Should Christians celebrate Halloween? This is the question on the minds of many as today’s, October 31, night approaches. This is a festival that has been Americanized and spread from Ireland, England and Northern France to other parts of the world. The first thing all Christians should know is that Halloween is not a Biblical ceremony but a purely Western custom.
The other vital fact is the meaning of Halloween. It is simply the evening before All Hallows Day or All Saints Day. This day is celebrated on the first day of November. Halloween is a short form of All Hallows Evening, Allhalloween and All Saints Eve that is honoured on October 31.
The roots of Halloween are in ancient Celtic harvest festivities. However, modernization and Americanization of this event has turned it into a night of ghosts, candy, death and trickery. The maiden belief was that witches, evil spirits and demons celebrated this event to welcome their environment of long nights.
This was the New Year’s celebration by Celtic druids termed Samhain. They believed that the souls of the dead had a chance to associate with the living souls on this major annual celebration. For one to avoid the wrath of these evil beings and spirits, you had to disguise yourself as one of them or offer them sweet foods like modern candy.
As you think about your take on this event, please read Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:9-13, Philippians 4:8. Ephesians 5:11 and 2 Corinthians 6:17. However, Halloween is here for good.