During the time of my volunteering at a nursing home, I met a nurse, who was working there as Activity Director. She was a very nice person, and a true believer. We happened to exchange a few times on the difficulties of being a Christian mom nowadays.
One evening she told me how tired she was because her daughter and she went treat or tricking until late the night before and got back home with a bunch of candies. I guess she didn’t realize how appalled I was at the time. I decided to pray (I know some Christians may be reluctant to accept the truth and think they are being judged) and have a serious discussion with her with some actual facts on the topic. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to talk to her before I definitely left the nursing home (which happened not long after). So, for her and all the Christian moms out there who don’t really know where to stand when it comes to Halloween – between the fun of the parties, the dressing up, the spooky decorations, the treats and the manifest evil spirits at work during the celebration – I chose to dig a little bit and find out the origins of this “holiday” to help us make informed choices for us and our families.
All hallows eve or all saints eve (for Catholics) held from October 31st to November 1st finds its origins in the ancient and mystical Gaelic traditions, especially the festival of Samhain and the Roman celebration of Parentalia (which was the feast of the dead). Its main influence is undoubtedly Irish. The feast itself would include a prayer for the dead (which are said to roam the earth and visit their former homes seeking hospitality), games of divination, lighting of bonfires, etc. Along the centuries, mumming and guising as well as begging for treats, cross-dressing, and pranks were added to the celebration.
The iconic jack-o-lantern made from carved and hollowed turnip (or more commonly pumpkins) lightened with a candle, which is one of the most recognizable symbols of Halloween, is said to represent the spirit of the dead, the souls in purgatory, or some supernatural being and able to ward off evil spirits.
If Halloween is considered a holiday and if holy mean sanctified, set aside, then, it is right to wonder what is this day set aside for. I found out that Halloween or Samhain Lore is the second greatest Wiccan, pagan, and witchcraft sabbat (holiday), in fact, it is nothing but the witches’ new year. A time for them to connect more easily with the spirits of the dead and to study dark mysteries (1).
Yes, a lot is happening during Halloween night, and witches (the practitioners of Wicca) are celebrating with black magic and spells (search for yourself, forums on Wicca are particularly informative). Since witches are like everyday people and keep their esoteric practices hidden from uninitiated people, how would you know what you bring back home from your treat or trick trip? And I’m not even referring to the article of Kimberly Daniels about cursed candies on Halloween published on Pat Robertson’s CBN website, that was widely mocked and now long gone.
I wonder why Christians seem so puzzled about whether to celebrate Halloween or not. Could it be because they know in their heart something is wrong about this feast, but deliberately choose to overlook the problem and make excuses?
I read somewhere a Pastor stated: “If you still think Halloween is an evil day, then maybe you should see All Hallows Eve as a time when Christians can laugh and even mock evil.”(2) What an aberration!
We talk about things we don’t know and laugh about things we shouldn’t, exposing ourselves and our children to all sort of evil influences. I believe there is someone really mocked at Halloween and it is you.
I see church communities celebrating fall festivals and Pastors organizing gising nights (some recommending superheroes or angels costumes because they look less demonic inspired) making sure their members have some kind of fun that will not be definitely labeled Halloween. Alas, this is just what it is.
Why do Christians want to copy the world to make Christianity sounds more cool? We are not called to be cool, we are called to be holy. The Apostle Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 6, 14-15: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God”. And in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, he ordered: “Abstain from all appearance of evil”. I don’t know about you, but to me, the skeleton, the mummy, the living-dead, the horror movie and the cross-dressing sound pretty evil.
So unless the real matter is an undecided heart, desiring to hear pleasant things, the question should not even be discussed. About this Paul warned Timothy in his 2nd letter saying: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”. In that case, I would advise taking the time for a serious introspection and find the answer lightened by the word of God and His Holy Spirit.
Let’s be renewed in our understanding, transformed in our heart, sanctified even in the smallest things in our lives. Let’s not call good what is evil, not for the sake of this world.