■ As Halloween approaches, Jess Suisted says she will be
celebrating love, light and hope with her children

Since I’ve had children – three of them – I’ve really had to think hard about why we do certain things; why we eat the way we eat, dress the way we dress, and celebrate what we celebrate.

It’s like when you have children, there’s a mirror reflecting back at you. You realise you are the one responsible for giving these children a positive, wholesome and purposeful upbringing.

Children make you realise that you – together with your spouse or partner and a village of support – are shaping their sense of what is good, sensible, and important, not to mention raising tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers and doers of good in the world.

One question that comes up at this time every year for me as a parent is why we celebrate Halloween?

Halloween originated from ancient Celtic festivals where people wore disguises and lit bonfires to scare away lost or evil ghosts.

In the 21st century, it has warped into an annual consumer-driven celebration (thanks America) that glorifies death, darkness and evil, not to mention encourages children to binge on too much sugar.

But seriously, you don’t have to be a parent to wonder why we celebrate Halloween.

Dressing up in dark and scary costumes, knocking on strangers’ doors asking for lollies, watching horror movies?

My children’s nightmares are enough without all that in their imagination.

My question is, why celebrate something so dark? Those who have encountered a dark presence or spirit don’t often (if at all) find it a fun occasion. It is deeply traumatising.

Thinking about the spiritual element, you have to wonder what we are inviting into our homes and our community when we celebrate such events like Halloween.

Our community needs hope at Halloween, not a spotlight on darkness.

I would rather celebrate life, light and love with my children on October 31, and every other day of the year for that matter.

You won’t find us trick or treating around town, dressed up in dark and scary costumes.

If anything, I’ll be dressed in my superhero outfit, eating good food and having fun with my children and our friends. Let’s shine light in our neighbourhood instead of darkness.