Trunk or Treating and All Saints Day

Trunk-or-Treat parties hosted by churches as alternatives to traditional Halloween gatherings have been growing in popularity since the 1990s. The Trunk-or-Treat gatherings at Christ UMC have grown consistently over the past few years as more and more members of the church and members of the community decorate the trunks of their vehicles. As Maureen Dittmar and her extensive cadre of volunteers have prepared the campus for a fun-filled gathering, the array of participants has continued to expand. We are looking forward to hosting hundreds of guests Saturday.

Trunk-or-Treat seemed to grow in popularity at churches during a time when concerns regarding safety were especially significant. Children wandering on sidewalks along busy streets at a time of dusk when visibility was reduced could cause concerns. During this time of the year, the sun sets around 7:00pm and large groups of children and teenagers traveling through unfamiliar neighborhoods could also create unsafe conditions.

Other sources have noted that church-sponsored Trunk-or-Treat gatherings have also been designed to help emphasize more fun rather than fright during the community gatherings. Instead of featuring ghoulish characters that may be especially scary to young children, participants at church-sponsored trunk-or-treat events were encouraged to dress up as saints or famous historical figures. The practice of gathering in large church parking lots also fosters familiarization with others because in some communities houses are farther apart and neighbors are not as well known.

Trunk-or-Treat parties also provide the church with the opportunity to engage with members of the community who may not have ever visited the church or participated in church-sponsored activities. Interestingly, Trunk-or-Treat this year is scheduled on the day before Community Fun Time. The families who enjoy the joys of Trunk-or-Treat will be invited to return Sunday afternoon for additional fun.

The connection between Halloween and All Saints' Day is often overlooked. The word Halloween is a contraction of All Hallows' Eve. The word hallow refers to a saint or means to be honored (e.g., think of the phrase from The Lord’s Prayer—‘hallowed be thy name’). According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Halloween is the first of a three day observance, or triduum, called Allhallowtide that also includes All Saints' Day which is observed on November 1 and All Souls' Day which is observed on November 2.

The connection between trick-or-treat and All Saints' Day is somewhat confusing. In some Scottish traditions, poor adults and children would accept food and money in exchange for prayers for the dead. When food or money was not given, then a harmless trick would be played. There is also a connection between the jack-o'-laterns, scary masks and Halloween observances because of the tradition of visiting the cemetery on All Saints Day and placing candles inside of pumpkins or turnips to provide light to guide those who were walking to the cemetery.

The Trunk-or-Treat celebration at the church on Saturday will be an opportunity for fellowship and fun for the church and the community. As we gather on the parking lot, we will share candy and lots of delicious treats. We will welcome friends and members, some who are well-known and others whom we are looking forward to meeting.

In Christ,
Jon McCoy