther started the Reformation but we know there are many other mighty men and women of God that kept the spark going. Teach your children about them this Halloween.

#5. Carve/paint wholesome images or Bible Verses onto your pumpkins instead of spooky faces

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, my mom had us carve a heart into our pumpkins to symbolize Jesus’ love for his people, which led him to the cross and paved a way for our salvation.

We had neighbors and trick-or-treaters stop by our house just to ask what the heart in our pumpkins meant because it was so different from what they were used to seeing. This gave my parents many opportunities to share the gospel.

But the sky is the limit! Come up with an idea as a family and then paint/carve your pumpkins together.

#6 Honor the memory of faithful Saints and martyrs

All Hallows Eve is the day Christians set aside to honor the memory of faithful saints and martyrs. Many of the traditions associated with Halloween today (like trick-or-treating) trace their origins back to this 5th century practice.

It involves prayer and fasting, visiting the graves of the faithfully departed and leaving flowers and candles.

Like the Reformation, recognizing All Saints day is a great way to honor Christ this Halloween because it helps us remember to live a faithful life until we depart this earth.

Use Halloween as an opportunity to thank God for his servants of old who lived a faithful life until their natural death, and those who boldly lost their lives defending the faith.

#7. Bake/buy sweet treats and pass them out at church and/or to your neighbors

Last but certainly not least, use Halloween or the days before, as an opportunity to love your neighbors (both your literal neighbors and your true neighbors–your brothers and sisters in Christ) by handing out baked goodies.

Kids love to help baking and it’s a great way to model servanthood and sacrificial love. So crack open those cookbooks and whip up some treats that will warm both the stomachs and hearts of your neighbors.

Now go shine your light

The world is dark and full of terrors, but with Christ at our side, we have nothing to fear.

So, let your light be a beacon in that darkness, a safe harbor for fellow sojourners and a rope out of the pit for the unbeliever.

Have a glorious Halloween!

Resources

“Shining Out the Darkness of Halloween” song lyrics (set to the tune of Joshua Fought the Battle at Jericho):

We’re shining out the darkness of Halloween, Halloween, Halloween

We’re shining out the darkness of Halloween ’til Satan’s kingdom comes tumbling down.

Until next time, salutations and selah.