@Erik, I know a JW and this is most likely the correct answer. Google says (and my experience with my co-worker supports this) "Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate most holidays or events that honour people who aren't Jesus. That includes birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and Hallowe'en." As in a lot of cases with religion there is room individual differences of interpretation, but he won't dress up for Hallowe'en except maybe to wear a certain colour or something to fit with co-worker's costumes.

I assume it's because they do not celebrate holidays, if I had to guess

Yes, but it's because it's a pagan holiday. And there is only one god for them.

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Nope. Jehova's Witnesses will use costumes. In fact, they will wear whatever is fitting looking "proper" in any country. In some places, that means costumes. In other places, it means some local variation of being a bit dressed up.

Me too. I always dreaded it when I was in elementary school, every morning, I had to go out in the hall and stand, while the classroom saluted the flag. Parents bringing birthday cupcakes? Nope. Practice your multiplication tables. Oh yes, the library. Every and any st Patrick, thanksgiving, x mas, easter, Halloween, even a Presidents' Day party, was spent in the library. But I was an elders daughter, and a good little JW. That is, until one time, I got into mad trouble for taking valentines cards in 4th grade. I felt bad because they didn't understand why I couldn't take them, so I did. And was told as punishment for taking them, I was going to take them all back, and return every single one of them to my classmates. I remember that, as my first, big lie. Because I didn't. But I told them I did. I just couldn't do it. It was humiliating. And I didn't want to hurt someone's feelings. I began learning how to lie with a silver tongue. One skill most JW kids have in common. Lol

Me too! You miss out on so much fun growing up. 😔

I always wondered what it was like for a child, because the more I read about them, the more sinister I think they are. I hope you managed to escape a lead a normal, reasonably happy life.

I'm with you! Bunch of hypocritical better than thou jackasses.

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Bigot.

I'm Muslim and we'd have no problem at all with dressing up. The past years, I dressed up as a witch and a skeleton for Halloween at work and I'm 31. Halloween is fun, especially for the kids. We used to dress up for the Carnival as well, that's also very special!

I'm muslim and i even did cosplay. Some of my friends still do. So... Not a valid reason. Stop spreading misinformation.

@Aamna, no one celebrated Halloween “religiously.” It’s not a religious holiday. Maybe unless if you’re a witch.

It's not about celebrating Halloween. I am a Muslim and we don't celebrate Halloween religiously. However, there is nothing wrong with wearing a costume to have fun if someone wants. Not believing in Halloween or religiously following it doesn't mean we can't dress up.

Some branches of Muslims do celebrate provided they don't wear anything blasphemous e.g. Jesus costume etc.

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I had a friend that was a Jehova's witness and it WAS a real thing. No costumes or celebrating on Halloween, couldn't celebrate birthdays, Christmas or any other holidays. When we were in grade school and these things were celebrated in the classroom, she (and her siblings in other grades) had to go sit in the Library and not participate as per her parents wishes. There were several other Jehova's Witness families in the school whose children had to do the same thing... I always felt so sad for them.

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THAT'S not a real THING.

They aren't allowed to celebrate birthdays either I think. I seem to remember that from my school days...

I’m a Hindu and we absolutely do celebrate Halloween! And Christmas and Easter! One of the most ancient and open religions of all times, Hinduism welcomes people and practices from all religions.

I stand corrected. I was wrong to say that. Thank you for letting me know (no sarcasm).

But there is a different between not celebrating it and your religion forbiding that you celebrate it.

For the Orthodox, it isn't so much a religious problem, it's that we already have Purim which is WAY better bc hamentaschen and also bc Jews used to be killed on Halloween

wha? I'm christian. I can assure you, very few people think that... hell, my mother and I loved to look at those really gore-y diy costumes, like the the headless lady and such.

Grew up in India; we had fancy dress or costume competitions regularly at school. And yes, me (Hindu), and my friends (Sikhs & Muslims) participated wholeheartedly. I don’t know which part of South East Asia we’re discussing but I haven’t experienced any restrictions on dress so far! And everyone dresses up for Ram Leela at Diwali/ or Krishna for Janamasthami.

Replying to Shalini, not restrictions per se, just not encouraging to wear costumes. It probably has nothing to do with religion, just personal choice. I got a lot of friends who faced that growing up.

He looks southern Indian or Bangladeshi to me.

Perhaps they don't follow the pagan custom.

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I’m Muslim but I’m allowed to so I doubt islam

No, we can totally do that.

Yeah as if you know anything about Islam except your own presumptions

Many Islamic religions have dressed up holidays, so I don't think Islam is the religion of the child.

No. I have a huge catholic family, went to catholic school. The school always had big Halloween carnivals and everyone would dress up. We always went all out on Halloween. Now I have some family that switched to Presbyterian and Baptist. They turn their nose up to Halloween.

All Christian holidays are originally Pagan holidays. The Christians appropriated them to make it easier to convert. Look it up.

As was Christmas and Easter.

Christmas tree was a German pagan invention,l 😉

'Scuse me, I am a Catholic and Hallowe'en occurs the day before All Souls Day. It was All Hallows Eve, NOT a pagan holiday, merely the day before a religious one. A CHRISTIAN religious holiday.

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Nothing, pagan or not predates Christ, for HE is the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the Earth. Period.

All clothing is a type of costume. You 'dress up' as a professional, or a student, or a tourist, etc. The only time you are not dressing up 'as someone else' is when you're stark nekkid. ~~Every person has ideas as to what is and isn't an appropriate costume for the age/ place/ event/ weather/etc. ~~~ Most people wouldn't wear a bathing suit or a nightie to a business meeting, or a 3-piece suit to bed. It's all costumes in the end.

You are supposed to dress up to scare the "evil spirits". Not be on the same side as them.

It might matter if you invite a kid/person with such a background to a party involving costumes. I don't care about anyone's religion unless it "affects" me in such a way that I try to accomodate in terms of e.g. certain weekdays/holidays not being appropriate for a meeting or certain food to be avoided. I most certainly cannot turn over my whole life in that case, but when trying to be a bit considerate, you need a bit of background knowledge... (Also: Wanting to learn about "other groups'" custom isn't bad, is it?)

@ Anni: Thank you, you explained it a way much better than I could have.

dude they were just curious don't be a hater