God has given strict instructions not to follow the practices of pagans.   “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations”(Deuteronomy 18:9).  “You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes.  You are to perform My judgments and keep my statutes,  to live in accord with them; I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 18:3, 4).  God drove the Canaanites out of Canaan and gave the land to the Jews because of their abominable practices.  “And because of these detestable things, the Lord your God will drive them out before you” (Deuteronomy 18:12).
What is Halloween?
Halloween is one of the world’s biggest holidays, especially in the United States.    In 2023 $12.2 billion was spent in the US on sweets, costumes and decorations. The Halloween ritual has a pagan origin.  It dates back more than 2,000 years to Ireland. An ancient Celtic fire festival called Samhain was celebrated usually from 31st October to 1st November at the end of summer.  It was focused on fire as winter approached and to bring light into the darkness.  People knew that there would be lots of deaths of animals and humans during the harsh winter months.  It was the time of the Celtic new year, a time of death and rebirth. Costumes and ugly masks were worn to scare away malevolent spirits believed to have been set free from the realm of the dead.  Celtic pagans lit one giant bonfire in the village, danced around and acted out stories of death, regeneration and survival.  Animals and crops were burned as sacrifices to Celtic deities, to thank them for the previous year’s harvest and encourage their good will for the next.  It was believed that at this time the veil between this world and the spirit world was at its thinnest, allowing the spirits of the dead to pass through and mingle with the living.  People started wearing costumes and ugly masks to scare away malevolent spirits.  

By the end of the 6th century, Pope Gregory arrived in Britain from Rome and converted pagan Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.  He took it as a mission to include Christian saints in the Samhain festivities to ward of the evil spirits of the night.  All Hallows Day, meaning All Souls Day, on 1st November was created by the Catholic church.  The eve of this day later came to be called Halloween.

Soulers, who believed in the concept of the soul,  went door to door singing and saying prayers for souls in exchange for ale, cakes and apples.  Leaving food and sweetly spiced ‘soul cakes’ on the doorstep was said to ward off  bad spirits.  The idea was that as they ate the treats, prayers and blessings were said for the dearly departed. Households deemed less generous with their offerings would receive a ‘trick’ played on them by bad spirits.  This has translated into modern day trick or treating. It is a practice in the US that if people are not treated with candies, they throw eggs on the house.  

In the Catholic Church, since the end of the 13th century, celebrating  November 2 as All Souls Day following November 1 as All Saints Day became universal.  Special prayers are being held in the church.  The Eastern churches do not celebrate these days, but they remember the departed souls on Holy Saturday .  

Halloween today
I have been watching the Halloween celebration in the US for the past 38 years. Out of love and respect for the children who come around, I leave candies outside in a tray.  Other than that I have never decorated the house for Halloween.  Halloween is purely a pagan festival that originated from pagan faith.  Other than putting scaring decorations, wearing costumes, collecting candies, and having some fun, it  has no other meaning in the minds of people.  Why should we continue celebrating a festival started by pagans, who did not believe in God and who  made burned offerings to please deities?

The Catholic church started  celebrating All Saints day and All Souls day in connection with  the Halloween with the good intention of praying for the souls and to eliminate the pagan aspect behind Halloween. It is such a contradiction that more Christians are going out on Halloween with their children dressed in costumes even though they do not carry the pagan faith with them.
No Christian church is teaching that the dead spirits will wander around to bother the living people on earth.

Jesus said,  “And I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades”( Revelation 1:18).  We don’t have to be afraid of the dead souls, but we have to stand firm against the  schemes of the devil.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able  to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6: 10, 11).  According to Ephesians 6:13-18, we should take the full armor of God to resist in the evil day.     We have to gird our loins with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, cover the feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and take up the shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  We should practice truth, righteousness, and peace .  We should pray with  faith and hope for salvation.  We should read, meditate and practice the word of God as the sword of the Spirit. We don’t have to be afraid of the powers of darkness as Jesus has won them and He is the light of the world.  Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life”( John 8:12).

Is Halloween for Christians? If everyone wants fun to enjoy outside, why don’t we have another day just for that instead of imitating  the pagans.  Why do we continue decorating our house with scary characters? You can think about it.

Cicily Sunny