~~Halloween~~

A Christian Point of View
from
Elaine's Place


As a Sunday School teacher, I've done a fair amount of study on this subject, but I do not claim to be an expert. My intention is to offer some general information on the subject of Halloween and, as a Bible-believing Christian, point people to the truth of God's word.

Is Halloween just harmless fun and games, or is there more to it? Should Bible-believing Christians have anything to do with this holiday "celebration"? Please read on, check out my references, and make up your own mind.

~~HISTORY~~

The name "Halloween" comes from a holy day of the Roman Catholic Church called "All Saints Day" or "All Hallows." This was a day to honor dead saints. It was originally observed in the month of May, but in the seventh century the Church moved it to November 1. The night before, October 31, was called "All Hallows Eve," which became "Halloween."

Even though the name of the holiday comes from the Church, most Halloween customs have nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity. Dressing up in costumes, Trick or Treat, etc., go back more than 2000 years to the ancient Druids. The Druids were a pagan religious cult amont the Celtic people. The Celts lived in Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern France. The Druids worshipped false gods of nature. They used magic and witchcraft. Their religion was based on fear and superstition.

On October 31 each year, the Druids celebrated the Vigil of Samhain (or Salwain) in honor of their god of the dead. They believed that as winter came closer and the days became shorter, the sun god became weaker and the god of the dead became stronger. They believed that evil spirits lurked about at this time. They also believed that on October 31 the spirits of people who had died rose from the grave and walked about haunting the living. In order to keep these spirits away, the Celts built huge bonfires, and they would sacrifice animals and sometimes people by throwing them into the fires. They dressed up in scary costumes to fool the spirits. They believed that if they looked like the spirits, the spirits would not harm them. The Celts believed that the spirits came to people's houses and would play bad tricks on them unless they were given treats of food or money. The tricks that the spirits were believed to play on people were very serious--drought, crop failure, sickness, and death of people and animals. The Celts were very superstitious people, and their fears of these spirits were very real.

When the Romans conquered the Celtic people in the first century B.C., they accepted the Celtic pagan beliefs and added their own pagan celebrations to those of the Celts. Then, when Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the pagans did not want to give up their celebrations. In the 7th century the Roman Catholic Church changed the date of All Saints Day to November 1 to coincide with the pagan holiday. Celebrations of All Saints Day included dressing up as saints, angels, and demons and participating in plays and parades through the villages. Gradually, the All Saints Day celebrations and the pagan celebrations blended together.

When the Celtic people came to America, they brought their Halloween customs with them. Halloween wasn't even celebrated in America until around 1845. Americans now spend millions of dollars every year on Halloween costumes, decorations, candy, and greeting cards.

~~HARMLESS FUN?~~

Halloween is portrayed as harmless fun and games. But this holiday really honors Satan and his lies. Christians need to decide whether they should have anything to do with it.

"...He (the devil, Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44.

Let's look at some of the aspects and symbols of Halloween in the light of God's Word, the Bible.

~~FEAR~~

Halloween customs are rooted in fear. Satan is behind all fear and superstition and false worship. He is tricky, and he does not want people to know God's truth about life, death, judgment, heaven, and hell.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.

God wants us to know the truth about spiritual things. When we know the truth, we don't have to be afraid of the devil and his tricks.

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment." 1 John 4:10.

We have the Bible, God's Word, so we can know the truth and not be fooled by Satan's lies. Satan is God's enemy and our enemy. He tries to make sinful things look like fun so we won't take God seriously.


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