I’ve often heard it said Halloween is the only evening of the year neighbors will open their doors to each other. And since I’m conflicted as a Christian about celebrating Halloween, do I miss my only window to grow in community or invite others over?

I like to assume there are always more creative options to be found for any situation. Like, obsessively, I try to always find a new way to do everything! Anyone with me?

In fact I never quit searching for new ideas to old problems. Like any season, I want to take the questions that arise and consider how they can impact the rest of our year. And the conundrum about celebrating Halloween for Christians, is no different.

 

 

#1 – How can we meet our neighbors other than just on Halloween?

Recently, I read this article and thought the author did a great job offering some suggestions to do intentionally on Halloween. And I wanted to offer some ideas we’ve tried with our family to do in your community throughout the year.

Halloween may be one night with open-doors, but it doesn’t have to be the only one.

With a little creativity the year can be full of intentionality and opportunity. Let’s lay to rest the mantra that Halloween is the best night of the year to invite others in. 

 

 

These are community-minded ideas that we have either participated in or hosted and most were great, lengthy ways to open conversation, be generous, or invite others in.

Ideas we’ve tried throughout the Year – 

• Putting up a sign offering Free Homemade ice cream & having people come from blocks around to sit & eat (we even went door to door dressed in costume to invite people)
• Participating in Cider making that the neighborhood was invited to
• Prayer walking throughout the year as a family and House Church
• Holding a mega multi-family yard sale where we get to talk at length & see personality/interests by what they buy
• Inviting neighbors over the day after Thanksgiving to share leftover pies & play games
• Inviting families walking by in for a playdate
• Hosting a big 4th of July party with yard games & picnic
• Having a Chili/Cider playdate picnic with fall themed games
• Hosting a Fall playdate with acorn collecting contests, races & games
• Making & delivering cookies & verses on Valentine’s Day
• Making & delivering chocolates at Easter & Christmas
• Walking the neighborhood for exercise with a neighbor

Ideas we haven’t yet tried but plan to! –

• Hosting a Community Campfire
• Organizing an all-community Yard Sale
• Putting a sign out to invite community to our monthly prayer meetings
• Hosting Open House/Parties for other occasions, like an early family-oriented New Year’s Party?

 

 

#2 – Join in or Hide out?

The second question I wanted to consider creative options for is, Are Christian’s options only to ignore the negative side of Halloween and participate OR hide at home with the doors locked? I’d like to think those aren’t our only options for this either. I wrote more about that in more detail here. 

So far, our family choices don’t feel like either hesitantly embracing or cold seclusion. Yes, in our house we’ve reclaimed October 31 as like any other day. We hang out at home, make dinner, put the kids to bed at 8:00. Our kids dress up almost every day out of their costume box and we often buy discounted Halloween candy later in the week. There’s no lack of fun around here. And we are also committed to looking for other opportunities to know people around us. 

As a kid, what I remember from the few times we went trick or treating (my mom was conflicted too), is going to 5 or 10 “safe” houses (AKA my grandma’s friends), wearing a plastic mask that completely covered my face so no one would have known who I was had my mom not been standing behind me, a 2 second knock and drop of candy (even as a kid I cringed to say “Trick or Treat” because I knew it wasn’t true that I’d do a trick), and a rush back to the car because I was freezing (refusal to put coat on over costume, anyone else?).

I do feel like I missed out on something the way people talk about communities gathering on Halloween, laughing and eating and having meaningful conversations while their child gets the candy drop. My common scenario did not lend itself to building friendships we didn’t already have. But that doesn’t mean that I have to stop looking for that. I hope that through other new traditions our calendar can be filled with opportunities to be welcoming, generous and loving.

This year we are preparing to try an idea I read about – Hosting a Light Party! I’m excited to try something new and incorporate some things we love like prayer, worship, Christmas lights and cozy outdoor seating! I’ll be writing a before and after post to let you know how that went!

 

Do you have any Community ideas to contribute to the list?

Add them in the Comments and we can include them in the post?

 

 

You might also like:

Why I Won’t Be Celebrating Halloween Again this Year

Be the Light Party: A Halloween Alternative for Christians 

3 Reasons for Progressive Tree Trimming