Author Anthony DeStefano's new children's book aims to reclaim Halloween's spiritual roots, teaching kids the true Christian meaning behind All Hallows' Eve traditions. (Anthony DeStefano)
DeStefano said he wants his faith-based book to put "the ‘hallow’ back in Halloween" as celebrations and spending hit record highs. In 2025, Americans are expected to spend a record $13.1 billion on celebrating Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation.
DeStefano says his message is especially relevant today, pointing to the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and the shooting at a school Mass at Minneapolis' Annunciation Catholic Church, as reminders of the reality of evil and risks that can come with openly expressing one’s faith.
"I do not think these are isolated events," he said. "I think they're symptoms of a deeper hostility toward faith that's been very apparent in the way Hollywood, the legacy media, the academic world, and the left have been mocking religion for decades."
"Halloween isn't about glorifying darkness," DeStefano said. "It's about shining a light on the reality of death, the fact that eternal life has triumphed, and that's what makes it so powerful if we understand it correctly."
DeStefano warned that modern culture has distanced itself from those roots. He said Halloween has become a "festival of evil," and embracing the dark side of the holiday can be "fundamentally unhealthy."
Halloween has long been marked by ghost stories, cursed dolls and evil spirits. Films and tales often center on exorcisms, haunted houses and witches casting spells from bubbling cauldrons to curse others.
He said that there has been a growing fascination within the media that "glorifies" evil and that this kind of entertainment can "dull our moral senses."
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Halloween spending in the U.S. is expected to climb to a record $13.1 billion in 2025, despite consumer wariness about tariffs and higher costs of living, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
DeStefano said he's not discouraging families from enjoying the usual Halloween traditions but urged parents to teach their children about the holiday’s origins and the importance of honoring the dead.
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He said Halloween can also carry a message of hope. He said dressing up as a mummy, ghost, or skeleton can be a good reminder that Halloween is also a time to pray for loved ones who have passed away.
"If someone we love has died, if our grandmother or grandfather has died, someday we're going to get to see them again in heaven, and we're going to be able to run up to them again, kiss them, hug them, and feel the warmth of their skin and hear their voices again," he said. "That's what this holiday is about."
Kiera McDonald is a Production Assistant for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-childrens-book-seeks-to-teach-kids-halloweens-real-meaning-and-its-not-glorifying-darkness