Everything you ever wanted to know about Halloween~!
The Origins of Halloween—What Does the Bible Say About Them?
The Bible’s answer
The Bible does not mention Halloween. However, both the ancient origins of Halloween and its modern customs show it to be a celebration based on false beliefs about the dead and invisible spirits, or demons.—See “Halloween history and customs.”
The Bible warns: “There must never be anyone among you who . . . consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, The Jerusalem Bible) While some view Halloween as harmless fun, the Bible indicates that the practices associated with it are not. At 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21, the Bible says: “I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too.”—New International Version.
Halloween history and customs
- Samhain:The origin of Halloween can be traced to this “ancient pagan festival celebrated by Celtic people over 2,000 years ago,” states The World Book Encyclopedia. “The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time. During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead.” However, the Bible clearly teaches that the dead “are conscious of nothing at all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) Thus, they cannot contact the living.
- Halloween costumes, candy, and trick or treat:According to the book Halloween—An American Holiday, An American History, some of the Celts wore ghoulish costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to the spirits to appease them. In medieval Europe, the Catholic clergy adopted local pagan customs and had their adherents go from house to house wearing costumes and requesting small gifts. The Bible, on the other hand, does not permit merging false religious practices with the worship of God.—2 Corinthians 6:17.
- Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, and zombies:These have long been associated with the evil spirit world. (Halloween Trivia) The Bible clearly states that we should oppose wicked spirit forces, not celebrate with them.—Ephesians 6:12.
- Halloween pumpkins, or jack-o’-lanterns:In medieval Britain, “supplicants moved from door to door asking for food in return for a prayer for the dead,” and they would carry “hollowed-out turnip lanterns, whose candle connoted a soul trapped in purgatory.” (Halloween—From Pagan Ritual to Party Night) Others say that the lanterns were used to ward off evil spirits. During the 1800’s in North America, pumpkins replaced turnips because they were plentiful as well as easy to hollow out and carve. The beliefs behind this custom—the immortality of the soul, purgatory, and prayers for the dead—are not based on the Bible.—Ezekiel 18:4.
CELEBRATIONS LIKE HALLOWEEN WORLDWIDE
Halloween has generally been regarded as an American holiday. Yet this celebration has become popular in many parts of the world. Additionally, there are other festivities that are like Halloween in that they celebrate the existence and activity of spirit creatures. Shown here are some of the popular holidays like Halloween around the globe:
North America – Day of the Dead
South America – Kawsasqanchis
Europe – Day of the Dead and variations of Halloween
Africa – Dance of the Hooded Egunguns
Asia – Bon Festival
HALLOWEEN TIME LINE
FIFTH CENTURY B.C.E. – The Celts observe the festival of Samhain at the end of October, when they believe ghosts and demons roam the earth more so than at other times.
FIRST CENTURY C.E. – The Romans conquer the Celts and adopt the spiritistic rituals of Samhain.
SEVENTH CENTURY C.E. – Pope Boniface IV is said to have established the annual celebration of All Saints’ Day to honor martyrs. *
ELEVENTH CENTURY C.E. – The second of November is designated as All Souls’ Day to commemorate the dead. Observances surrounding All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are collectively called Hallowtide.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY C.E. – The name of the holiday, Hallowe’en (Hallow Evening) appears in print as Halloween.
NINETEENTH CENTURY C.E. – Thousands of people who move from Ireland to the United States bring with them Halloween customs that, in time, combined with similar customs of emigrants from Britain and Germany, as well as Africa and other parts of the world.
TWENTIETH CENTURY C.E. – Halloween becomes a popular nationwide holiday in the United States.
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY C.E. – Commercial interest in Halloween grows into a worldwide multibillion-dollar industry.
As a young Christian parent, I struggled with this for many years. When I was growing up, we always looked forward to going out Trick or Treating with my siblings and my cousins. You would stay out for hours with your pillow case and would come home dead tired with tons of candy and goodies. It was so much fun, it was the only time you were actually allowed to be out after the street lights came on. It was never even a thought or discussed with us that it was a pagan activity and was contrary to the word of God.
As a parent, you want your children to be accepted by their peers and to “fit in” so you buy them a costume, or allow them to go out and Trick or Treat. When I was in grade school, you would wear your costume to school and we would actually have a parade and walk around the block so the neighbors could see us. It was really a big deal! I remember all too well a time when my children were young and I was a member of a church that will go unnamed. Some of the parents organized a party with apple bobbing, games, treats every year in lieu of Trick or Treat for the children to keep them safe and off the streets. It was attended by some children, but not all and was hotly debated even by some of the members. I don’t remember where the Pastor stood on it but he did allow us to have the party. There was one lady who lived on my block that went to my church before I became a member and she would give out Christian pamphlets as the children would come to her house. Many at the church said we “should not” be allowing our children to participate in this pagan ritual.
I was on the fence, I agreed with what they were saying on one hand, but at the same time, I wanted my children to have the experience that I had as a child. I also wanted them to be able to go out with the other neighborhood children. As long as their costume was something presentable i.e. Christian like a princess or a pumpkin or something like that, I let them wear the costume. I once was young, but now I’m old and after many years, I realize that I should have stood my ground and made more of an effort to find other creative things for my children to do to take the place of Trick or Treat. I did when I could, but I should have been more persistent and for that, I am sorry because they still continue with the ritual.
When I hear today that Halloween is the highest grossing holiday after Christmas, I know the ritual will continue, after all money talks. Everything today has become so commercialized. But we must also remember as the bible tells us in 1Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil” and as long as there is money to be made, the ritual will continue.
To all the Christian parents who succumb to the pressures of this world and allow their children to celebrate this pagan ritual that celebrates ghosts, goblins, witches, witchcraft and the occult, the only thing I can do is pray for the strength and wisdom of the parents, and that their eyes will be opened because I was once them. I pray for myself, and for them “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
