Another Halloween has passed. While I despise the dark significance of this day, I always enjoyed making (or borrowing) unique costumes for my daughters. It’s been awhile since my inner creative seamstress has emerged, but I relish looking back on photos like the one above, circa 1992. Pippi Longstocking, Bumble Bee and Equestrienne were about 10, 5 and 9 respectively.
A few days ago, my Christian college-aged friend Julianne lamented on her Facebook Page: “okay, costumes just get sluttier and sluttier. . .”
Apparently she was invited to a Halloween party. Because most college students don’t have the time (or know-how) to sew an alter-ego, Julianne may have gone shopping for a whimsical—possibly prize-winning—outfit, and observed that the selection for young women was predominantly akin to hooker-wear. She’s right. . . and she’s not buying.
Ironically a group of Ohio University students has begun a campaign against what they consider “racist” children’s Halloween costumes such as an Indian Princess, a Mexican Mariachi Band member, a China doll, an Italian gangster and more. But they did not mention popular costumes such as the busty German barmaid or the provocative French housemaid. So titillating caricatures of western European women are not racist (or sexist) stereotypes? Does sex trump racist inferences? Apparently lust is above criticism.
Real racism is despicable, but its definition is sometimes distorted by folks who tend toward extremes of political correctness. Personally I think Halloween’s increasingly blatant sensuality is more damaging to our daughters’ collective moral fiber than allegations of racism over a baggy Indian Princess costume. That costume will likely be worn once and then outgrown. But provocative Halloween costumes reinforce the false notion promoted by the vampy clothing sold everyday in mainstream stores: that a girl’s worth is directly proportional to her sexual charms.
An article in last year’s New York Post decried the racy costumes pitched to girls under age 10.
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/fashion/would_you_let_your_child_trick_or_h8mp2O3njiy6iXlRNWihZJ
Sadly this degrading trend continued in 2011. Immodesty never takes a day off . . . neither should our efforts to uphold virtue.
Fuzzy Mare - Circa 2000
I’ll always favor classy homemade costumes as the best kind. And I’m grateful that at least one of my daughters has carried on the creative tradition. Can you guess who is inside the fuzzy mare?
First – The Fuzzt Mare is daughter #2
Second, I fear our minds are clouded as we continue to be surprised when the world
acts as the world. The Western culture churches are in decline. Christian people are
being successfully assimulated into the non-believing world. The “Christian”
population has grown silent and, largely, into apostasy, yet still believing they are in
God’s will.
The world is full of ‘lust’! Lust for riches, lust for skin, lust for just about anything the
flesh wants. So, how do Christian people handle Halloween? They dress up in
costumes that ignore the force behind Halloween. We hand out candy to the little
darlings, still ignoring the behind the scenes significance of the day. Instead we rationalize it. Rationalize = rational lies. We join in with the “world”
Sexuality is a trap, outside of marriage. It can even be a trap inside an ungodly
marriage. From the beginning, after the apple incident, Adam & Eve became aware
of sexuality and covered themselves. Sexuality has been the downfall of many a man
& woman. It caused the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah. I’m not surprised at all at
racy costumes and actions.
Ideally, Christians should not participate in any Halloween activities at all. If we are
going to participate then maybe we can have an alternative Holyween held at local
believing & professing churches where the gospel is proclaimed and prayer for our
community, country & world takes place. Where we can rebuke the forces of
darkness, standing in agreement. We are to be different than the world.
Are we?
Oh my word, Lord… I am now officially old. LOL
Hi OMD,
If I had offered a prize for correctly identifying who is wearing Fuzzy Mare you would have won it
Like you, I’m not surprised by worldly raunch, and young children have been sexually exploited & abused throughout human history. But such things were done “in the shadows” and were considered abhorrent by society. There has been a disturbing observable shift in my lifetime. As a mom & grandma I am concerned about the broad mainstream sexualization of much younger children. . . even toddlers . . . with society’s approval. (Perhaps you’ve heard of the “Toddlers & Tiaras” TV show about kiddie beauty pageants. . . I will not watch the show, but I’ve read about it and have seen plenty of gag-inducing ad trailers.) The too-early sexualization trend seems to have started about 30 years ago, has gradually picked up speed, and now permeates virtually every aspect of our culture. . . including our public elementary schools.
You wrote: “So, how do Christian people handle Halloween? . . . . Christians should not participate in any Halloween activities at all”
The “how” is an ongoing debate among Christians that I chose not to address in my post. Here, I’ll just say that because my family lives in a residential neighborhood with lots of children we feel called to use any & every opportunity to present the Gospel. And on Halloween that’s especially easy because the mission field COMES TO US!!
Our Halloween m.o. begins with a door display of a large handmade foam tombstone that says “Don’t be caught dead without Jesus.” We hand out really good candy . . . FULL SIZE popular candy bars firmly attached to a kid-friendly tract or Scripture. We also try to chat with the kids a bit, to admire homemade costumes or ask where they live if parents are standing by. The messages we’re sending during candy distribution should match our Gospel tract: Jesus & His people accept you as you are; we’re generous; we’re approachable for conversation.
When our girls were “Trick ‘r’ Treat” age their homemade costumes were winsome, not scary, grotesque or evil-themed. Politeness was our outreach from door-to-door. One year I made my two oldest daughters beautiful angel costumes with gold wings, and sashes that said “God loves you” across the front.
You’re officially “old”? Naaah. If having other-worldly views is the hallmark of old age, then all senior citizens would be Christians!