I'M NOT A FAN OF HALLOWEEN!

 

     As a kid I always loved Halloween. Growing up in New Jersey the first 9 years of my life, Halloween was a big part of my life. This was before parents had to worry about sexual predators or kids being kidnapped, the good ole 1970's. In New Jersey, we would go trick or treating at night. I remember one costume I had was a clown. Our streets were packed with kids of all ages with bags filled with candy going up and down streets going door to door. In New Jersey, they would call the night before Halloween "Mischief Night" where kids would put toilet paper in trees and put shaving cream all over each other. I guess in New Jersey everyone felt the kids needed to "Let it all out." I remember one year my mom took us to the local high school as a bunch of kids put toilet paper in a tree. It actually looked amazing. 

     I had no issues with Halloween growing up in NJ, but things did change for me when I moved to New York when I was 9. I remember being in 4th grade and when I told one of the kids in my class that we would be going trick or treating at night, he looked at me like I was insane. "Are you crazy Harff? If you go out at night you will die. They will kill you! You have to go during the day!" During the day? That is no fun. But as they say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!" That same kid told me I would be chased by kids who would throw eggs at me, and I would be covered in shaving cream. He made it sound like trick or treating would not be fun at all. He was right So I put on my football player costume and my brother, and I ventured out going door to door with our first New York Halloween getting candy. There were kids in the neighborhood who did not care about getting candy. They were more interested in having "fun" as they called it. My only true memory of that first Halloween was being chased by a kid who wanted to hit me with an egg. Thank God he missed, and I went home very upset. "This is not Halloween?" I told my parents. I only went trick or treating a few years after that. 

     I did not have any issues with Halloween when I became a Christian. I didn't know any better. Even in high school I have memories of my friend John dressing up as a nun on Halloween. Even in Bible college we did trick or treating in our dorms for a year. We didn't think anything of it. We were not educated on what that holiday really stood for. My breakthrough came in 1988. My church wanted to do an alternative to Halloween which they called "Praise Fest '88." We had crafts for the kids, and I was asked to do a puppet show for the kids. During one of our planning meetings, I was handed a pamphlet by one of the leaders. It was very eye opening for me as I read about the history of Halloween and what it really stands for. I was shocked to read all about how evil that day really is. I could write a blog all about the history of Halloween and how it is truly a Satanic high holy day, but I don't feel led to do that just now. 

     When I became a children's pastor, I set a goal to create an alternative to Halloween for kids. I created Fall Fun Fest which we had every October 31st. I could not believe the complaints I got from people. "How could you even mention that evil day. You should do nothing." NOTHING? I explained that this was an alternative to Halloween to provide a safe environment for kids. I will never forget my first ever Fall Fin Fest. It was October 31, 1992. It was a Saturday, and we held this event outside. A family from the community walked in wearing costumes. the dad wore a black cape with a pumpkin on his head. I instantly had people all upset complaining and telling me to ask him to leave. I looked at them and told them, "No! He is the type of person we want here so we can minister to him." I hosted Fall Fun Fest for 20 years. We never mentioned the word Halloween and every year got better and better. We had bounces, carnival games, face painting and more. It was the highlight of our year.

     Please don't get me wrong. I am not "Anti Trick or Treating." We gave candy away to kids at church every year. My kids never went trick or treating because they were at church at our Fall Fun Fest. It's fun seeing kids dressed up in costumes. Personally, I do love wearing costumes, even at 61 years of age. I have dressed up in church as a costume character for kids as a nerd, boxer, carpenter, doctor and professor. Even at the Chick Fil-A I worked at in New York I dressed up as Ed Norton from the Honeymooners, a doctor, Napolean Dynamite, Captain Crunch and a referee. I won a contest as Captain Crunch a few years ago! I just don't like what Halloween stands for. 

     Every year in October I can sense the evil that is taking place in my community. I have been told that several witches reside on Long Island, and I would not be surprised if they came to our Fall Fun Fest to try to cause a disturbance. Lately I have looked forward to October 31st being over. This year is no different. At the Chick Fil-A I am not they do not recognize Halloween and I was told that not very many kids go out door to door. Many churches here do something called "Trunk or Treat" or have Harvest Parties. Ever since 9/11 and since the pandemic we see less kids going out trick or treating. Maybe the holiday is dying?  Since I'm not such a big fan of Halloween that would be very nice!