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Believe it or not, Halloween is one of my favorite days of the year.
I love how Halloween builds connections and strengthens community: It’s the only day some of my neighbors ever emerge from their homes to say hello, and these hellos can turn into friendly conversations.
And it’s such an easy holiday to celebrate. The kids throw on a costume from the dress-up box, grab a bag for trick or treating, and we’re ready to go. I don’t have to cook or clean or plan anything, but my kids have the best time. What a relief!
Yet at the same time, there’s a growing trend of super scary Halloween decorations that is a real problem for many parents.
Horror doesn’t belong in the front yard
My young kids and I love walking around our neighborhood to the park and the library. But recently, we have to do part of the walk with me guiding them down the sidewalk while they keep their eyes tightly closed.
That's because one house down the street has such violent, graphic Halloween decorations in their front yard that it makes my kids cry.
I thought I was the only person with this problem, but then I started talking to my friends. One by one, they mentioned how they have to avoid walking by certain houses because the decorations are too scary. One mom said her kiddo had nightmares after seeing some of these terrifying yard displays.
I asked my six-year-old daughter what she thought about the Halloween decorations down the street. “I love Halloween but sometimes it’s too scary,” she said. “Tell the grown-ups, no more scary stuff! Just cute things and candy.” I agree!
As a mom of young kids, I wish adults would keep the scary stuff out of their Halloween decorations. If they simply must have graphically violent Halloween images, keep it inside, in the backyard, or in haunted houses and designated kid-free spaces. It feels wrong that little kids can’t walk down the street without seeing upsetting and often traumatizing images.
Let’s give Halloween back to the kids
The origins of Halloween come from Catholic tradition as the feast before All Hallows, now called All Saints' Day. At least one bishop has urged Catholics to celebrate Halloween with a more Catholic spirit, in keeping with the joy of All Saints' Day.
In keeping with this spirit, for at least the past 120 years, it was primarily a holiday for children.
The History Channel reports:
In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes.
Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the 20th century.
I think we can all get behind games, food, fun and costumes. But I’m right there with the Halloween critics of the late 1800s. Do we really need frightening and grotesque images plastered where little kids can’t help seeing them?
Let’s give Halloween back to the kids and keep the horror out of it. That way, children everywhere can celebrate this incredibly fun holiday in the spirit of childhood joy.
