When I was a kid, October was one of my favorite times of the year. My dad created all kinds of fun traditions for me and my siblings. He would hand-draw a Halloween calendar for me to mark off each day. Together, we scoured the Sunday newspaper TV guide for Halloween shows to watch, like Garfield’s Halloween and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. When I got a little older, he introduced me to The Ghost and Mr. Chicken starring Don Knotts. My mom always attended my elementary school Halloween parties, which were so much fun. We knew how to do Halloween right in the ’80s.

On Halloween night, I was so excited to start my candy quest that I could barely eat supper. I loved roaming the streets and staying out in the crisp night air until all the front porch lights went out. When I got home, I’d dump all my candy on the floor and lean down to smell the mix of treats. There’s a distinct Halloween candy pile smell that can instantly take me back to my childhood.

Once I had kids of my own, I knew I wanted to introduce them to the same traditions I enjoyed. We watch Halloween movies, pick out creative costumes, do Halloween puzzles, make festive treats, and carve pumpkins. Some of my favorite costumes for my oldest have been Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, a mime, and a ’50s girl. For my middle daughter, my favorites have been Mary Poppins, a pirate princess (her idea), and a gypsy. My favorite costumes for my son, so far, have been Indiana Jones, Maverick, and Willy Wonka. I’ve never allowed my kids to be anything grotesque. Their father and I always encouraged creativity, and what they’ve come up with over the years has made for great memories.

But about 15 years ago, things began to change. I started noticing more moms warning about the dangers of Halloween—like poisoned candy, razor blades in candy bars, strangers lurking to snatch children, and “scary” decorations. Soon, “trunk or treats” became popular as a safer alternative, and the streets lost their magic as kids stopped running door-to-door in costume. Then, some in the Protestant community argued that Halloween had evil origins, and it wasn’t long before many Catholics joined the chorus. Last year, when I went to Hobby Lobby to buy Halloween decorations, I found none—they no longer carry them, citing Halloween’s “pagan” origins.

Recently, I was asked to write about whether Catholics can celebrate Halloween. At first, I was reluctant, knowing I’d receive messages from people trying to convince me we shouldn’t celebrate at all and that we should instead board up our houses to avoid demons lurking on the 31st. I also knew I’d face questions about whether I’m truly Catholic because I decorate with pumpkins and friendly ghosts.

When it comes to things like this, I believe the answer lies in the middle. First, the Church doesn’t forbid celebrating Halloween, so it’s wrong to condemn something the Church allows. In fact, Halloween’s origins are rooted in the Catholic Feast of “All Hallow’s Eve.” That said, I recognize the holiday has been corrupted by secular culture. Like most American holidays, Halloween has become commercialized, wrapped in materialism and greed. Some aspects of modern Halloween are indeed evil and demonic. And don’t get me started on how EVERY. SINGLE. FEMALE. costume seems to look like a Vegas burlesque outfit. Sexy CandyCorn Girl? Come on.

The real question is whether Halloween is inherently evil. I don’t believe it is. Innocent activities like trick-or-treating aren’t evil, and honoring those who came before us—part of the original intent of “All Hallow’s Eve”—is certainly not evil. Think of it this way: there are offensive, raunchy songs, but that doesn’t mean we should stop listening to music altogether. As with anything that isn’t inherently evil, we should engage in Halloween with dignity and in a way that aligns with our Catholic faith. Growing up Protestant, Halloween was a purely secular celebration for me, but it was always innocent fun. It wasn’t until I became Catholic that I learned about the holiday’s deeper origins. It’s wonderful to celebrate Halloween with the full, original meaning in mind. Last year, my family attended a special All Hallow’s Eve event at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Shrine, and it was a beautiful experience.

If you feel uncomfortable celebrating Halloween, that’s okay—don’t celebrate it. No harm, no foul. But if your family enjoys the simple fun of the season, go for it. Just don’t glorify evil or engage in occult practices. Be sure to explain to your kids the significance of the night and its origins. In my opinion, the answer isn’t to shun Halloween as if it’s devoid of any good, but neither should we indulge in everything it offers. The right approach is somewhere in the middle—a mix of religious and secular fun. The secular side should only include activities that are positive and innocent.

My husband summed it up perfectly: “The answer is not to toss Halloween away and run off in a Puritanical manner. The answer is to take it back and make it right.” And I have to say, I agree.

So live your faith boldly, Catholic pilgrims, and travel well.

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