I do have a few good memories of Halloween. Back in the old days, with limited means, we would ingeniously fashion costumes straight out of our own wardrobes (even my mother’s). One year, my girlfriend and I decided to go as a two-headed lady. Somehow, we both managed to squeeze into my mother’s dress and to our surprise, it was an absolute sensation! We looked so utterly ridiculous, prompting fits of laughter from everyone we encountered. Unfortunately, our synchronized walking proved a challenge, and it was difficult going door-to-door. So, we were forced to abandon our brilliantly absurd idea.
Halloween brought out the fierce rivalry between my brother and me, as we battled to claim the title of candy champion. We ran from house to house with bulging pillowcases clutched in our determined hands. When our bodies could no longer bear the weight of the candy, we trudged homeward. We would dump our treasure on the living room floor, then swiftly vanish into the darkness to collect more. For me, Halloween wasn’t just about the pursuit of candy; it was a thrilling game of competition and the quest for victory.
As I became a mother, I had more fun dressing up my children. One year, I spent hours sewing an ET costume for my daughter complete with a heart that glowed in the dark (flashlight inside the heart). Unfortunately, the headpiece proved hard to breathe in (and see). In a way, I was disappointed that all that detailed handiwork lasted but a few minutes. As the Halloweens rolled around, my son wore a plethora of costumes, from a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Batman, Superman, strong man, cowboy, a doctor, the Mask, and I believe his biggest hit was showing up on doorsteps as President Bill Clinton (very timely during a presidential election year).
I must confess that through the years of innocent neighborhood trick or treating, my kids caught glimpses of the other side of Halloween: mean pranks, kids sporting scary and gruesome costumes, haunted houses scattered throughout town, and the continuous programming of graphic horror movies on TV and at the movie theatre. I often felt a sense of evil permeating the air on Halloween night and hated it.
The Real Roots of Halloween
According to History.com, the Celts and Druids believed that on Samhain, “The boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred.” The Celts believed that on October 31st the spirit world would become visible to humans, and the ghosts of the dead would return to earth to cause trouble, damage crops, and otherwise play tricks on the living. For this reason, the Druids would often build large communal bonfires to offer sacrifices of crops and animals to the Celtic deities. The Celtic people also left token offerings outside of their village to appease the fairies, ghosts, and spirits. Obviously, the Bible would not condone any of this.
By the ninth century, Christianity had taken over Celtic lands, but rather than abolish the Celtic traditions of October 31st, the church shifted the focus of October 31st from a celebration of pagan deities, roaming spirits, and the dead … to a more Christian emphasis on the soul, the supernatural, and the saints. In fact, November 1st became known as All Saint’s Day in the Catholic church, and in AD 1000, the church made November 2nd “All Soul’s Day”, with many of the same traditions of Samhain, including giant bonfires, parades, and costumes of saints, devils, and angels, still being practiced.
Where did the name Halloween come from?
In preparation for All Saint’s Day on November 1st, which venerated saints known as “hallows,” were celebrated, the night before became known as the eve of all-hallows or All Hallows’ Eve – which is no known as Halloween.
A Holiday Repurposed
The once pagan festival was refashioned into a church holiday to celebrate the saints. Carved turnips (later pumpkins) called Jack-O-Lanterns was about the Irish myth of Stingy Jack. Many of the Celtic traditions never truly died out but took on new meaning.
Today
Today billions of dollars are spent on Halloween in America. Many have since latched onto Halloween and tried to make it their own. Halloween has come to mean many things to many different groups. For some people it means having fun with family, friends, and community. For others, it’s more about death and darkness. Although the media won’t talk about it, there is abundance of awful, ugly, and evil practices at work on and around October 31st.
Halloween Horror Nights
Our family attended Universal Studios during their legendary Halloween Horror Nights. I was naïve about the whole thing but let me tell you, I was absolutely terrified! Universal Studios orchestrates an eerie atmosphere of heart-pounding terror and spine-chilling horror scenes plucked straight out of the most terrifying movies. We were chased by sinister clowns, pursued by guys in white masks sporting running chain saws who leaped out from bushes, and creatures everywhere you turn. But the true nightmare came to life within the haunted houses. Each one was a meticulously crafted realm of terror, meticulously designed to torment your every sense. As we dared to enter, it was as if we had taken a step into a parallel dimension, saturated with unspeakable horrors lurking in every nook and cranny. Later in the evening, I was disturbed to watch people cheering as the ghoulish floats, but I was shocked to see the last float, Satan himself. Thousands of people were there with an insatiable craving for terror; I will never go back.
Should a Christian Celebrate Halloween?
Is there anything evil about a Christian dressing up as a princess or cowboy and going around the block asking for candy? No. There are many churches that hold “harvest festivals” and incorporate fun costumes, but in a godly environment. There are many Christians who hand out tracts that share the Gospel along with the Halloween candy.
Are there things about Halloween that are anti-Christian and should be avoided? Absolutely! If parents are going to allow their children to participate in Halloween, they should make sure to keep them from getting involved in the darker aspects. For example, don’t allow them to dress up as something that represents evil: a witch, demon, ghost, skeleton, mummy, the Chainsaw Massacre guy, wicked scarecrow, doctor death, vampire, monsters, Michael Myers, the Undead, Chucky, or any dark and gruesome costume (these are all on www.partycity.com). You can also skip celebrating Halloween altogether if you’d like.
“Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.” Ephesians 5:7-12
“For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
As we mature in our Christian walk, sin and evil should bother us more and more all the time. We are to be beacons of light in a dark world, striving to live a life that is holy and pleasing to God. As a Christian, we should not participate in anything involving darkness such as decorating our homes in a frightening manner, watching horror movies, going to haunted houses, and Universal Studios.