Halloween: To Celebrate or Not To Celebrate

What are your thoughts on Halloween?  Do you celebrate it?  Do you allow your children to Trick or Treat?  Do you attend an "alternative event", such as a Harvest Festival?

My new Bloggy Friend Bridget wrote a post: "Halloween Thoughts???" about her thoughts on celebrating Halloween.  While, in the past, her family has participated in some of the Halloween celebration, this year she is feeling a little convicted about it.  So, she just put it out there as, "What do you think?  What do you do?  How do you celebrate, or not?"  And, she got a lot of detailed comments coming from every perspective.

From Bridget's Blog, I jumped over to Bianca's Blog for THIS POST on Halloween.  She has an article written by a man who used to be a Satanic Priest.  It was VERY interesting, and Bianca got a lot of good comments as well.

After reading both posts, and all of the comments, I decided to write my own post about it.  But, rather than just giving you my thoughts and beliefs, I decided to do a little research.

I'd like to share with you some of the information and scriptures that I found on www.jeremiahproject.com ; but I'd encourage you to pop on over there and read it yourself.  I'm certainly going to have all of my big kids read it.


History traces Halloween back to the ancient religion of the Celtics in Ireland ...  Their two main feasts were Beltane at the beginning of summer, and Samhain at the end of summer (Nov. 1).  They believed Samhain was a time when the division between  the two worlds became very thin, when hostile supernatural forces were active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished.


Some trace the origins of present day "trick or treat" to Samhain, which was the supreme night of demonic jubilation.  Spirits of the dead would rise out of their graves and wander the countryside, trying to return to the homes where they formerly lived.  Frightened villagers tried to appease these wandering spirits by offering them gifts of fruit and nuts.  They began the tradition of placing plates of the finest food and bits of treats that the household had to offer on their doorsteps, as gifts, to appease the hunger of the ghostly wanderers.  If not placated, villagers feared that the spirits would kill their flocks or destroy their property.


The problem was ... if the souls of dead loved ones could return that night, so could anything else, human or not, nice or not-so-nice.  The only thing the superstitious people knew to do to protect themselves on such an occasion was to masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, and hopefully blend in unnoticed among them.  Wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot were originally ways of hiding oneself from the spirits of the dead who might be roaming around.  This is the origin of Halloween masquerading as devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.


The Jack-o-lantern is the festival light for Halloween and is the ancient symbol of a damned soul.  Originally the Irish would carve out turnips or beets as lanterns as representations of the souls of the dead or goblins freed from the dead.  When the Irish emigrated to America they could not find many turnips to carve ... (but) pumpkins seemed to be a suitable substitute ...


Pumpkins were cut with faces representing demons and were originally intended to frighten away evil spirits.  It was said that if a demon or such were to encounter something as fiendish looking as themselves that they'd run away in terror, thus sparing the houses dwellers from the ravages of dark entities.


Bats, owls, and other nocturnal animals, also popular symbols of Halloween, were originally feared because people believed that these creatures could communicate with the spirits of the dead.


Black cats were considered to be reincarnated beings with the ability to divine the future.  During the Middle Ages it was believed that witches could turn themselves into black cats.  Thus when such a cat was seen, it was considered to be a witch in disguise.


Witches and witchcraft are dominant themes of the holiday.  Witches generally believe themselves to be followers of an ancient religion, which goes back far beyond Christianity, and which is properly called 'wicca".   To witches, Halloween is a festival of the dead, and represents the end and the beginning of the witches year.  It marks the beginning of the death and destruction associated with winter.  At this time the power of the underworld is unleashed, and spirits are supposedly freed to roam about the earth; it is considered the best time to contact spirits.


The apostle Paul said witchcraft is one of the acts of the sinful nature and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:16-21)


As believers, we are called to "Test everything.  Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)  Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil?  Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil.  Christians are to "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."  (Ephesians 5:11)


Should the church be compromised by accommodating itself to the culture?  "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  (Romans 12:2)  and "For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"  (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)


When America and the world celebrates the Festival of Samhain and the powers of darkness by masquerading as evil creatures or decorating our homes, schools, business, and churches with occult symbols, Satanic power is glorified.


Tom Sanguinet, a former high priest in the Celtic tradition of Wicca (witchcraft) said, "Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have or will do that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus."


As evil prevails, Americans have embraced an evil day of Satan, with the pranks of hoodlums, combined with 'demon faces' on pumpkins, clothing of 'death' being worn, and calling it fun.  When Christians participate in Halloween, it sends a message to children that witchcraft, demonism, Satanism, and the occult are something fun, entertaining, and harmless.


What's wrong with Halloween?


It does not have even one single  redeeming virtue.  It is custom born out of pagan superstition.  It is a demon-inspired, devil-glorifying, occult festival.  It is an evening holy unto evil, death, and divination.  The Scriptures tell us to "Abstain from all appearance of evil."  (1 Thessalonians 5:22)


Wake up Christians!  This is a night of evil and those who love the Lord Jesus Christ should have nothing to do with it.


We are all accountable for our choices and decisions.  Ignorance is no excuse.  The choice is up to you.  Have you been involved in this satanic holiday?  Do you struggle with giving it up because 'it's just fun" and an innocent opportunity for children to dress up and collect candy?  (I hope and pray that you will) let God show you what He would have you do.




If you weren't aware of the origins of Halloween, I hope this has given you a clearer picture.

Our family has chosen not to celebrate Halloween in any way.  We do not dress up.  We do not buy candy.  We do not attend the big event at our church.  We just don't celebrate it.  We do not, in any way, make Oct. 31st any different than any other day.

One of the questions that we often ask ourselves is, "Is this God's best for my life?"  When our teens want to go to a movie with friends, we ask, "Is that God's best for you?"  When our young adults become interested in another young man or young lady, we ask, "Is that God's best for you?"  When we choose how to spend our free time, we ask, "Is this God's best for us?"  We do not believe that celebrating Halloween could, in any way, be considered "God's Best" for our family.



Update  ...  for further reading ... 


My Bloggy Friend Anita wrote a well thought-out post about her perspective on Halloween (she lets her kids trick-or-treat with Grandma), and gave the following links.   Both links are articles about the origins of the holiday, but give the opposite perspective, that Christians can enjoy the holiday without dishonoring the Lord.  


What About Halloween?  by Answers in Action


Where Did Halloween Come From?  
Can Christians Celebrate It?  
by Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry