A Trick or a Treat?

Fall is my most favorite time of year.  I love the amazing, rich colors of the changing leaves. Colorado definitely has something going for it in the way of the fall color pallet.  I love cooking heartier meals, and baking the two desserts I know how to bake.  I also love the change in temperatures and pulling out the warmer clothes that have been tucked in storage all summer.  And, I love decorating my porch with a scarecrow and several pumpkins of different shapes and sizes.

Aside from all those fall traditions, there is one tradition out there that I’m on the fence about.  Halloween.  I know some of you are going "oh great, she’s one of those Halloween bashers."  Before you get ready to throw pumpkins at my house, just hear me out.

In my lifetime I have heard a number of views about this holiday (from the extreme conservative to very liberal), but I’m curious about your views.  Do you celebrate this holiday?  How do you celebrate?  How does your church address the holiday?  Have others made you feel badly about your views?

For the record, I am not the "scrooge" of Halloween.  I have some strong opinions on the holiday as a whole, and it’s certainly not one of my favorites.  But if I shared those thoughts with my children, I would really scare them.  So, with my girls, I keep it light.  By choice they don’t dress in scary costumes or trick or treat at the spooky houses.  In fact, it’s really no different than any other day as they play "dress up" about 300 days a year.

I realize this can be a controversial topic.  I am not trying to start a heated debate.  I am just curious what you think.  I look forward to hearing from you.