Avoiding Halloween

[Hunni Bee]

I detest Halloween. I won't go into the reasons why, but I've never had anything to do with it.

At my old job, we were "Christian" and so Halloween was never an issue. At my current one, however, its a pretty big deal and pretty much mandatory for all classrooms to do Halloween themed activities all month. I'm not lead in my classroom, so I dont get to decide what we do and dont do anyway.

I really do not want to sing Halloween songs, read Halloween books, or participate in the celebration either. I'm hesitant to broach the subject because I overheard a discussion about another employee who has asked to be left out of Halloween activities and it was on the side....

Am I being to sensitive here? What would you do?

[spud912]

I hope I don't come across as harsh, but to be truly honest, if it means that much to you, I would not be an employee somewhere that encourages you to participate in something you despise. In the future, I would only apply at places that do not celebrate Halloween. I know you may dislike it, but not everyone shares your sentiment and they may be put off by the negativity (especially the children). You chose to work there and in doing so, that kind of puts you at an obligation to at least participate.

[Happy Hearts]

I would try to enjoy the spirit of joy that it brings to the children and not dwell on your own personal feelings during the work time that you must 'endure' (for lack of a better word) it. You are being paid to do that activity, like it or not,

I love Hallowe'en. I enjoy the fun and laughter and total childlike qualities it brings out in people. I'm a Christian and I believe God wants us to have fun while we're here. It's not hurting anybody, it's not devil worship, and it's only as evil as you make it. I choose to make it a fun celebration of childhood imagination with a scary twist full of adventure, sharing, and laughter. Whatever the roots of Hallowe'en are, they are different now for mainstream people.

When I was a cashier, I hated smelly people, people who yelled at me because of the prices, and working on Thanksgiving day resulting in me being apart from my kids who came in from out of town. But, I tolerated it and smiled through it. Might as well be happy if you have to do it and frankly, I was being paid to be nice to people regardless of my feelings. When you're at work you represent the company you work for. So, grab a broomstick and a witch's hat and go have some fun!

[Willow]

Can you do something that is more seasonal rather than holiday-ish?

Last week we made fall cookies (sugar cookie leaf and pumpkin cutouts, frosted and sprinkled). This week I bought bead necklace kits that just so happen to have pumpkins that can be strung on them as well as mini-pumpkins I plan to have them paint. We will carve big ones the week of Halloween and roast the seeds. We've had fun roasting different squashes and collecting fallen leaves and acorns.


If you have trouble with the holiday itself can you try to shift your focus to the season instead since there is plenty to enjoy with that and it's all sort of keeping in a similar spirit anyway?

[e.j.]

I detest Halloween. I won't go into the reasons why, but I've never had anything to do with it.

At my old job, we were "Christian" and so Halloween was never an issue. At my current one, however, its a pretty big deal and pretty much mandatory for all classrooms to do Halloween themed activities all month. I'm not lead in my classroom, so I dont get to decide what we do and dont do anyway.

I really do not want to sing Halloween songs, read Halloween books, or participate in the celebration either. I'm hesitant to broach the subject because I overheard a discussion about another employee who has asked to be left out of Halloween activities and it was on the side....

Am I being to sensitive here? What would you do?

It's hard to know if you're being too sensitive without knowing why you detest Halloween so much but regardless, you're entitled to your feelings.

How is your employer reacting to your co-workers request to be left out of the activities? Are they honoring her request? If they are accommodating her, you have a better chance of having your request accommodated. If the attitude came from fellow employees, I wouldn't worry about it too much. They'll get over it and the employee who feels the same way you do will probably appreciate having someone else on her side.

Are the Halloween activities all day, every day until Halloween? If not, maybe the lead teacher could take those over and you could be in charge of other activities? If that's not possible, and it really bothered me, I might use some vacation time to get away from it as much as I could. If neither option is available, I would probably just try to deal with it as best I could if I were in the same position. If it bothered me so much that I couldn't get through the month without being bothered by it, I would start looking for another center that didn't focus on the holiday so much. That way, I wouldn't have to go through it again next year.

[mom2many]

Can you do something that is more seasonal rather than holiday-ish?

Last week we made fall cookies (sugar cookie leaf and pumpkin cutouts, frosted and sprinkled). This week I bought bead necklace kits that just so happen to have pumpkins that can be strung on them as well as mini-pumpkins I plan to have them paint. We will carve big ones the week of Halloween and roast the seeds. We've had fun roasting different squashes and collecting fallen leaves and acorns.


If you have trouble with the holiday itself can you try to shift your focus to the season instead since there is plenty to enjoy with that and it's all sort of keeping in a similar spirit anyway?

This is exactly what I have done in the past, when I had several families that did not want their child celebrating Halloween for religious reasons.

[DaisyMamma]

I don't see how you can avoid it, honestly.
It is a very important holiday to kids and you work in a daycare.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

My family does not celebrate Halloween for religious reasons.

I absolutely cringe at everything related to Halloween. Fall I LOVE! Halloween I detest.

We are doing 1 week on Halloween. I will let the children read books about it and do a couple of Halloween-type crafts (decorating pumpkins being one of them), but that's it. No Halloween party for sure. I had a parent ask and I had to tell her that we don't celebrate Halloween.

[Hunni Bee]

Thank you all for your replies. Im not negative about Halloween, and I dont carry around a soapbox for it, but I just do not like it or participate in it.

As far as me leaving because of it, I wouldn't dream of it. I love my job. I just hate Halloween .

Its not a "all Halloween, all the time" type thing, but it is celebrated wholeheartedly. I won't die or be angry, and i dont expect things to change to suit me, i just wanted to know whether it was worth bringing up to my supervisors.

[Hunni Bee]

My family does not celebrate Halloween for religious reasons.

I absolutely cringe at everything related to Halloween. Fall I LOVE! Halloween I detest..

This is exactly how I feel.

[e.j.]

Thank you all for your replies. Im not negative about Halloween, and I dont carry around a soapbox for it, but I just do not like it or participate in it.

As far as me leaving because of it, I wouldn't dream of it. I love my job. I just hate Halloween .

Its not a "all Halloween, all the time" type thing, but it is celebrated wholeheartedly. I won't die or be angry, and i dont expect things to change to suit me, i just wanted to know whether it was worth bringing up to my supervisors.

Given what you said above, I wouldn't bring it up to supervisors. I'd just grin and bear it. If you were against it for religious reasons or you had had a traumatic event happen on Halloween that affected you psychologically.... then I might say something. Otherwise, I'd just **** it up knowing most kids enjoy the holiday and it would end soon enough.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I wouldn't mention anything unless they asked. I'd just encourage more fall related activities, books, song, etc. (maybe even find some on your own to suggest to the lead teacher/do when you're there) and not say much of anything when a Halloween one is going on.

This week we are singing about leaves since we are learning about trees. They are also playing in a leaf filled sensory bin. In the other sensory bin are fall colored beads with string (chunky, wooden beads), wooden acorns, and fake leaves.

The leaves are falling down,
The leaves are falling down,
Red, orange, yellow, brown
The leaves are falling down.

Your post prompted me to send out an e-mail to my parents discussing the week of Halloween. I just said we will be having a fall festival on Friday and will be participating in various fall games that we have been reading and talking about. They are welcome to wear festive Fall sweaters and pants and bring goodies for their friends should they wish to.
That is my attempt to avoid costumes and various other Halloween things.

[Blackcat31]

Are you working in a center or a family child care home?

Does the handbook (for the families) say anything about holidays? I would assume that there are families who feel the same way....so is this something that is discussed with families who attend?

I would think in a center they would try to be more diverse and accepting about this kind of thing and go the generic route that most centers do and celebrate Fall or harvest time instead.

[spud912]

Given what you said above, I wouldn't bring it up to supervisors. I'd just grin and bear it. If you were against it for religious reasons or you had had a traumatic event happen on Halloween that affected you psychologically.... then I might say something. Otherwise, I'd just **** it up knowing most kids enjoy the holiday and it would end soon enough.

This is more along the lines of what I was trying to say . Ej said it with much more finesse than me

[Hunni Bee]

Are you working in a center or a family child care home?

Does the handbook (for the families) say anything about holidays? I would assume that there are families who feel the same way....so is this something that is discussed with families who attend?

I would think in a center they would try to be more diverse and accepting about this kind of thing and go the generic route that most centers do and celebrate Fall or harvest time instead.

it's a center. We're NAEYC accredited and everything, but we still do a lot "cute" activities and product art, more than i expected really. I had gotten away from most of that. I know there was some discussion about last years holiday activities which included writing letters to Santa, which left out some families who dont embrace that.

My lead teacher though, is more like me in her thinking. So we haven't had a whole bunch of stereotyped themed stuff. But some of it is center wide.

I guess they're still working on it. There's definitely a way to keep kids interested and having fun without all the cutesy, stereotypical store-bought stuff.