Why hallelujah night

I grew up largely not taking part in Halloween, once my parents became Christians. So when we had Bean, it was easy not to get her a costume when she was a toddler…until she started requesting one this year. That made me really think about what I believe as a Christian regarding intent, euphemism, and cultural practice. Why is it usually held on or around Halloween?

Why are its colors typically fall colors, with decorative pumpkins, dress-up costumes for kids, and candy galore as prizes? Let me answer that for you. They just call it HallelujahNight. Hallelujah Night happened because Christians do not nominally want any associations with Halloween. We just like to have our Halloween Candy Corn and eat it, too. The most objectionable component of Halloween for Christians is the emphasis on fear and what most consider to be occult practices.

I cannot find anything inherently harmful or even anti-Christian in the practice of dressing up. To do so would be to consider drama itself as a tool of the devil. On the contrary, I remember putting on plays as a kid in my Christian school, with girls assuming the roles of Mary, Mother of Jesus and boys pantomiming John the Baptist. And no Christian pastor with his belt firmly girding his gut is going turn down candy.

Perhaps what bothers me a little is the sanctimonious tone many of us Christians adopt toward those who indulge in Halloween, as if what we do so greatly separates us from our secular counterparts.

We are merely righteously euphemistic. Yes, you might slip some Gospel tracts into that goodie bag as neighborhood kids leave. But you know exactly what they came for, Sister. No church is inviting kids over around Halloween without picking up at least Dollar Store candy. I just buy discounted candy on November 1. My husband and I agreed to let her wear an approved costume —nothing scary, nothing sexy. Did you wear costumes when you were little? Anything we did, was because my aunts took us along with their children.

Also write out the numbers 1 through 10 each on a small slip of paper. Fold the pieces of paper and drop them in a hat. Play some music and have 11 children walk around the chairs. When the music stops, the children must run to sit down. The child who does not find a seat is out. Next, draw a number from a hat.

The child sitting in a chair with the number you draw wins the pie on the table with the corresponding numbered commandment. Have the winner say the commandment aloud. Add a new pie to the table and a new player to the group and repeat until all the pies are gone, whittling down the group of children when there are less than 10 pies left. Instead of dressing as vampires and ghosts, have children dress as their favorite biblical characters. Encourage contestants to make or purchase costumes.

Children can compete individually or with their families. For example, a child might choose to dress as Moses with a simple beard and robe or as Baby Jesus with their mother dressed as Mary and their father dressed as Joseph. Create categories such as Best Dressed Female Child and assign judges to choose the winners. Give large prizes to the winners, like gift cards, and candy or other treats to everyone else for their participation. Wannikki Taylor is a professional writer with a Bachelors of Arts in journalism from Temple University.

She serves as a children's columnist and covers family entertainment for several print and online publications. She specializes in games, crafts and party planning ideas for kids and their families.

By: Wannikki Taylor. Carnival Booths Set up a variety of individual carnival games -- perhaps 10 to 20 booths -- on the church property. Pumpkin Carving Older children and teenagers can compete in a traditional pumpkin carving contest.

Pie Walk Celebrate the flavors of the season with a game involving fall treats. Costume Contest Instead of dressing as vampires and ghosts, have children dress as their favorite biblical characters. Patrick's Day Religious Activities. Second Grade Holiday Party Games. Mardi Gras Party Games for Kids. Adult Party Ideas for a Medieval Pokemon Party Games. Party Ideas With an India Theme.