What Is Halloween?
Halloween is the eve before November 1st, or what the Catholic church called All Saints Day, a day that celebrated martyred saints. October 31st was celebrated by the Druids, marking the beginning of Winter, a day on which they believed that the Lord of Death gathered the souls of the dead. They believed the Lord of Death would decide which animal form the evil dead would take and which human form the good dead would take for the next year (reincarnation).
Who Were the Druids?
The Druids were a learned priestly class among the Celts, who were a people of ancient Europe. They were made up of judges, lawmakers, as well as priests who led religious services, settled legal disputes, and served as leaders and advisers to their people.
What Did the Druids/Celts Believe?
- In many gods (400 or more)
- The soul was immortal and entered a new body after death
- The future could be foretold by using animal remains and the flight of birds
- The souls of the dead returned on Hallow’s Eve
What Is the Origin of Halloween?
Halloween’s origin is based on paganism, which is the worship of false gods that has been around since the fall of man (Gen.3). Historically, the Celts emerged at the beginning of the first century with a festival that they celebrated in honor of Samhaim, lord of the dead.
They were conquered by Rome in 43 A.D. and were ruled over for 400 years until Constantine came to power and incorporated all of Rome into Christianity. In 835 A.D., Pope Gregory IV designed November 1st as All Saints Day or All Hallow’s Day (hallow comes from hagios, which means holy or set apart). The Catholic church established October 31st as All Hallow’s Evening. This day was established to satisfy the druids, who became a part of the church, by allowing them to continue their festival in honor of Samhaim, lord of the dead.
Images Used in Halloween and Their Meanings
Jack-O-Lantern
According to an Irish legend, Jack-O-Lanterns were named for a man called Jack who was a drunk and a miser. He could not enter into hell because he played tricks with the devil and he could not go to heaven because he was a drunkard. As a result of this, he was left to roam the earth in search of a place of rest. He was said to be eating a turnip as he left hell and the devil threw a piece of coal at him, which he put inside the turnip.
Eventually, pumpkins replaced turnips. It was much easier to symbolize the devil’s coal inside a pumpkin than inside a turnip.
Costumes and Masks
This custom is related to the Druids’ belief that ghosts roamed about the houses of the living on Halloween and created mischief. The living could hide from these spirits by wearing costumes and masks to keep from being recognized by them.
Trick or Treat
The “trick” custom of Halloween relates to the idea that the ghosts who created mischief on this particular night could be appeased by giving them food or “treats.” If people did not do so, the Druids believed that the spirits would trick them. The people feared that terrible things would happen to them if they did not honor the spirits.
Fruits and Nuts
Three of the sacred fruits of the Celts were acorns, apples, and nuts—especially the hazelnut, which was considered a god. The acorn was considered sacred from its association to the oak.
Witches
Served as the priestesses of Halloween who invoked witchcraft in calling up spirits and casting spells.
Black Cats
Are believed to be evil spirits that embody animals.
Haunted Houses
Are believed to be places where demons live.
Facts About Halloween
- It is the most sacred day of witchcraft and other occultism.
- It is believed to be the only day of the year in which the devil’s help could especially be invoked for a variety of reasons.
- Human sacrifice was and is offered on this day.
- It is a day noted for divination.
- It is a day that unequally yokes Christians with pagans.
- Occults use this day to promote their beliefs and win converts.
What Does the Bible Say About the Occult and Things Associated With Halloween?
Leviticus19:31 — “Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.”
Deuteronomy 18:10-11 — “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.”
Deuteronomy 18:14 — “For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.”
2 Chronicles 33:6 — “He made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Benhinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.”
Key Questions Christians Must Ask Themselves
- Can we truly align ourselves innocently with something that is traditionally and currently involved with the occult and be certain we will never be affected in any possible manner?
- Are we ignorantly skirting the territory of the devil?
- Should Christians be out on the occult’s favorite day imitating the things that are historically and presently traced to the occult?
Romans 12:9 — “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22 — “abstain from every form of evil.” - In using decorations, do we help, even indirectly, to publicize what may be the single most important day in the world of the occult?
- Can we, even indirectly, be setting up our own children to become familiar with the “flavor” or practices of the occult?
How Does Participation in Halloween Affect Believers?
- It is a subtle way to get Christians to compromise with evil.
3 John 11 — “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good...” - It sends the wrong message to the world to dabble in the occult.
Matthew 5:13 — “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” - It affects the power of our witness to the world as salt and light by not setting ourselves apart.
Jeremiah 10:2-3a — “Thus says the LORD, ‘Do not learn the way of the nations …for the customs of the peoples are delusion...’” - It reflects our ignorance of spiritual things which results in our lack of power and purpose.
Hosea 4:6a — “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
How Should Christians Respond to this Satanic Holiday?
Ephesians 5:1, 8-11 — “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children... for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.”
This verse admonishes us to be imitators of God by:
- Walking in the light (truth or holiness).
- Continuing to learn what pleases the Lord.
- Not participating in darkness.
- Exposing the deeds associated with darkness.
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