Halloween. Trick or Treating. Trunk or Treat. Candy chutes. These are the main topics on my neighborhood’s Nextdoor page right now…how do we do something fun and also COVID-safe? And to this, I’d add: something that honors spiritual values!

First of all, be sure to check your local government’s health department for updated COVID restrictions and safety recommendations.

Second, read this beautiful theology of Halloween. This helped me think through Halloween in a different way, considering the communal, neighborly and hospitable aspects of this celebration.

• distribute candy safely and hygienically (values: sharing, abundance)

  • candy chute

  • candy on a clothesline

  • mail candy or treats to friends

• virtual Halloween party (values: fellowship, play, community)

  • costume show-off or contest

  • DIY Zoom backgrounds

  • scavenger hunt for Halloween items in homes

  • Game Night: Halloween trivia, Name That Tune! w/ kid-appropriate Halloween songs, Halloween riddles

  • dance party with Halloween tunes

    • see my Spotify playlist here

  • pumpkin carving

  • bake and decorate cookies

• share encouraging messages and Halloween greetings with sidewalk chalk or signs in your windows (values: community, hospitality)

  • carve your pumpkins to share a silly message!

• watch (values: togetherness, reflection, shared experiences)

  • Disney’s Coco

    • and check out this discussion guide!

  • Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin

  • (for adults and maaaaaaaybe older teens) Netflix’s reboot of Sabrina the Teenage Witch…lots of good conversation topics re: faith, tradition, evil, ritual and finding your place in the world

• read (values: reflection, sharing, faith)

  • Bible stories

    • Lazarus (John 11)

    • Jonah (Book of Jonah)

    • the Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28)

    • Ezekiel and the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37)

    • Jesus appears like a ghost (Matthew 14)

    • The dead live (Matthew 27:50-53)

  • articles about cultural appropriation

    • like this one!

    • or this one!

  • Halloween poetry

    • The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe

    • Black Cat by Rainer Maria Rilke

    • Day After Halloween by Shel Silverstein (from A Light in the Attic)

    • The One Who Invented Trick or Treat by Shel Silverstein

    • Jack Prelutsky (this blogger has a great tribute to his Halloween books!)

Let’s Chat

What do you usually do for Halloween? How are your plans changing (or not) this year?

What are you looking forward to? What are you missing?

What are the values you teach kids related to Halloween? Comment below!