Is It Wrong To Celebrate Halloween?

     A friend asked me, “Is it wrong to celebrate Halloween?”

    I know some people, including some of my Christian friends choose to participate and celebrate this particular event.  Most do it because they see this holiday as a harmless time to have fun, dress up, and get lots of candy.  I can’t help but wonder if they would still participate if they knew how Halloween originated.

    Halloween originated nearly 2,000 years ago as an ancient Celtic and pagan festival.  It was believed at this time that the dead walked among the living.  This festival was so that the living could communicate with the dead.   The Bible speaks about people who communicate with the dead.  In Leviticus 20:7, it says “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.”  Clearly, the Bible states that communicating with the dead is evil.

    Some people believe that the dead can make intercession for us, something that even the Bible disproves.  Luke 16 tells of a beggar called Lazarus and also of a rich man.  Both died and Lazarus went to Heaven while the rich man went to Hell.  If you read the story, the rich man begs to have Lazarus sent to his brethren so that they do not end up in Hell also.  Abraham replied and said that the rich man’s brethren would not accept the words of the prophets or believe the words of one raised from the dead, an example of the dead not being able to make intercession for us.

    Leviticus 19:31 also says, “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”  God does not wish for us to explore the fallen spiritual world.

    What about costumes, trick o’ treating, and candy?  Isn’t that a harmless part of celebration?  Well, let’s take a look.  According to history, the Celts wore costume disguising themselves as spirits (usually demons and devils) so that the spirits would mistake them for one of their own and therefor, leave them alone.  I don’t know about everyone else, but I sure wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a demon or devil!     

     Halloween was (and still is, in some countries) known as: Day of the Dead, Dance of the Hooded Egunguns, Beggars’ Night, and many other title variations.  Later, the Catholic Church called this popular holiday “All Saints Day” which was refined to “Hallowed Night” and then shortened to “Halloween”.  But though the name has been changed, the root and celebration remains for the most part, the same.  Whatever name it is known by, it is still characterized with black magic, death, skulls, the color black, witches, and evil spirits. 

  

     And trick o’ treating? Trick o’ treating has actually replaced the term it was originally known by, “souling”.  Souling was the process of going from door to door and accepting food and drink in return for prayers and intercessions for the dead.  The Celts also offered sweets to the spirits to appease them, which is much the same as offering sacrifice to false gods… something God hated.

    As for the jack o’ lantern, though coming for varied originations, it is also pagan.   One history declares that a candle lit inside a pumpkin (or originally a turnip) represented a soul in purgatory (hell).  Another history states that it was meant to signify prayers to and for the dead.

    The Bible calls for us to be separate from and to oppose the spirits of the devil, not to celebrate them.  Also, approaching the subject of things like ghosts, werewolves, witches, zombies, and vampires which has long been associated with the evil spirit world, these things are not only associated with but are evil.  Why?  These things promote fear, and fear is of Satan.

     As an elementary teacher, it has been my experience that this time of year often scares young children.  Especially, the young children have increasing fears of skeletons, death, ghosts, and other evil beings.  These children do not have the comfort that Christians have, in that God, promised that His perfect love will keep us safe.  His love casts out fear, so there is no need to be scared of the imaginary things like werewolves and vampires, or even evil spirits that are very real.

    This holiday is not without its social problems which include: unsupervised children, vandals, drunk driving, abductions, etc.  These social problems are becoming more prominent as our culture continues to evolve.  Many law enforcement officers dislike this holiday because there is always an increase of crime during this time.

    Did you know that thousands or wiccans (people who worship the devil/Satan) celebrate this holiday and believe it to be the most sacred time of the year?   USA Today quoted a professed witch who said, “Christians don’t realize it, but they’re celebrating our holiday with us… We like it.”

    This article is not intended to scare you out of Halloween or make you feel bad.  I simply wanted to shed some light on what many call an innocent and harmless holiday.  God speaks very strongly about sacrificing and talking with the dead.  He also speaks of magic, wizards, witches, serving evil, conforming to the world’s view of fun, and celebrating pagan rituals.

    In the end, this is a choice you can only make for yourself.  Personally, I have decided to not celebrate Halloween.  Not because I think I will go to hell if I do, but because I do not see it as being edifying to my Christian walk.  I certainly won’t condemn you if you decide to celebrate this event because I believe each person should follow what their conscience dictates to them, but pray that it is the Holy Spirit dictating you’re conscience.