Finding the Sweet Spot: How Christian Families Can Enjoy Candy and Costumes Without Compromising Faith

Every year around this time, the same debate pops up in Christian circles: Should families celebrate Halloween? Is it harmless fun—or are we letting darkness creep into our homes one candy bar at a time?

As a 30-year-old Christian mom raising two little ones who light up at the sight of pumpkins and superheroes, I’ve wrestled with this question myself. The truth is, I don’t want to glorify anything evil, but I also don’t want my kids to grow up thinking they have to fear a holiday—or feel like they’re missing out on the joy of community, imagination, and fun.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve let the extremes define the conversation. On one side, you have the “anything goes” crowd who embraces all the gore and darkness. On the other, there are Christians who shut the blinds, turn off the porch light, and treat October 31st like a spiritual minefield. But I believe there’s a middle ground—a way to celebrate candy and costumes without feeling like we’re rubbing elbows with demons.

For my family, it starts with perspective. Halloween is what you make of it. We focus on creativity, connection, and kindness. My kids get to pick fun costumes—princesses, firefighters, cartoon characters—nothing dark or demonic. We carve pumpkins with smiling faces instead of scary ones and use it as a chance to talk about how God’s light shines through us (Matthew 5:16).

We also see it as a unique opportunity for outreach. Think about it—on what other night do dozens of neighbors come to your door? Instead of hiding inside, we turn on our porch light and greet them with warmth and good candy. Sometimes we hand out little notes with encouraging Bible verses or invitations to our church’s fall festival. It’s a simple way to let the love of Christ show in a world that desperately needs it.

I don’t think God is keeping a tally of who carves pumpkins or who doesn’t. What matters is the heart behind what we do. Romans 14 reminds us that some believers see certain days as sacred, while others treat them all the same—and both can honor God in their own way. The point is not to judge each other but to do all things to glorify Him.

So, yes—my family dresses up, we trick-or-treat, and we eat too much chocolate. But we do it with joy, gratitude, and a clear conscience. We talk about how Jesus conquered darkness once and for all, and because of that, we don’t have to fear it.

At the end of the day, celebrating candy and costumes doesn’t mean we’re worshiping evil. It just means we’re embracing a little fun while shining a bit of light into the night. And in today’s world, I think we could all use more of that.