I just don’t understand how the exchange of candy and letting our kids dress up in (non-evil) costumes pleases the prince of the power of the air. I don’t care if people don’t celebrate Halloween. In fact, I grew up not celebrating it for the very reasons I make fun of today.

My b-day is November 1, so when I was little-little, we always had my birthday party on the night of the 31st and had a costume party. And part of the party was trick-or-treating.
This was in the very early 80s.
Then of course, the church “discovered” that such things were evil and nobody did them anymore.
I don’t think I missed out or “suffered” or anything. Honestly, I don’t remember caring that much. I was probably thankful I wasn’t celebrating a pagan holiday.

And I don’t think my kids will miss out if we don’t do what we do now. But I don’t think there’s any harm in it. So now it’s just a fun day to look forward to. We don’t normally let Macy eat candy, so it can be a rare treat for her.
We just let them dress up in “nice” costumes — Macy will be a princess, Grace probably a cow (b/c that’s the only baby costume we have) — and let Macy eat lots of candy.
No trick or treating this year, mainly because I think Macy’s too young and it’ll take us FOREVER just to cover the cul-de-sac. But we’re giving out candy, and that’s always fun.

Anyway — more than anyone cared to know about me.
But it’s good to know a neo-Pharisaical legalist like you can have Halloween-related fun today. ;-)

While we don’t celebrate Halloween too much in New Zealand, commercialism is trying to drive it more and more here which tends to make me more concerned about creating more consumerism around a dark event. Whether you want to dress up only in princess costumes that doesn’t detract from the fact that Halloween is based on evil traditions. Dress it up with candy all you like but that doesn’t change the fact. Besides, you can give your kids candy any day of the week. Unfortunately it appears that more and more often, people need an excuse to be nice to one another and it only happens on anniversaries, birthdays and holidays. Any other time, being nice and caring seems to be forgotten.

But how exactly does dressing up my daughter and giving her candy honor the evil of the tradition?

Besides, you can give your kids candy any day of the week.

Well, I can. But actually I don’t. My daughter is rarely given candy. So Halloween can be a different and fun day to look forward to.

Unfortunately it appears that more and more often, people need an excuse to be nice to one another and it only happens on anniversaries, birthdays and holidays. Any other time, being nice and caring seems to be forgotten.

I guess I agree with this, but I’m unsure on how it is relevant here.
Are you saying we’re not nice any other time of the year.
Just because some people have commercialized Christ out of Christmas doesn’t mean others can’t celebrate it authentically and reverently. Feel free to abstain. Nothing wrong with not celebrating any holiday, in my opinion.
But I’m unclear on how this last statement of yours relates to anything here.

So only time spent in prayer is acceptable celebration? I think that’s ridiculous. I think the gathering of your family (and friends) together, sharing a meal, sharing fellowship are all celebratory. Consider the Jewish religious holidays, which were celebrated by feasts (which is mentioned in the Bible). Were they not celebrating the holidays properly?

Whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God.