We are Christians but we don't over-emphasize Halloween's negativity with our children. We just make it a simple time of having fun and getting and giving treats. We also participate in the church's 'fall festival' and 'Reformation Day' activities.
We don't decorate except with fun fall things like pumpkins and flowers. We like to carve a Jack-O-Lantern and eat roasted pumpkin seeds.
Our girls are 4 and 3 and desperately like going trick-or-treating. We have a nice neighborhood now and it's a lot of fun to go door to door. Last year both girls dressed up like mice - Reepicheep and Peepicheep with the addition of swords. They had black knit tops with gray fur around the collar and cuffs, black tights, black shoes, mice noses and ears and long black tails.
This year they want to be princesses.(Costumes seem relatively easy at this age).
The mice costumes sound so cute! We don't do a lot of decorating either, just the pumpkins the day before H'ween.
I agree with you!
Mine's 6, and has told me she wants to be Patch from 101 dalmations. Simple: white bodysuit, white tights with black fabric paint for spots!!!!
What we normally do is the Hallelujah party at one of the local churches. Tons of kids, games, candy. A mini-festival with a Christian flavor.
I do miss the costumes though. My little one (she'll be four Nov 1. Her mom was so glad she could hold off. She didn't want a halloween baby) would look so cute dressed up. Sometimes we get to do that but not often and haven't ever on H-ween
Best costume I've ever seen was from up-state wisconsin. My sister sent a picture of it to me.
Picture this. The end result of the costume showed a garbage man carrying a 35Gal metal trash can. Stuffed into the trash can with his legs hanging out was a partier from the night before. Excellent image but tough to build. You of course are the partier. Your legs are the garbageman's legs. The garbageman's head, arms (holding the trashcan handles) and body have to me made. The legs out of the trash can have to be made. The effect is completed if you always have a half drunk beer in your hand.