As a Christian, I have always been cautious about having anything to do with Halloween, other than handing out a few sweets to cute, dressed-up children knocking on our door at teatime on the 31st of October. In recent years, we have been away on holiday at the end of October, so I haven’t even needed to give Halloween a second thought. This week, I have been preparing for our recently-formed school Christian Union’s next meeting with the question, “Why don’t Christians celebrate Halloween?” Whilst researching this question, I discovered that many Christians actually do celebrate Halloween and it’s perfectly okay!
Firstly then, why do some Christians choose not to celebrate Halloween? The origins are linked to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a celebration involving spirits and the blurring of the boundary between the living and the dead. Some Christians believe that this conflicts or compromises their faith.
Glorification of Evil: Many Christians avoid Halloween because they believe it promotes or glorifies darkness, death, evil, and supernatural themes, which contradict the Christian message of light, life, and peace through Christ.
Biblical Concerns: Some Christians believe that participating in Halloween goes against biblical instructions to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). They may also see the holiday’s focus on death and the macabre as a departure from the Christian focus on the victory over death through Jesus.
Spiritual Vulnerability: Some Christians feel that engaging with Halloween themes could open doors to spiritual darkness or send the wrong message to children, especially in cultures where the holiday’s themes are heavily emphasised.
Rather than hiding away and pretending that Halloween isn’t happening, many Christian families opt for alternative celebrations like a Harvest Festival or a Light Party that offer a fun, family-friendly way to enjoy the autumn season without the supernatural or dark themes.
And now, why (and how) do other Christians celebrate Halloween? If you go on holiday to Spain or to a Spanish country this half term, you might notice that the 1st of November, the day after Halloween, is a national (bank) holiday and Halloween is a big, fun time for all the family. But why is it a national holiday? Because it’s a Christian holiday!
All Saints Day is on 1st November every year. The name Halloween is short for Hallows Eve, as it is the eve before All ‘Hallows’ Day, which in today’s language is All Saints Day. In Old English ‘hallowed’ means holy or sanctified. All Saints Day is a day to remember and celebrate the Saints who have gone before us. It is also a day to remember the saints (with a little ‘s’) who have gone to their eternal home – our loved ones who have died.
In light of this, how do Christians celebrate Halloween?
They have fun, play games, go to parties, dress up, carve pumpkins and they give and receive sweets (candy).
The children might go on ‘trick or treat’, but they don’t curse a house where the occupant didn’t give them any treats.
They dress up but not as the devil or a blood-covered murderer with an axe.
They go to parties and have fun but they don’t celebrate death or evil spirits.
Ultimately, whether to celebrate Halloween is a matter of personal choice for many Christians, who may decide to participate or abstain based on their own convictions and understanding of the holiday’s meaning. At the end of the day, it’s all about respecting one another’s differences and celebrating diversity. Enjoy the 31st of October, whatever you choose to do.
Sources: Google Search and BBC.co.uk
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