Halloween

“Don’t you know Halloween’s origins are rooted deeply in pagan activities?” one Christian asked another. “We should have nothing to do with that evil holiday.”
“You’re misinformed and just don’t know your history,” the other replied. “Halloween is actually a Christian holiday.”
Every year, as October 31 nears, conversations like this become common.
While both statements contain a degree of truth, neither tells the whole story. The holiday’s development, as it is celebrated today, is more complicated.

Origins in paganism
Many historians agree that Halloween’s earliest influences can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (SOW-in), which originated roughly 2,500 years ago. Observed around the beginning of November, the festival marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.
Halloween customs such as costumes, bonfires, and beliefs about supernatural activity are commonly believed to have originated with Samhain.
The truth is, however, very little can be known with certainty concerning how Samhain was actually celebrated.
Unlike many ancient civilizations, the Druids (Celtic priests and religious leaders) kept almost no written documentation of their religious practices and traditions. Therefore, very few, if any, primary-source descriptions of the festival exist. Most of what is believed about Samhain comes from medieval Irish literature and other sources written centuries later.
Of course, the hundreds of years between the festival’s celebration and written accounts of it do not necessarily mean that what has been written and widely believed is inaccurate. However, it does mean that historians cannot verify such details with the same degree of certainty that they can when more contemporaneous sources exist.
About all that can be said with any degree of confidence is that the festival of Samhain was a religious celebration that belonged to an ancient, pre-Christian, Celtic culture. Because it was pre-Christian, whatever its specific customs were arose from a religious worldview distinct from Christianity.

Origins in Christendom
Though the development of Halloween within Christendom is far less than historically certain, it is better documented than the ancient Celtic traditions associated with the holiday’s origins.
The holiday, and the name it is known by today, developed from a number of observances within the medieval Catholic Church.
In the eighth century, the Western Catholic Church established November 1 as All Saints’ Day to commemorate those who had died in Christ, particularly believers who had lived exemplary lives of faith and those who had suffered martyrdom. The day was celebrated through special worship services, prayers of remembrance, and reflections on the hope of eternal life.
As with many celebrations, observance of All Saints’ Day began the evening before, and since hallow was an old English word that meant “holy” or “saint,” the evening became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually became Halloween. In the centuries that followed, alongside All Saints’ Day, another observance was developed – All Souls’ Day.
While All Saints’ Day focused more specifically on examples of Christian faithfulness, All Souls’ Day, celebrated on November 2, was established to remember and pray for departed believers, particularly those who, within medieval Catholic theology, were believed to be undergoing purification in purgatory. Over time, those observances spread throughout medieval Europe and began to merge with European customs and folklore.
Many historians believe the gradual blending of religious observances and local culture contributed to customs that became associated with Halloween, such as souling, whereby the poor went door to door and offered prayers for the dead in exchange for food; and guising, in which children and adults wore disguises and performed in exchange for food or small gifts. Both are widely regarded as important influences on modern-day trick-or-treating and are commonly believed to have developed during this period in history.
These customs and others continued to evolve over subsequent centuries and were eventually brought to North America by European immigrants.

Origins in America
Originally, Halloween was given little attention in Colonial America, as many Protestants, particularly the Puritans of New England, often rejected celebrations rooted in Catholicism.
As immigration increased, however, new arrivals from Europe brought with them a variety of customs, folklore, and superstitions concerning ghosts, witches, and the supernatural.
But widespread celebration did not become common until the second half of the 19th century, when America experienced large waves of Irish and Scottish immigrants, who brought with them traditions associated with All Hallow’s Eve, such as the aforementioned souling and guising.
Eventually, Halloween in America took on a life of its own and gradually became an amalgamation of centuries of cultural and religious traditions, folklore, and observances.
By the early 20th century, the holiday had become largely secularized, and businesses increasingly commercialized it through the sales of merchandise like costumes, decorations, and candy. The result was the multimillion-dollar American celebration of today.

How should Christians respond?
Regardless of what can be proven about the origins of Halloween, how to respond to the holiday as it currently exists is still a valid concern and question for Christians.
Even if there is scant evidence Halloween is rooted in the occult, it is hard to deny the spiritual undertones or overtness of the modern holiday’s association with themes of darkness and evil – the undead, vampires, witches, demons, murderers, etc.
Origins aside, darkness is still darkness, and evil is still evil.
However, the mere appropriation of a day, holiday, or symbol that misconstrues original intent does not necessarily mean abandonment is in order. After all, Christians do not disown the rainbow – a covenantal sign from God – simply because it has been hijacked by the homosexual movement.
Ultimately, well-meaning Christians will come to different convictions about whether Halloween should be celebrated, and if so, what is appropriate?
How they arrive at their convictions, however, should not be through shaky origin stories and folklore; rather, their convictions should be based on the firm foundation of God’s Word, which offers timeless principles.
Believers should be reminded that fellow Christians may reach different conclusions on matters of conscience not explicitly addressed in Scripture. The Lord commands believers to exercise charity and avoid foolish arguments, instructing them to follow their convictions before the Lord (Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8).
No doubt, some Halloween celebrations will be harmless, while others will be fraught with rituals and celebrations that boldly and unapologetically promote all sorts of wickedness. In those situations, Scripture is clear that Christians should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), avoid all evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), and reject every form of occultic practice (Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Acts 8, Acts 13).
Furthermore, Christians should consider the effects of what is allowed into one’s heart and mind. Referencing Philippians 4:8, believers might ask themselves if a Halloween celebration or event will cause them to think on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or worthy of praise.
God’s Word may say nothing about Halloween as an event, but it certainly addresses principles that lead to godly obedience and wisdom in this and all questions of holy living.