The origins of Halloween
by an Anonymous friend of our minstry
Halloween is a man-made tradition. Traditions are not wrong in themselves, unless when
celebrating them we violate Scripture.
With each tradition we need to think through the origins, the
celebrations, and the consequences of each tradition and then pray and discern
what our conviction is. This paper
is to aid in our pondering of Halloween
As you are reading this, read with your “Biblical Worldview”
lens on. See if there are any
perversions of truth in this tradition.
Then let the Lord guide your thoughts, rejecting any pressure from our
culture or from what “we have always done”. I know that as we seek God He will direct our paths.
I have limited the details that are shared due to the fact
that they are not edifying. I have
given you the basics so that a true picture can be obtained without causing
fear.
Its origin
Halloween originated from the Festival of the Dead that
traces back thousands of years in Ireland and Scotland. It was a major day for the ancient
pagan Celts and their priests, the Druids. Oct. 31st marked the transition from summer into the
darkness of winter. They believed
that the power of the Sun was fading and for the next several months darkness
would prevail (until the
first of May). Oct. 31st marked the
beginning of the Celtic New Year and The Feast of Samhain. This was a fearsome night, a dreaded
night, a night in which great bonfires were lit to Samhain the Lord of
Death. He was known as the dark
Aryan god, the Grim Reaper, the leader of ancestral ghosts.
The Celts believed on that night, Oct. 31st, the spirits of the dead rose up out of
their graves, shivering with the coming cold of winter, and seeking the warmth
and affection of the homes they once inhabited. They believed even colder, darker creatures filled the
night: evil witches flew and demons, fairies and ghouls roamed about as the
doors of the burial graves opened wide allowing them free access to world of
the living. It was feared that
unless these spirits were appeased with offerings and gifts they would do
mischief and vengeance by destroying crops, killing cattle, and generally wreaking
havoc.
So families offered what was most precious to them: food
(the treat) which they hoped would be sufficient to offset anything which the
ghostly blackmailers might otherwise be intended to inflict (the trick). The ancient Celtic villagers felt
however that merely feeding the spirits might not be enough to speed them on
their way. So the practice of
dressing in masks and costumes began.
Chosen villagers disguised themselves as ghostly creatures, carrying a
turnip or potato with a fearful, demonic face carved into it hoping they would
intimidate the demons around them. They then cavorted from house to house
collecting “protection money” to run the spirits out of town.
The Druids’ (the Celtic priests) ritual on this night
included massive bonfires in which animals and humans were sacrificed. (Bonfires were originally called
bonefires…guess why?) They felt by
watching the writhing of the sacrifice in the fire they could foretell the
future of the village.
Today’s witches
Today a witch (also called a Wiccan) is one who worships
“Earth Mother” and the sun, moon and stars. Even today witches believe that Halloween is one of the four
greater festivals held during the year.
For them, Halloween celebrates a season in which the great goddess goes
to sleep for the long winter months, giving way to the horned god who will rule
until the goddess returns on the first of May. On Oct. 31st, they congregate in some open place, often on
a mountain top, to perform “black rites”. It is not only a time for feasting
and joyful celebration but also a time for communing with the spirits of the
dead. They also believe the veil
between the living and the dead is the thinnest during this time, which makes
Halloween the best time to contact the dead.
Today’s Satanists
Satanists are ones who worship Satan (the devil). Halloween,
for them, is the second most important holiday of the year. (Number one is the
night before the first of May) Today Satanists don’t just try to contact departed
spirits, they literally sacrifice and kill the innocent in the name of Satan on
Halloween. Enough said.
The Catholic’s Churches Response
The observance of Samhain continued until 837AD when Pope
Gregory IV instituted All Saints Day and All Hallow Eve, or Halloween, as a
Church holiday. This was hoped to
eliminate or replace Samhain and its pagan practices.
How did this get to America?
Irish immigrants in the mid-1800’s brought Halloween to
America where it became a night of fun where children dress up and go door to
door collecting candy from their neighbors. Over the years it has taken a more fearful tone. Movies about death and destruction
abound, curiosity of the occult is on the rise, and video games are focusing our
youth on darkness and killing. The
“fun” of the evening has again taking an evil twist.
Contrast
Can we see the contrast between wickedness and
righteous? Halloween’s origins are
about death, darkness, and fear.
God’s Kingdom is about life, light and joy.
Scriptures to Consider
Hosea 4:6-People are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Ez. 44:23-Distinguish between the unclean and the clean.
Deut. 18:9-14-Do not learn to imitate detestable ways.
1 Thess. 5:21-22-Abstain from every form of evil
Eph 6:12-Our struggle is with spiritual forces of
wickedness.
3Jn. 1:11-Do not imitate what it evil.
Rom. 12:9-Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.
Eph. 5:8-12-Have nothing to do with deeds of darkness.
2 Cor. 6:14-17-What fellowship does light have with
darkness?
Rom. 13:12-Put aside deeds of darkness and put on the armor
of light.
May the Lord bless you as You seek Him first in all things.
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