Halloween traditions! Where did they come from? “Hallowe’en” (All Hallows’ Eve) goes back to the ancient Celtic New Year festival of Samhain, god of the dead. The Celts believed that spirits of the dead could step into the land of the living. Jack-o-lanterns and bonfires were used to scare away evil spirits. Villagers baked treats to appease spirits who played tricks and paraded in scary costumes hoping to lure away spirits of the dead. Today people still observe many of these fear-based traditions with masks, costumes, scary pumpkins, and trick-or-treating. The themes of evil spirits and death are celebrated with skeletons, monsters, tombstones, and ghosts. Costumes sometimes portray violent and bloody criminals. Halloween is also a highly celebrated holiday for those involved in witchcraft and Satanism, where animal and even human sacrifice is still practiced! By participating in some of these traditions, are we not unwittingly affirming them?
Three things that drive the spirit of Halloween are: 1. the huge billion-dollar profits retailers rake in, 2. the spirits of violence and evil that pervade our culture, and 3. the well-meaning attitude of “But it’s just for fun.”
That last one I’d like to address. Is it really “fun” to scare children and add fuel to their nightmares? Is it really “fun” to pretend you’re a violent monster? Is it “fun” to promote a pagan, fear-driven holiday that coincides with Satanic rituals? Certainly, we can create fun in other ways!
“But dressing up is harmless!” you say. When you’re in costume, you represent and identify with that character. You proceed to act “in character.” (A skeleton scares, a witch casts spells.) “Dear Friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.” 1 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”2 That means our dress and actions should not give even a hint that we support or are involved in evil things.
We can have lots of fun in celebrating positive themes like harvest, fall foods, and God’s beautiful creation. Let’s dress up as movie heroes, angels, storybook characters, animals, funny clowns, and favorite occupations (baker, chemist, policeman). Let’s enjoy family activities like corn mazes, hayrides, apple picking, and parties. Let’s enjoy candy, pumpkin bread, apple pie, and cider. All these things are good, wholesome FUN! They also replace the dark imagery with good things: celebrating family, togetherness, and the blessings of harvest time.
For some, Halloween can be an invitation to take a step towards the dark side (Ouija boards, séances), to flirt with the mysterious, unknown, and dangerous! That can lead you further than you thought you’d go. The dark powers behind the night are highly celebrated by those involved in all forms of witchcraft and Satanism (which include animal sacrifices and more). Moving our celebrations away from October 31 is one way to distance from these rituals. The best advice: “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good…. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 3 We can overcome the evil and darkness of Halloween by promoting the good things God has created for our enjoyment.
Please share your ideas of ways to celebrate this season with good things!
1 3 John :11; 2 1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV; 3 Romans 12:9, 21