As October dwindles into November, OU students scour area costume stores for Halloween apparel.

Some students relish the opportunity to slip into a witch or goblin costume, while others struggle with the idea of celebrating a "pagan" holiday.

The disparity in Halloween views is often inspired by religious beliefs. For some, Halloween's association with demonic or evil themes causes them to seek alternative events, such as fall festivals or safe trick-or-treating opportunities.

Cindi Williams, University College freshman and member of a Lutheran church, said she prefers to avoid Halloween because of what it stands for.

"Has anybody ever thought about why we celebrate it? It's not a Christian holiday; there's not even a good reason to celebrate Halloween," Williams said.

Williams, who volunteered at a Halloween carnival hosted in the lobby of Couch Center on Wednesday night, said she supports safe options for children who want to dress up.

"Even though I don't celebrate Halloween, I was all for helping the little kids to come in and safely trick-or-treat on our campus," Williams said.

Volunteers at the event were not allowed to dress up as scary things, which, Williams said, set a better example for the kids who attended the event. Williams said one of her main issues with the holiday is the violent or morbid costumes some kids wear.

"Halloween isn't supported by my church, but it wasn't expected that the kids wouldn't go out and trick-or-treat, but that they wouldn't go out as ghosts and goblins and witches," Williams said.

However, Halloween does have a religious background.

The name Halloween came from All Hallow's Eve -- the night before All Hallows Day. All Hallows Day, also called All Saints or All Souls Day, was traditionally observed by Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans on November 1. In old English the word "Hallow" meant "sanctify." The Church used to observe All Hallows Day to honor all the saints in heaven.

But several churches have come to disagree with many of the adopted customs for Halloween.

The ghosts and goblins theme associated with Halloween came from the Celtic festival of Samhain.

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, celebrated their new year on November 1.

Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

Trinity Baptist Church in Norman offers an annual alternative to the activities through a Fall Festival on Monday night.

"We do not celebrate Halloween as such, but we provide a safe alternative to trick-or-treating for the children," Anne Glenn, Trinity's elementary director and event coordinator, said. "The children can come here and get tons of candy. It's family-oriented, and it's free."

Glenn said the Biblically-themed event, which Trinity has hosted annually for over twenty years, usually draws about 400 people from the Norman community.

"It's an opportunity to serve the community and an outreach for the church," said Glenn.

Trinity's pastor of worship, Randy Presley, said they offer an alternative to what they feel is not a Biblically-based or Christian-oriented celebration.

"We don't think it's a Christian holiday or celebration because it's based on witches and demons, so we offer Fall Festival as an alternative," Presley said.

Many students help with the festival by running booths and participating in the costume contest. Presley said college students also have a choice to make about celebrating Halloween.

"I see nothing wrong with costume parties, but if it's not an evil-type thing. It's just when you put in the evil side of it that it counters the church," Presley said.

Presley said the Baptist denomination does not assume a specific position about Halloween, but each church decides about the issue on their own.

Chelsea Brown, physical therapy junior, found other ways to enjoy Halloween weekend. Donning a fashion victim costume, Brown visited a haunted house party put on by students from the Baptist Student Union.

"I don't mind dressing up in costumes and going to parties, but there are certain aspects of Halloween that I don't participate in," Brown said.

She said she sees celebrating Halloween as a matter of perspective.

"I'm not really celebrating (Halloween), but I go to a costume party here and there," Brown said.
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