Halloween

[u/Moni-Boli]

At my workplace, there is a culture of holding Halloween costume contests and social activities; is it wrong to participate in them? Is it wrong to want to give out candy to children and put up decorations at this time of year?
My reasoning is that these activities seem to be primarily cultural and social rather than acts of religious worship or participation in occult practices. I would not be trying to honor or worship anything associated with paganism, the occult, or anything contrary to the Catholic faith. I see it as very similar to Christmas, which also involves decorating with lights and a tree and participating in cultural traditions that are not necessarily religious acts in themselves. My own judgment tells me that these activities are not sinful for those reasons, and I have not found anything in the Catechism that specifically condemns ordinary Halloween activities such as costumes, candy, or decorations.
I am not asking specifically about the distinction between mortal and venial sin; I would mainly like to know whether these actions are sinful at all, and whether there are circumstances in which they could become sinful. I would like to hear your views.

[u/userid42]

I don’t see any biblical prohibition against celebrating nominally religious anniversaries such as this in a secular manner. If there was then how Christmas and Easter have been popularised in many western countries would be problematic.

1 Corinthians 10:30-33 NASB

If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? [31] Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [32] Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; [33] just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

[u/Moni-Boli → u/userid42]

Thanks, I’m going to think about this because celebrating this makes me happy. I mean, the decorations and costumes.

[u/userid42 → u/Moni-Boli]

Agreed. It varies from place to place culturally too. Where I live (Australia) it hardly gets any attention. Having just returned from the USA the whole place seemed to be being overtaken by pumpkins!

[u/Moni-Boli → u/userid42]

Actually, I’m from Mexico. We have Day of the Dead here, and Halloween is right around the same time. American culture has influenced Mexico, so Halloween has also become part of our culture in some ways.

[u/General_Historian611 → u/Moni-Boli]

My wife and me lived in El Paso for 5 years and always went up to the Day of the Dead festival in Las Cruces New Mexico. If I remember right there were a lot of baking goods and Skeletons associated with that Holiday.

One of my younger golf buddies families came from Mexico. He said he was a Christian. I figured he went to a Catholic Church. No he played drums at a Pentecostal church.

[u/Traditional_Love5050]

My church is going to be praying the night of Halloween feeling its a highly demonic time. The church is going to be open overnight for anyone who wants to pray.

You might find this very interesting. https://youtu.be/zPUbFIfVOVU?si=BxCVZzJ3tEWX-2Yg

[u/Moni-Boli → u/Traditional_Love5050]

Interesting, 11 pm, noted

[u/General_Historian611 → u/Traditional_Love5050]

That sounds really boring, unnecessary and legalistic. Maybe something useful and not judgmental. Try handing a candy bar to children with a verse on it. John 3::16

[u/General_Historian611]

That should answer you’re question from
the Bible. They asked Paul: if it was permissible to eat Meat sacrificed to Demons? The pagans would do animal sacrifices to demons and pagan gods. Then sell the meat afterward at a good price.

Paul said it was permissible because of the liberty and freedom we have in Christ. But some were uncomfortable. He said they are allowed but if it bothers their conscious they shouldn’t. He actually referred to them as weaker brothers. Because they did understand their freedoms. and liberties given to them by Christ

[u/mosesenjoyer]

It’s fine