Pagan parents face the same problem with Samhain that Christian parents face at Christmas. How do you maintain the dignity and meaning of the holiday when every store, newspaper and radio station is playing to the public's basest instincts and trying to make as much money from the holiday as possible?
Not everyone will agree with me, but my own philosophy is to enjoy the day without
trying make to make it into a consciousness-raising session for the kids.
The day will come when your children
will ask you what YOU believe should happen at Samhain, but until that day,
make the holiday a fun day for the kids complete with trick-or-treating,
wearing costumes, carving pumpkins, etc. If you absolutely can't stand the monsters
and green-faced witches that are the general public's idea of Halloween,
then decorate with pumpkins, corn, cats, moons, etc. Be dignified, but not stodgy!
If you want to meet with your coven or your Pagan community to celebrate in a more
solumn manner, put the kids to bed early.
Part of the joy of any holiday is the "fun" stuff that goes along with it.
Let your kids have fun while they may. There will be plenty of other people who will
try to surpress their freedom and impose rules on them; until they are old enough to
really understand the beliefs you hold, let your kids be kids.
(And if your child brings home a
green-faced witch from school, try to have a sense of humor about it! Tomorrow will be
soon enough to show him some beautiful Goddess paintings!)
