It’s that time of year again! The weather is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and the pumpkin lattes abound! (I – Renee – bought pumpkin spice Dawn dishwashing spray this year… my kids think I’m ridiculous!) I love fall! It’s the season David and I met, so it has lots of sentimental value to me.
The only drawback about this time of year for me (Renee) is… HALLOWEEN.
Drive around almost any neighborhood around these parts and you’ll probably have seen that Halloween decorations are coming out earlier and earlier each year. And you’re not just imagining it. An article on USA Today noted that Home Depot, Costco, Lowe’s and Target all had their spooky holiday selections on display in August or early September. And Americans began buying it! The harbinger of fall, Starbucks, released their pumpkin spice line in groceries on August 5th and their drinks like their iconic pumpkin spice latte were available on Thursday, August 22nd this year.
So yeah. Fall was being welcomed even as temps here in TN were still in the 90’s!
Nearly half of consumers (47%) began their Halloween purchasing before October. And total Halloween 2024 spending is estimated at $11.6 billion, about 5% below 2023’s record-setting spending mark of $12.2 billion…
What do you think about Halloween, Bonnie? Did you celebrate it?
Renee?
Renew.org has a great article by Daniel McCoy that summarizes the history of this holiday as simply as any I’ve read.
As best as we can tell, Halloween is a synthesis of pagan and Christian elements. There has long been a pre-Christian pagan festival called Samhain, pronounced sah-win, (meaning “summer’s end,”) in which the Celts believed there was a thinning between our reality and the spirit world. Because spirits needed to be appeased, the pagans would celebrate the festival in ways that would please the spirits as well as protect themselves from the spirits.
This was going on during the Iron Age. For reference, the events in the OT that were also occurring this time period takes us from the start of the kings of Israel through to their last king, and the subsequent captivity in Babylon. The principal Bible events during the Iron Age cover:
• Samuel – the last judge
• Saul – Israel’s first king
• David – the godly king who wrote many of the Psalms
• Solomon – the king who had huge wealth and wisdom
• Rehoboam and Jeroboam – in whose reigns the kingdom divided into North and South – and the subsequent kings
• Prophets – the teachers who tried to turn the nation back to God
• Capture of the Northern kingdom in 722 BC
• Capture of the Southern kingdom in 586 BC – they would return 70 years later and their descendants were the Jews living in Israel when Jesus was born.
Back to Halloween in what is now Ireland, the UK, and Scotland during the Iron Age…
For example, because souls of dead relatives would likely revisit the home, living relatives would set a place at the table with food for the spirits. During ceremonies, cattle would be slaughtered, bonfires lit, and divination practiced. People would also disguise themselves and go from house-to-house in order to impersonate spirits and so receive offerings meant for them.
Giving out food was a win-win for the impersonator at your door as well as for yourself. Giving an offering meant that you could expect fortune; however, refusing to give an offering could result in pranks (thus, Samhain was nicknamed “mischief night”). It was actually a double win if you were a spirit-impersonator because you would receive an offering meant for a spirit and the spirit would leave you alone because you were apparently one of them. These “guisers” would traditionally light their way by putting lights in hollowed-out turnips carved with scary faces (a precursor to jack-o-lanterns).
Neopagans and Wiccans still celebrate this day of thinning between the physical world and the otherworld, for example, by inviting recently departed spirits to a celebratory meal.
Note: A neopagan is a member of a modern religious movement that seeks to incorporate beliefs or ritual practices from traditions outside the main world religions, especially those of pre-Christian Europe and North America. And Wicca originated in the 20th century. The term “Wicca” comes from the Old English word wicca, which means “wizard”. Wiccans believe that people are responsible for the consequences of their actions, and that anything negative a person does will come back to them. They also believe in reincarnation. Wiccans practice a variety of rituals, including celebrating the solstices and equinoxes, honoring a male god and a female goddess, and using herbalism and natural objects in rituals. They also practice magic to heal themselves and others, and to find a new job or home.
Meanwhile, Christianity began spreading across Europe and up into Celtic areas. From the biblical stories of the deaths of John the Baptist and Stephen, we learn that early believers wanted to honor their dead who had become martyrs. With a proliferation of Christian martyrs in the early centuries came a desire to honor these heroes of the faith. Sometimes this honor became obsession, as a church might be built over a martyr’s tomb, or a martyr’s skin, bones, or clothing would become sacred relics. Eventually an annual celebration was created and called All Saints’ Day or All Hallows’ Day (“hallows” = holy ones) in order to celebrate martyrs and saints—especially those that didn’t already have their own feast days.
A later pope, Pope Gregory III, moved All Hallows’ Day to November 1 and decreed that a vigil take place the night before, which they called All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween.
The reason for the shift to October 31/November 1 likely had to do with coinciding the timing with the pagan festival of Samhain. When Europe was Christianized, it was easier to incorporate pagan festivals into Christian ones than it would have been to get people to simply stop celebrating what had been sacred traditions for generations. Eventually, an additional day was added in order to pray for Christians who had died and might still be in Purgatory. This third day, taking place on November 2, was called All Souls’ Day. Taken together, All Hallows’ Eve (October 31), All Hallows’ Day (November 1), and All Souls’ Day became known as Allhallowtide.
So, is Halloween Christian or pagan? Technically, it’s both. However, aside from the question of whether Christians should celebrate it, it’s interesting to note what seems to happen when you try to syncretize something that’s Christian with something that’s pagan. It’s pretty tough to see Christian elements in the ways that Halloween is celebrated today. However, it’s not at all hard to see elements lifted directly from Samhain, which All Hallows’ Eve was created to supplant. Our culture has traded an obsession with holy dead people for an obsession with death itself. Syncretizing Christianity with something else will typically work in favor of the something else.
Other Cultures With Similar Celebrations: Other Cultures Have a “Day of the Dead”
Although many affirm that Samhain was the origin of modern-day Halloween, it is significant to note how many cultures throughout the world have celebrated a “day of the dead” (often with sacrifices), occurring at the end of summer and fall.
For example, in the Americas there is the Mexican Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos) that goes back to the ancient festival of the dead celebrated by Aztecs and the more-ancient Olmecs. This was likely where the Guatemalans got their Day of the Dead.
Brazilians also celebrate Finados (Day of the Dead). Bolivia has the Day of the Skulls (Día de los Natitas).
In Asia, there are similar festivals. For example, the Chinese celebrated the Ghost Festival, which was a day to pay homage to dead ancestors. The Japanese celebrated something similar called O-bon or merely Bon. Even Vietnam has a variant of the Ghost Festival called Tet Trung Nguyen. In Korea, there is Chuseok or Hankawi, in which deceased ancestors are ritualized. In Nepal, there is the cow pilgrimage called Gia Jatra to honor the recently deceased. In the Philippines, there is the Day of the Dead (Araw ng mga Patay), where tombs are cleaned and repainted. The list goes on and on (see reference 5).
The annual Jewish holiday of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is celebrated in the fall, usually in September or October.8 But it is distinctly different in purpose. It is not in honor of the dead. Rather, it deals with soul searching and repentance and is a time of great sacrifice for the sins of the people (Leviticus 23:27–28). So there is some crossover, but God instituted this date.
Back to Halloween Today
As it’s celebrated today, Halloween seems pretty pagan. But that in itself doesn’t actually solve the dilemma for us. This is because the New Testament has a nuanced approach when it comes to how to interact with the pagan world. Let’s briefly look at Acts 8 and 1 Corinthians 8. Which of these provides a better lens through which to view Halloween? It’s a good question. We’ll look at the stories and then leave you, the reader, to pray for wisdom and pick your lens.
Acts 8: The story of a former sorcerer.
Acts 8:9-25 – A Magician is Converted to Christianity
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Simon the sorcerer had long amazed the people of Samaria, such that they called him “the Great Power of God.” That was until the gospel came to town complete with miraculous signs. Now something even more amazing had come to town, and people were getting baptized into Jesus. Simon himself got baptized.
When the apostles Peter and John arrived, they placed their hands on the new Samaritan believers and wowed Simon with the ability to give the Holy Spirit by the mere placing of hands. Simon offered them money to give him that ability, and Peter responded with a harsh warning which caught him off guard and left him begging them to pray for him. The former sorcerer should have made a cleaner break from his pagan past, because it was leading him to view his new faith through a pagan lens.
Should we view Christian participation in Halloween as a risky relapse back into the paganism we should have made a clean break from?
Let’s look at a second example from Scripture.
1 Corinthians 8: The story of a weaker brother.
Although he isn’t given a name, there’s a young Christian envisioned in 1 Corinthians 8 who came out of a pagan life. He used to worship pagan gods, attend festivals at the pagan temple, and eat meat from animals which had been sacrificed to pagan gods. Now that he and his family are Christians, he has left his former way of life behind. No more bowing before idols or attending pagan festivals—or eating meat. After all, meat has always been associated with idolatry—whether eaten at the temple after animal sacrifices or bought at the market from the temple sacrifices.
This young Christian has his facts wrong: there’s nothing inherently sinful about eating food that’s been sacrificed to idols because “food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” (1 Cor. 8:8). Paul calls him a “weaker brother” because his conscience won’t allow him to do what is actually fine to do. Eating food sacrificed to idols isn’t an endorsement of paganism.
Should we see participation in Halloween as a religiously neutral decision—even as it presents difficulties for people with sensitive consciences?
Should a Christian celebrate Halloween?
So, is Christian participation in Halloween a matter of reverting back into a pagan past (e.g., imagine the surprise of a Wiccan-turned-Christian to see Christian families enthusiastically celebrate elements of Samhain)? Or is it a matter of neutrally taking part in–or even bringing some redemption into–customs that have mixed Christian and pagan roots? Is it participating in the “deeds of darkness” (Eph. 5:11), or enjoying food (i.e., candy) while not endorsing the paganism that might be loosely connected to it? Should we view Halloween more through an Acts 8 lens or a 1 Corinthians 8 lens?
For followers of Christ, our actions and behaviors are judged according to our obedience to Christ. Within the context of celebrating Halloween, this truth remains. We are defined by our actions and how closely our heart is aligned with God’s desires.
It’s true, the Bible contains no direct references to Halloween by name. However, Scripture carefully instructs Christians against participation in pagan practices directly involving witchcraft, the occult, and the worship of other deities.
Ephesians 5:5-17 – Living in Darkness and Light
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Within this section of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul discusses the negative effects of “worthless deeds of evil and darkness.” Paul compares sin and our harmful decisions to living in darkness. But there is a way to live in the light and walk in obedience with God.
When it comes to living within our modern world, our decisions and obedience to God still operate in the same way. With Halloween, what matters is how you interact with others, your decision-making, and how you represent Jesus to others.
Dressing up in a costume and handing out candy on October 31 is not a sin. Just as it wouldn’t be a sin to do the same thing on April 1. However, how you represent Christ matters, especially on polarizing days such as Halloween. Remember how you portray Jesus in your behaviors, how you interact with people and even your costume choices.
In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul writes, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Our obedience to God requires a careful understanding of how much God cares about our choices. In deciding whether to participate in Halloween, you and your family can consider how your actions might align with God.
One directive is clear for the person whose conscience gives Halloween a green light: Don’t look down on the one whose conscience can’t allow them to participate. As Paul said in a different context, “If anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean” (Romans 14:14). It’s not right to violate your conscience, and fellow Christians shouldn’t look down on those who can’t.
More than ever, Halloween reminds Christians that people are searching for answers. As Christians, we can help guide others to the true source of power and supernatural works, just as Peter did for Simon.On Halloween, just as the case with any other night of the year, the Lord values our behavior and interactions with others, especially those that are not yet Christians. For the word of the Lord to continue to increase and prevail mightily, we need to remain faithful and obedient to God.
Whatever your decision, make it for the glory of God! Pray for opportunities to reach out to unbelievers and strengthen current believers in a way that builds the foundation of faith in Jesus.
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/should-christians-celebrate-halloween