Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? Here’s What Reddit Says

Halloween sparks a lot of debate in the Christian community - from whether it should be avoided altogether to how it might be redeemed or reimagined. We dove into threads from Reddit, Crosswalk Forums, and Quora to get a real-world glimpse into what Christians are saying about Halloween today. The result? A deeply honest and varied conversation.

Let’s explore the spectrum of thoughts and beliefs around Halloween from real Christians online.

Key Takeaways

• Christians are divided on Halloween. Some see it as harmless fun, while others avoid it due to its pagan roots and spiritual implications.

• Safety concerns are rising. From missing children to neighborhood crime, many believers are rethinking trick-or-treating.

• Spiritual conviction plays a big role. Several believers shared that Halloween doesn't align with their desire to glorify God in all things.

• Alternatives are gaining popularity. Fall festivals and trunk-or-treat events offer a faith-based, family-friendly substitute.

• Intent matters most. Whether you participate or abstain, your heart and purpose behind the celebration are what matter most.

“I have always liked Halloween… but…”

One Redditor summed up a shift that many Christians seem to be experiencing:

“I have always liked Halloween and used to have tons of Halloween decorations. But the last couple of years, I have felt that need to distance myself from Halloween each year, just a little bit… I live in Oregon and there are a lot of missing children's cases here it seems from this September and October and I just feel Halloween has become a darker holiday than it used to be.”

That’s heavy.

She went on to say she got rid of most of her decorations, keeping only the “happy” stuff like pumpkins and little knick-knacks. But what stood out most was the connection between Halloween and safety.

When you start linking the holiday to missing children, it’s no wonder she’s hesitant. And honestly? We get it. Trick-or-treating doesn’t feel quite as safe as it did in the 90s or early 2000s.

This user also said:

• She went from four boxes of Halloween decorations down to just one box.

• She still hands out candy but chooses to stay cozy and safe at home.

• And even though she doesn’t have kids yet, she’s already thinking about whether she’ll let them trick-or-treat one day.

That’s a perspective you don’t usually hear in the “Christians and Halloween” debate — the safety side of it.

“My childhood church never participated in anything secular…”

Another user gave us a bit of nostalgia:

“My childhood church never participated in anything secular. In the 60s, it was all about getting candy. I remember very few decorations. Interesting. It has grown huge from the 60s. You can buy clothing, jewelry, bedding, dishes, as well as decorations themed to celebrate Halloween.”

That’s so true. Halloween went from being a once-a-year candy run to a full-on commercial season. Stores put decorations out in July now. Whole aisles are stacked with skeletons, inflatables, and glowing skulls.

Back then? A pillowcase and some free candy.

Now? Costumes, parties, home goods, Instagram-worthy yard setups, and $100 animatronic clowns.

No wonder some Christians feel like the holiday has spiraled into something darker (or at least more distracting).

“Reject every kind of evil.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Some Christians are very firm on this. The same person wrote:

“I bought it all before reading what the Bible says about staying away from the appearance of evil. Satan does his best on a daily basis to distract us from God's word. Too many Christians lack discernment and obedience because they haven't read their Bibles. God will not be mocked. His wrath is real. So is heaven and the lake of fire.”

That’s definitely the hardline perspective. For some, the connection between Halloween and evil is just too close to ignore.

And honestly, we get where they’re coming from, too. If you believe the holiday glorifies darkness (even just in its symbols and imagery) why would you take part in it?

The “I just don’t care about Halloween” Crowd…

Then you’ve got another group of Christians who don’t boycott Halloween but also don’t really love it. One Redditor said:

“For some reason, I never cared for it. I know I would absolutely get into the spirit for children if I had them, but to do it for myself… meh.”

Another chimed in:

“Same here. I’ve got a baby, so I imagine I’ll be doing a lot of trick-or-treating in a few years, but I don’t really care if I celebrate it or not. The best thing about Halloween is it’s a buffer for stores selling Christmas stuff.”

That last line made us laugh. Halloween is basically the wall holding back the tidal wave of Christmas decorations.

From Horror Fan to “convicted in my spirit…”

One of the most powerful posts we came across while searching what Christians think about Halloween was this one:

“Before I was saved, I was a huge horror fan. Halloween was my absolute favorite holiday and I was just obsessed with all things spooky. When I came to Christ, I realized that nothing about the holiday glorifies him… I stopped celebrating Halloween, stopped watching anything horror related, got rid of all my horror novels and figurines.”

That’s such a 180. For them, Halloween wasn’t just “costumes and candy.” It was tied to a whole lifestyle. And once their faith changed, so did their outlook.

Parenting Takes: Candy, Costumes, and Boundaries

Parents had a lot to say about what they’ll let their kids do.

“Our kids dress up and we take them either trick-or-treating or trunk-or-treating. We wouldn’t allow them to dress up as anything seemingly evil or demonic.”

and,

“Halloween is just a fun time of year with pumpkin patches, costumes, and candy.”

That’s a pretty balanced approach. They don’t want to glorify evil, but they also see the fun in dressing up and enjoying the season.

And honestly? This point is well-taken. Dressing up as Ariel from The Little Mermaid or a firefighter isn’t inherently evil. But maybe steering clear of demons and zombies is wise.

Halloween is “Legalized Extortion?”

Crosswalk Forums had some spicier takes. One user wrote:

“My take on Halloween, specifically trick or treat. I don’t take too well to legalized extortion.”

Ouch. That’s one way to put it.

But they did follow up with some practical solutions:

• Churches can host alternative parties.

• Or, Christians can hand out candy and gospel tracts to kids who knock.

That last suggestion is where opinions split. Some people think handing out Bible tracts is a great idea. Others (especially on Quora) were… less enthusiastic.

Quora: “Don’t pass out tracts!”

Over on Quora, a user named Timmy B had this to say:

“Sure, I always did growing up. Nothing really spooky or evil. Trick-or-treat for the kids is always a good way to get them out of the house… One thing you should not do is pass out [tracts] or Christian literature. No one wants it. It’s not helping anyone and it might just get your house egged or TP’d.”

Now, we personally don’t think your house is guaranteed to get egged if you hand out Christian tracts. But we do get his point. If the only thing you give kids on Halloween night is a tiny pamphlet that says “turn or burn,” that’s probably not going to land well.

Still, it shows just how differently people view the same action. For one group, it’s evangelism. For another, it’s annoying.

“Holy-Ween” and Other New Traditions

One of our favorite comments suggested something new:

“With God’s help, I’m trying to instill a Christian perspective on this otherwise known dark holiday. Instead of Halloween, why don’t we start a new tradition known as Holy-Ween? Spread light and his love for Jesus/God on this night.”

Love it. It flips the script. Instead of hiding from Halloween, use it as a night to shine light.

The Chill Dad Perspective on Halloween

And finally, one dad kept it refreshingly simple:

“Dude, I am a Christian, by the way. I don’t celebrate Satan when I go taking my daughter asking for candy. Some people take this stuff to a whole other level. What I care about is how I celebrate it today… My daughter dresses up as Ariel from The Little Mermaid. We collect candy, drink hot chocolate, watch Courage the Cowardly Dog, and just enjoy quality time together. That’s all it is.”

That might be the most balanced take we’ve read all day.

So… Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

After scrolling through all these takes, here’s where we’ve landed:

• It’s complicated. For some, Halloween is just candy and costumes. For others, it’s a holiday too tied to darkness.

• Safety matters. A lot of parents are rethinking trick-or-treating because the world feels less safe.

• Perspective matters. If Halloween pulls you away from God, skip it. If it’s just a night of candy and pumpkins, maybe that’s okay.

• Opportunities matter. Halloween can be a time to connect with your neighbors, show kindness, and even share the gospel. But maybe do it in a way that’s thoughtful, not pushy.

At the end of the day, it comes down to this question: Why are you celebrating?

If it’s to glorify God in some way (even through pumpkin carving, candy-sharing, or community fun), then maybe that’s okay. But if it’s glorifying darkness, maybe it’s time to let it go.

So, what do you think? Do you celebrate Halloween? Do you skip it? Or do you just carve pumpkins and call it a night?

Let us know what you think in the Crosswalk Forums.