For some families, trick-or-treating isn't the reason for the season. This may be for safety reasons, but more often, it is a matter of religion. Alternatives are often available for those children who won't be showing up at your door on Halloween.

Some parents are just plain wary of allowing their children to beg treats from neighbors who are practically strangers. Additionally, in a number of towns, trick-or-treating isn't permitted because of insurance concerns. In these towns, Halloween parties are often the answer to keeping the evening fun. Shopping malls often offer trick-or-treating inside the mall, with plenty of security guards on hand to protect the costumed youngsters. Another alternative offered by many churches or community organizations is "trunk-or-treating," where members of the sponsoring organization park in the designated parking lot, open their trunks, and dispense treats to costumed kids - sort of a cross between a trick-or-treating and a tailgate party, and usually not so scary.

For children with diabetes or food allergies, Halloween can be the scariest time of the year. Most of the treats given out at Halloween contain sugar, and parents of diabetics find it challenging to explain to their children why they can't have all these treats as soon as they return home from trick-or-treating. The Joslin Diabetes Center offers suggestions for making Halloween fun for families who are coping with diabetes, as does Diabetic.com. Many of the treats that are given out also contain milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, or wheat. These six ingredients, along with fish and shellfish, are the source 90% of all food-allergic reactions, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Parents of a diabetic or food allergic child will often limit their child to trick-or-treating only at relatives' and friends' houses who have agreed to have safe treats on hand. Others use the "exchange method," where the child trades his unsafe treats for safe treats once he arrives home from trick-or-treating. Still others do not permit their child to participate in what could be a very dangerous ritual for their child.

For some families, Halloween has a deeper meaning and a different set of rituals. Halloween, also known as Samhain by Neopagans, is a time for remembering the dead. One of the rituals some Pagan families practice is the silent supper. According to the High Priestess of Avalon's Grove, those who have a silent supper "set places for anyone who has passed on the year before," the meal is eaten "in total silence." Often, a few words will be said about the people or pets they are remembering. She adds that "It is also our new year so we have a circle of celebration to bring in the new year, [which] is done after the remembering part." Many Pagans do allow their children to trick-or-treat as well, since they see it as a community-builder, but the emphasis is on remembering the dead.

The emphasis in the Christian community is often on gratitude for the harvest. Churches may offer a "Harvest Party" or "Fall Festival" during the same hours as an alternative to trick-or-treating. Usually entire families attend these parties in costume, although there are generally some restrictions on the types of costumes. The parties may include apple bobbing, costume judging, relay races, and other games the whole family can participate in together. Kids usually leave these alternative parties with treat bags filled as full as they would've been if they had trick-or-treated, along with a renewed awareness of God's provision for them. For these families, the reason for the season is gratitude.

No matter whether a family attends a party, has a silent supper, goes "trunk-or-treating," or participates in traditional trick-or-treating, Halloween is a time for families to have fun together, while focusing on the reason for the season!


~Dini HJ is a home schooling mom of four, including two sons with food allergies. She, her husband, and their children live in Pennsylvania where they enjoy limited trick-or-treating, and usually a Harvest Party as well.