It’s that time of year again when the controversy of whether or not Christians should participate in Halloween begins to pop up. I found that some evangelical pastors, evangelist, singers, etc. are recommending Christians to not be afraid of participating in this holiday and some even say Halloween is really a ‘Christian’ holiday.
We should ask ourselves first, what is the origin of Halloween ? – As innocent as Halloween may seem to some, it is not something to be taken lightly. The Word of God give us some principles on which we can make a decision. 1 Cor. 10:31 says: ” Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God“. Do we glorify God by celebrating or participating in this holiday?
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ephesians 5:11
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. Lev. 20:23
The name Halloween is derived from the term, “All Hallows Eve,” which occurred on Oct. 31, it was the eve of “All Saints Day” or “All Hallows Day” that was the next Day, Nov. 1st. This still is a Roman Catholic holiday, where this Church commemorates every saint, known and unknown. (Got nothing to do with defeating death, like one Halloween proponent said. You just need to look at their crucifix). The date was moved in the 9th century A.D. from May 13 to Nov. 1st by Pope Gregory III as a day dedicated to the saints and their relics, looking to Christianize a pagan holiday called Samhain.
Statues of Catholic Saints, they pray to on All Saints day
Later a custom developed where people, mainly kids would go door-to-door on Nov. 1 requesting small cakes or cookies in exchange for saying prayers for some of the dead relatives of each house. (This may have been also the precursor to Trick-or-Treat). This have to do with the religious belief that the dead are in a limbo before they go to Heaven or Hell, & that our prayers can influence the outcome. Catholics believe in a purgatory or limbo a place of penitence before reaching heaven.
I remember when I was a Catholic kid going once from door to door wearing an angel costume & asking for money. Years later when I moved to the United States I didn’t like Halloween, even as a Catholic, because the festivity was obviously dark. In Latin America it is known as ‘Dia de las Brujas” or Witch’s Day.
All Saints’ Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It should not be confused with All Souls’ Day, which is observed on November 2, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven. . . . Generally, All Saints’ Day is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, meaning all Catholics are required to attend Mass on that day, unless they have an excellent excuse, such as serious illness. . . All Saints’ Day was formally started by Pope Boniface IV, when consecrated the Parthenon at Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs on May 13 in 609 AD. Boniface IV also established All Souls’ Day, which follows All Saints. Catholic online
In some countries like Mexico, and others in South America, Catholics believe that the souls of children return to the world of the living on “All Saints Day”, November 1, followed by adult spirits on the Day of the Dead ( Día de los Muertos) on November 2nd.
Day of the dead- People bringing food to their dead relatives
Altar with offerings to a dead relative
The children’s souls are believed to be little angels (angelitos), so “All Saints Day” is often called the Day of Little Angels (El Día de los Angelitos). The graves of children are cleaned and decorated with candles, toys, flowers such as marigolds, etc.
Dia de los Angelitos – All Saints Day
This day of All Saints started by Pope Boniface IV still is celebrated today & dedicated to all Saints of the Roman Catholic Church, (most of them Catholic monks & mystic nuns that passed away) Catholics are required to attend Mass on that day. Why should Evangelical Christians celebrate this festivity? Why are some evangelical pastors calling this Catholic feast a ‘Christian’ holiday? All Saints day is a mix of pagan traditions with some Christian symbolism. None of these 2 holidays ‘All Saints Day’ or ‘Samhain’ have anything to do with true Christianity.
Some Reformers commemorate Oct 31, because on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis on the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany in protest to the Roman Catholic doctrine of indulgences. But this got nothing to do with a Halloween celebration.
Its important to know that the pagan holiday that Catholics were trying to Christianize, Samhain still exist today, is a festival of the dead celebrated by witches & pagans around the world for 3 days on Oct. 31-Nov. 2 which involves rituals, incantations & human sacrifices. This should be a day of prayer & intercession for the lost in the Christian Churches & not a day of celebration.
As a former witch high priest now saved by Jesus, I was astonished by how many Christians let their kids celebrate Halloween. Some churches even sponsor “haunted houses” and similar events on what is the Number One satanic “helliday” of the year. Halloween used to be called Samhain, and is still celebrated as an ancient pagan festival of the dead by witches all over the world. Unfortunately, just giving the date a “holy” name like All Hallows’ Eve or All Saints’ Eve cannot change its grisly character. Halloween is an occasion when the ancient gods (actually demons) are worshiped with human sacrifice. The apostle Paul warns us: “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (1 Cor. 10:20). By William J. Schnoebelen
Not wanting to celebrate Halloween has nothing to do with been superstitious, as some like to put it. If we Christians who are suppose to shine the light of Jesus, don’t do that but instead decide to follow & imitate the world, do you think we still are going to be a light to a lost world? Is this a holiday that Christians should celebrate alongside Wiccans & other pagans?
Some say Christians are demonizing Oct. 31 or making others believe that Halloween is an occult or evil day, but even secular media or pagans that celebrate it say so!.
Halloween. That was the eve of Samhain . . . firstborn children were sacrificed. . . Samhain eve was a night of dread and danger. (Secular Magazine – National Geographic. May 1977, pp. 625-626)
Halloween is one of the four major Sabbats celebrated by the modern Witch, and it is by far the most popular and important of the eight that are observed. . . Witches regard Halloween as their New Year’s Eve, celebrating it with sacred rituals. . . (Dunwich, Gerina. The Pagan Book of Halloween, p. 120)
Halloween is also among Satanism’s most cherished days. Anton LaVey, founder of The Church of Satan and author of The Satanic Bible writes:
After one’s own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht (May 1st) and Halloween. (LaVey, Anton Szandor. The Satanic Bible, p. 96).Still other Wiccans conceive of the Horned God dying on October 31, which Wiccans call Samhain, the ritual of which is focused on death. He is then reborn on Winter Solstice, December 21. Wikipedia
Some pastors go as far as to say that because Christmas and Easter were also pagan holidays and we celebrate them today, then we can also celebrate Halloween. (Not surprisingly, I notice most of them are involved with the ecumenic movement or with Rome). I personally don’t celebrate Christmas as the world does & I don’t celebrate Easter but Passover. But at least Christmas still celebrates the birth of our Savior and Easter looks to commemorates his resurrection. Both of these holidays try to memorialize some aspects of the life of Jesus. Halloween has no such Christian characteristics, but celebrates & glorifies death, exactly as witches do in Samhain.
Some writings also speak of Samhain as the “Lord of the Dead” but today many suggest that this is incorrect. Still the celebration of Halloween glorifies death, witchcraft & darkness. The God honored at Samhain, is the Horned One, & according to them he is the keeper of the gates of death, and the Lord of Death. But we that are follower of Jesus Christ celebrate life, because our God is the giver of life & He is the light of the world. John 1:5, 1 John 1:5-7
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1 Tess. 5:5
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor. 6:14
You don’t need to do what they do in order to witness to them, remember Who are we working for. We should think of Halloween as an opportunity to witness to others & to pray for a dying world, not to imitate it.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8
Please stay away from this pastors, evangelist, singers, etc. that are promoting this holiday, no matter how nice they seam, they don’t care for your soul. Be aware of them & avoid them (Rom. 16:17).
Update Nov. 2, 2015 :
Pope Celebrates mass for All Saints Day at cemetery – Pope Francis assured people that the (dead) saints would intercede for them and for their beloved departed.