Halloween has mixed origins that are disputed and not clearly based on historical facts. “Halloween” comes from the eve of all Hallows Day (or All Saints Day), which is November 1st. Although it occurs at a time of seasonal change called by some “Samhain” (the Celtic name for October 31, pronounced ‘sow-ain’), Halloween and Samhain have nothing in common and are not related.
Halloween in the United States is a commercial holiday that candy companies are very happy about. There are a lot of folklore tales and legends about some of the practices on Halloween, but little or no historical evidence to back those up.
Although some may choose to celebrate the darker side of what they consider Halloween to be, such as scary images; costumes of witches, ghosts, devils; horror movies; or other spooky material, one can choose not to do so.
Handing out candy, trick or treating, and carving pumpkins are not pagan activities. No matter what the tales are that supposedly give pagan origins to these — and there is little evidence for those — doing them is not a spiritual activity but a cultural and commercial one.
Halloween is one of the eight sacred or special days of celebration for many in the Pagan community. However, there is no evidence that any group uses this day as a day of sacrificing animals or people, and Christians, therefore, should not assume this nor believe wild stories about such practices, nor should Christians spread such stories. Christians need to remember the commandment about not bearing false witness. (Exodus 20:16) Pagan holidays are connected to the Pagans’ reverence for nature and the seasonal changes; sometimes, these beliefs incorporate and celebrate the stories of various pagan gods. And no matter what beliefs people hold, as Christians, we are called on to respect all people because all men have been created in the image of God.
Christians should not buy into rumors that witches or Satanists are killing people or sacrificing them on this day. Christians should consider Halloween a good day to pray for those in the occult so that they would come to know the love and grace of Christ and the forgiveness of sins through trusting Christ as the Savior who shed His blood on the cross for them. This is the message they need to hear in love.
As for trick-or-treating, that is up to the individual parent. Certainly, one hopes that Christians would not let their child dress up as a witch, demon, devil, ghost, or other figure that belong to the world of death or the occult.
Churches can offer alternative celebrations, such as a harvest day, and invite the area children to come play games, have treats, and hear Bible stories.
Since Halloween is my birthday, I have a special concern for this day. It is ever a personal reminder to me of the passage of time and a reminder of those in the occult who embrace darkness and need the Light of Christ.
Jesus read in the Temple these words from Isaiah 61: “‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.'” (Luke 4:18-21; Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy).
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)
Conclusions:
What really matters is how Halloween is viewed in the culture today and how it is observed. Although October 31st happens to be a pagan holiday, this does not mean the day is inherently evil because a day cannot be evil. Every day is a gift from the Lord:
“This is the day the Lord has made,
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
There are different accounts of the origins of Halloween, and scant historical verification for much of what you may read. Again, origins do not matter as much as how it is celebrated now.
Those who choose not to participate in Halloween, if their reasons are based on facts and not myths, should follow that desire. Those who are okay with Halloween should follow their choice. And no one should be criticized for those choices.
What matters, even more, is the ongoing promotion throughout the year of the occult in books, movies, TV shows, and video games. So why focus so much on one day?Ω
(The original post is at Christian Answers for the New Age as “Halloween Statement for Christians”)
Before trusting Christ, Marcia Montenegro was a professional astrologer and was involved in Eastern and New Age practices for many years. Through her ministry, Christian Answers for the New Age, Marcia speaks around the country and on radio and writes on New Age and occult topics. She has a Masters in Religion from Southern Evangelical Seminary, Charlotte, NC, and serves as a missionary with Fellowship International Mission, Allentown, PA. Based in Arlington, VA, she is the mother of an adult son and the author of SpellBound: The Paranormal Seduction of Today’s Kids (Cook, 2006). She is also co-author of Richard Rohr and the Enneagram Secret (MCOI Publishing, 2020) with Don and Joy Veinot You can find her online at: CANA or on Facebook at Christian Answers for the New Age
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While I disagree with your article, my brother in-law’s birthday is on Halloween. I have told him to have joy on this day because October 31, 1517, 505 years ago was the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of All Saints Church. This is the day we should be teaching our children about. Though the ‘Reformers’ did not go far enough (from Catholicism, etc.) teaching the truth about all the history of the common man having a Bible for themselves was miraculous to say the least. About Ecumenism too. If our children were raised in Christian homes and taught the Bible Halloween should put a sour taste in their mouths, they would gladly want to not participate in the Pagan Holiday that celebrates evil. How many churches celebrate as you say, “Churches can offer alternative celebrations, such as a harvest day, and invite the area children to come play games, have treats, and hear Bible stories” and never mention the Reformation? Much teaching can be done on this as an alternative for sure where they can thank God Almighty for giving us His Holy Word. “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22. Today’s Christians dabble in the ‘worlds’ evils. They take little tidbits of evil and turn it into something that seems ‘good’. What does the world think of this? Christians are no different than us~that’s what. There is no good whatsoever in the ‘images’ seen on Halloween in all the stores, on television and on social media. Blood, guts and gore, skulls and bones, hexes, harry potter and more. How much can our children see with their eyes and not be affected? I am 62 and it really affects me.
Anne, You disagree with facts? The facts are that Halloween was never a pagan holiday. It was a Christian one to honor early Christian martyrs (all Hallow’s eve). No one knows when the pagan holiday Samhain began, but the word “Halloween” is for All Hallow’s Eve, the evening before All Saints Day when people would pray and fast. Then later it became Reformation Day.
Although the culture focuses on horror films and the dark stuff, that does not make the day evil. A day cannot be evil because all days are created by God, and there is no more evil in one day than another. Those who do not want to participate in any Halloween activities should refrain but those who want to pass out candy and carve pumpkins are not doing anything pagan and should not be made to think they are.
“Anne, You disagree with facts?” Kindly put, you proved no ‘facts’ at all. I did some research myself and find no “Christian” link like you say whatsoever to Halloween especially in today’s world. The only possible link may be it came from Roman Catholicism from the age of Constantine through the dark ages. It is satanic and wicked, and I don’t believe Jesus or the apostles or the early church would have participated. The fact that the ‘world’ worships Halloween is proof it is not Christian, the world hates Jesus and his saints as they did in Jesus’s day, they do today. ‘If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.’ John 15:18-21.
It was a day to honor martyrs, All Hallow’s Eve is the evening before that day to honor martyrs. Even the name “Halloween” refers to that day. A day can’t be evil. The only thing that can be evil are the acts of people, but that cannot make a day evil. Let us not ascribe too much power to Satan. Men sin enough on their own.
Not participating is up to each person as I say in the article; I am not telling anyone to participate but to get the facts and make distinctions.