Tomorrow, in the United States, the streets will be overrun by a pack of sugar-crazed, masked bandits (and probably princesses and a few Sonic the Hedgehogs). For some Christians, Halloween is the devil’s holiday, a hot take supported by cautionary passages (and sometimes outright condemnation) drawn from Deuteronomy 18:10-12 or Ephesians 5:11.  

But I (Alisha) wonder if we’re missing something. For one night a year, we open our doors to neighbors, hand out gifts to strangers and welcome people who might otherwise remain outside our daily routines. What if Halloween offers us a glimpse of the kind of neighborly love Jesus calls us to practice all year long? Here are five things we, as followers of Jesus, can learn from what Halloween gets right.

1. Extending hospitality

It’s interesting to me that the more digitally connected we become, the easier it seems to be to avoid the people living right next door. This is especially true in my current city (Phoenix, Ariz., USA) where properties are meticulously divided by nine-foot-high cinderblock walls, creating a prominent boundary between neighbors. It’s not uncommon for folks to not know those who live on their street and even actively avoid them. 

On Halloween, however, we leave on the porch light and open our doors, hoping to connect with folks from near and far. For this one night, we practice hospitality (without grumbling), as recommended in 1 Peter 4:9.

2. Embracing the stranger

In a time when doorbell cameras screen the unknown like little digital bouncers, on Halloween we fill the big mixing bowl with goodies and hope to make a new friend. Hebrews 13:2 encourages us not to neglect hospitality to strangers, reminding us that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Of course, on Halloween, those angels might have ordered their halos and wings from Amazon.

3. Giving with generosity

I’d always heard that full-sized candy bars were reserved for the rich neighborhoods. But our experience of trick-or-treating in downtown Phoenix has turned that assumption upside down. Our kiddo comes home with a sack overflowing with the good stuff. I know I’m guilty of buying my favorites (any Take5 fans out there?) to share with our costumed pals. What if we treated Halloween as an extension of Leviticus 19:34 and loved and treated the stranger as ourselves?

4. Expressing inclusivity

I love seeing the different colored pumpkins on some porches, indicating that safety can be found at that house, making a way for more folks to receive a little something special on October 31. Whether teal, purple or blue, these special colored pumpkins pave a way for those who are often excluded to be included on Halloween. In the parable of The Great Banquet (Luke 14:12-14), Jesus set the table for neighbors with special needs, and on Halloween we should, too.    

5. Withholding judgment

On Halloween, kids are celebrated as kids. Even teenagers who on other days have grown up too quickly are encouraged to embrace their inner Mario brother or K-Pop Demon Hunter and circle the block in hopes of collecting boatloads of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. They’re not shooed away, but complimented for their creative flair and bold costumes. It’s a thing of beauty. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:1-5), Jesus is very clear about reserving judgment and extending grace. I love that on Halloween, that’s the default and not the exception.

The Celtic origins of Halloween are not such a terrible thing. As our family prepares for our next worthwhile adventure in Glasgow, Scotland, we’re excited to learn how our new neighbors mark this season. We warmly anticipate our own participation in the Samhain, a festival on October 31 that marks the end of the harvest season, the transition from autumn into winter, and the Celtic New Year. We are excited to cozy up to bonfires with our new neighbors, carving tumshie (turnip) lanterns — a tradition that’s evolved into the more contemporary jack-o-lantern carving we’ve known in the United States, and maybe even enjoy a little Fuarag na Samhna — a mix of toasted oats and whipped cream containing hidden treats.

A concluding prayer

Creative God, help us to see the beauty in Halloween. Help us embrace its greatest lessons: that hospitality isn’t reserved for one night, and that loving our neighbors begins when we stop treating them as strangers. Help us extend your holy hospitality on Halloween and every day. Amen.