Are we still protesting pagan holidays or did we surrender?

With Halloween coming up I’m curious. Are American Christians still refusing to participate or have we come to acceptance of it? Seeing a lot of churches participating and hosting “trunk or treats” in my community.

Nothing wrong with trunk or treat, come as your favorite Bible character. They didn't have that when I was a kid. Before you go further in this thread I'll let you know that this subject has been beat to death. All kinds of things we use, wear, buy that have pagan names or origins. Trunk or treat is a great alternative, other than that it's a dead subject.

10-4. 😊 I didn’t know. It was pretty much a shunned holiday in my home as a child…. Though we still did Santa, EB and the tooth fairy… I still haven’t figured that one out…. so I honestly didn’t know that it’s been a subject that’s been beat to death in here. My apologies.

For kids, it is an "innocent" holiday where they dress up in cartoon character costumes and go trick or treating around the neighborhood. Halloween takes on a different meaning for college students/young adults (up to mid-20s) where they dress up in cute/"sexy" costumes or creative costumes (of famous celebrities, politicians, etc.) and spend the evening/early morning bar-hopping. I don't think people older than mid-20s celebrate (as in, dressing up) unless it is for their kids. But I have seen pictures of a few older people celebrating; they just wear fancier costumes. I have gone a bit back and forth on this, on one hand it is just dressing up and going to the bar/club with friends/observing other costumes (like a friends' night out) but on the other hand it could lead to temptation. I think saying Halloween is linked to the demonic spirits is extreme (and not really accurate until one celebrates it that way).

The absurdity of this is that halloween was originally a Christian day. So it's been hijacked by the world. Sort like the reverse of Christmas and Easter. I'd much prefer that it was consigned to the rubbish bin of history. It has no spiritual worth. The only good thing about it is that a few pumpkins are removed from the food chain. That's if you can call pumpkins food. They also belong in the the rubbish bin, or fed to cattle if you must.

but I like Pumpkin pies! and pumpkin spice flavors in my coffee. 😆

We have an annual Pumpkin Carving contest.

A lot of fun and fellowship. I'll post the top 5 winners out of 16 Pumpkins: Sorry. Don't know how to make them smaller:

Aren't we running a bit behind? Usually the "Halloween is PAGAN!" thread is started in September. Somebody forget to set the alarm clock this year?

Which reminds me, it's almost time to kick off this year's "Christmas is PAGAN!" thread.

There was a very interesting footnote in the Bible I'm reading this year under the book of Esther: "During Purim (a Jewish holiday,) feasting and gift-giving are part of the ceremony, as is dressing in masks and costumes."

Wikipedia says that Purim includes: "Celebrations include listening to (the book of Esther being read) in the synagogue, sending food parcels and giving charity, dressing up in costume, eating a festive meal, parties and parades, and drinking alcoholic beverages, especially wine."

So in other words, Purim apparently combines EVERYTHING that is criticized during Halloween and Christmas.

This is what drives me crazy about the Christian culture. If it's done under some kind of religious title, then it's ok and even pleasing to God; but if it's ever given any worldly name or association (such as during Halloween or Christmas,) then it must be of the devil -- even if EVERYTHING being done is EXACTLY the same.

I personally believe that it all comes down to intention of the heart. God Himself commanded days-long feasts and celebrations in the Old Testament. If a person is doing these things with the thought of honoring God, finding fellowship with believers, and maybe influencing a few unbelievers, then why not?

But if a person is doing so with no care about revering God, just wants to have a good time at a wild, drunken party, and is dressing up as unsavory characters, then most definitely, that person needs a heart check into why they're doing what they're doing -- and whether or not they should be doing it at all.

My parent's still refuse to participate in dressing up and pumpkins and stuff, although mostly it's my dad's doing. They still go to hayrides and fall festivals though. My husband and I dress up and do most of the stuff. We draw a line when there's something that is specifically sacrilegious-ish going on.

That will require copious amounts of eggnog.

A few years ago my daughter was all excited to share her new-found
love of this drink with me, and she had some coupon on her phone
to get them at a reduced price, so off to Starbucks we went, only to
find that the (Christmas) special sale had not yet started, so she ended
up paying full price for these drinks, which meant about five dollars each.

As we were driving and drinking our lattes, every time I took a sip of mine
I would say, It doesn't taste like coffee, and my daughter would patiently
explain that it wasn't coffee, it was a latte. After about three sips and saying
this about three times, I was like, ugh, I can't drink this, and my daughter got
somewhat offended, and defensive, telling me how her and her aunt really like
them, and I just said, hey, it's okay if you like them, I do not... I just want coffee.

I will never have a pumpkin spice latte again

I'm thinking that 3rd pumpkin took some talent!

I'm guessing you mean eggnog with an additive?