Another Halloween, another round of questions about its origins and whether or not we should let our children participate.
Orthodox icon of All Saints (wikicommons)Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Remember the days when Halloween meant flocks of children dressed as cowboys and princesses who actually did tricks on your doorstep in exchange for a treat? How did we get from that innocent celebration to the parade of ghouls, witches, and zombies that arrive on our porches today, impatiently grabbing candy out of the bowl as they rush off to the next stop?
LEB writes: “Every year I agonize over Halloween and what to allow my children to get involved in. It’s gotten so dark and occultish! Worse, some people say that the only option we have – All Saints Day – is derived from a pagan holiday! Are these our only choices?”
