I’ve never been particularly drawn to Halloween. It wasn’t something we celebrated growing up, and it wasn’t until I had children that we began to explore the idea of “trick or treating.” When my girls were around five onwards, I used to take them out locally to look at the houses that had gone all out with decorations. We usually made it an occasion with a small group of friends, they dressed up for fun, and we always ended the night with a little party at home.
For us, it was never about the darker side of the holiday, more an excuse to get together, laugh, and create memories. I was always careful, though: they only accepted sweets from people we knew.
As the years have passed, my children have outgrown the costume phase. These days it’s more about the “fit” – simple makeup, maybe a touch of glitter and spending time with friends over good food. We’ve kept our gatherings small and wholesome, often filled with vegan treats and laughter.
Over the past few years, as my faith has deepened, I’ve become much more intentional about what I allow into our home and how we approach cultural celebrations. I’ve spent time learning, reflecting, and guiding my children to understand why we make the choices we do.
We focus on creating a warm, autumnal atmosphere in the home. We’ve never had many Halloween decorations to begin with, but even the few themed mugs and plates are being replaced with more neutral, seasonal pieces that celebrate the beauty of autumn rather than the darkness of Halloween.
Of course, it’s hard to avoid the season entirely and that’s okay. We still enjoy certain activities, like watching Hocus Pocus at an open-air cinema recently. But I make sure the girls understand that we don’t feed into the meaning behind the celebration. We stay grounded in our faith and pray for God’s protection over our home and hearts.
I’m so grateful that my children respect and understand my wishes. I think being raised by a vegan mum has helped them appreciate different perspectives and learn to honour boundaries – but that’s a story for another blog post!
If, like me, you want to gently step away from traditional Halloween celebrations and embrace more faith-aligned, family-friendly alternatives, here are some lovely ways to do it:
10 Faith-Friendly Alternatives to Halloween
- 🌾 Visit a pumpkin patch instead of a spooky trail.
- 🍁 Decorate your home with autumnal touches rather than Halloween décor.
- 📚 Dress up as a favourite book character instead of a spooky one.
- 🍬 Choose regular sweets rather than Halloween-branded treats.
- ✨ Visit a light festival or “Land of Lights” event.
- 🎨 Make autumn crafts while reflecting on gratitude.
- 🎥 Swap horror films for a cosy family movie night.
- ❤️ Donate food to your local food bank.
- 🙏 Attend a Harvest Festival at your church.
- 🌿 Take a nature walk and thank God for the beauty of creation.
For me, this season isn’t about fear, darkness, or superstition – it’s about gratitude, reflection, and the gentle transition into a new season. I’m learning that we can still find joy, community, and fun in ways that honour God and nurture peace within our homes.
