Mommy, Why Don't We Celebrate Halloween? (Mommy Why?)

Rating:
Summary: Such a shame.
Review: Around fall time every year, the stores fill with every conceivable Halloween item. That's why I'm so glad to have this book to explain to my son why we don't celebrate this holiday.

The book is clear and conceice as to the origins of Halloween and the biblical reasons why Christians shouldn't participate. It is written in an easy to understand format and I think the author did a wonderful job.

It's hard enough as Christians to take a stand for Jesus in today's world, especially when holidays such as Halloween come up. This book helps both parents and kids give and answer to those who question our actions. Great job!

Rating:
Summary: a great book for explaining
Review: Around fall time every year, the stores fill with every conceivable Halloween item. That's why I'm so glad to have this book to explain to my son why we don't celebrate this holiday.

The book is clear and conceice as to the origins of Halloween and the biblical reasons why Christians shouldn't participate. It is written in an easy to understand format and I think the author did a wonderful job.

It's hard enough as Christians to take a stand for Jesus in today's world, especially when holidays such as Halloween come up. This book helps both parents and kids give and answer to those who question our actions. Great job!

Rating:
Summary: May God bless Linda Winwood for writing this book!!!
Review: Every year as Halloween approaches, I pull this book out and read it to my children. Anyone who says this book is shameful ought to be ashamed themselves. This book offers the truth regarding the history of Halloween. Everything about Halloween is rooted in evil- the costumes, the words, "trick or treat", even the jack-o-lantern. As a Christian, I am trying to raise children who love and revere the Lord; children who please Him. They cannot please Him doing things that have their roots in evil. To all the critics of this book, I say, it doesn't matter to me whether the Celts worshipped the devil himself or nature. God said, "Have no other Gods except me." He said we are not to make graven images or bow to worship anything or anyone, but Him. So if someone worships nature, they're still an idol worshipper!And as far as the notion that this book promotes separation and bigotry- I say, that's ridiculous!!! My family is planning to embrace our neighbors who do celebrate Halloween by handing out candy with a message- the message that Jesus is Lord...the way, the truth and the life and no one can get to the Father except through Him. We don't see ourselves as better than anyone; or as perfect...only as forgiven, and it is our desire that all experience the love, forgiveness and peace that can only come through a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are thankful that Linda Winwood did the research, had the courage and took the time to help us, CHRISTIANS, walk in greater obedience to our Savior. If you're not a Christian; if it's not your desire to please God in all of your ways... then simply don't buy the book!!!

Rating:
Summary: Shameful
Review: Halloween is CULTURAL, NOT religious. The Celts, Druids, and Pagans knew nothing of Christianity before they converted to it; they were
doing what they could in a harsh world and these festivals were their comfort and joy.

Sitting back, at home, being smug as they watch the trick-or-treaters, thinking that they are better and "holier" than those out, those children are being bigoted, not better.

I expected some of the true, realistic dangers of Halloween, such as too-dark costuming or unwrapped candy and such, and I find this book to be abhorrant.

Also, there seems to be that obnoxious message about the "Celtic Lord of Death, Samhain". There was no Celtic lord of death. Samhain(Saw-wen), meaning "Summer's End", was the Celtic New Year, a period between the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year.

I am growing more distrustful of christianity, and this helped push me further away.

Rating:
Summary: Best book to explain "Why?"
Review: I applaud the author's attempt to foster Christian values in a secular and often anti-religious society. However, equating trick or treating with Devil worship is uniformed and grossly misguided.

It's true that Halloween has its origins in pagan religions, however these were NATURE worshipers, NOT Satan worshipers! Ignorant of the truth, these Druids and Celts tried to manage in a hostile and unknowable world. When Christianity came to Ireland, it was embraced and celebrated. Residual practice of some Halloween customs continued as a cultural, NOT religious observence, in much the same way not all people who celebrate St. Partick's Day are Roman Catholic.

More disturbing, Winwood reveals a rather ugly prejudice by describing the Pope's moving of All Saints Day to November 1 in the 7th century to supplant Halloween as "playing Let's Make a Deal with the devil". A "Christian" book for children is hardly the place to vent such anti-catholic hate mongering, and it smacks of the "My Jesus is better than your Jesus" mindset. (She also seems to forget that December 25 was likewise once the pagan holiday Saturnalia, "Christianized" to replace the earlier feast by papal writ. So is celebrating Christmas on that date equally Satanic?)

Last, she misses the message that Christ HAS conquered death and Satan, eradicating fear of the unknown. What was once a dark pagan feast is now a time for candy, costumes, and visiting neighbors --- what a wonderful example of "good conquering evil" and "light overcoming darkness"! Teaching kids to cower in the darkness, smugly telling themselves that they are faithful "friends of Jesus" while their peers go trick or treating to "honor the devil" is sorely inaccurate and unfair. (That sentiment actually attributes MORE power to Satan, as if we are in his grasp and are left without hope.) After all, Jesus himself did not run from "evil doers"; he mixed with them, broke bread and participated in cultural festivals alongside "the wicked".

A better message to kids is that Halloween is a reminder that unlike the Druids and other pagans, Christians no longer have to fear spooks and spirits, or worry over our ultimate fate, for death has lost its sting. What we celebrate is NOT the power of Satan, but the reality of Salvation through the sacrifice of Christ! Now THAT'S a message I want to give my kids!

Rating:
Summary: Best book to explain "Why?"
Review: I think that Halloween is an issue that Christians either find absolutely abhorent or no big deal. For those of us who choose *not* to celebrate October 31st, this is a great book to have. It explained to my children why we don't do all that stuff, without going into really scary detail.

I don't see the prejudice described by the previous reviewer. Instead, I saw history described accurately. Yes, both Christmas and Halloween [and Easter, too] were changed from pagan observances to Christian celebrations to appease the people. However, while Christmas and Easter have remained Christian celebrations, I don't see that as happening with Halloween.

Therefore, for us, this book is a useful tool. Others, who have decided to ignore the bad and celebrate the good, may find the book "Halloween, You For Real?" more to their liking.

Rating:
Summary: Misguided, Poorly Conceived, and Poorly Illustrated
Review: Many of the devout "Christians" these days have chosen to embrace a seperatist agenda that removes them from the secular world as much as possible. They've taken scripture and used it to justify anything they don't like, and many of them don't like Halloween. That's mainly due to the fact that they have very little understanding of this holiday's cultural roots and important role in fostering a child's ability to face his or her fears instead of being ruled by them.

I'd appreciate a book that illustrates how the celebration of this holiday might benefit Christian parents, instead of this ill-conceived propaganda. The amatuerish illustrations are further evidence that this book was created as cheaply as possible so as to cash in on the Halloween-bashing trend.

Rating:
Summary: Truly life changing and perfect for all children
Review: This book has totally transformed my family's thoughts about Halloween. I alway's knew it was not a good thing for us to do, but this book tells truly why it isn't. I am a Christian and teach my children to revere the Lord our God. The bible clearly states that we are not to worship any graven images and to have no other gods other than the true living God in Heaven. Whether it be nature, or some other image, these pagans were not worshipping the true God. I can not teach my children to love and respect and follow God 364 day a year and then say it is OK for just this one day. Sin is sin no matter how you package it. No that I know the truth about this evil holiday, I will refrain from taking part in it at all. Now, if others want to partake in it that is between them and God. I can only set an example for others to follow. It is also a good indicator of a truly good Christian book to see how many non-Christians are bashing it. Check out the review for Purpose Driven Life.

Rating:
Summary: Such a shame.
Review: Why? I am getting more disillusioned with Christianity than ever! True, Halloween is originated from the Celts, who were pagans. But pagans WERE NOT DEVIL WORSHIPPERS! They worshipped nature. Nothing more. Nature is not evil. Christianity associated paganism with the Devil because it was trying to gain power and because they didn't know about all of those religions out there.

I can't stand that it mentions a "Celtic God of Death". Samhain was not the Irish/Celtic god of death; there WAS NOT ANY Celtic God of Death! "Samhain" (pronounced "saw-wen", NOT "sam-hayn") is Irish Gaelic, meaning roughly "Summer's End". Samhain was simply the beginning of the new year in Ancient Celtic Ireland, as well as the closing of the old year. They believed that anything could happen in between those two, for, as after one ended and before the other began, everything was loose in between those two worlds, so it was "everything goes" at that time.

Death and the underworld were not feared in those religions because, in the manner of "El Dia de Los Muertos", they believed that their dead could return on that night and be with their families again; death and the underworld became feared places with the coming of Christianity.

The people weren't being sinful/bad; it was their culture! They weren't worshipping any evil beings; they were celebrating the new year and the hope of seeing their lost loved ones again, for one night!

(...)I was expecting something about the true dangers of Halloween (like drivers not seeing trick-or-treaters, unwrapped candy, people looking for trouble, and so forth) and I was incredulous and offended at having read all of this negativity! Doesn't Christianity have anything GOOD to say about life? About ANYthing, or ANYBODY?!