Is It OK To Celebrate Halloween?

Rev John W Brown
Oct 2, 2010

In about thirty days Halloween will be celebrated by many. As Christian people what should be our response to this celebration? Is it OK to celebrate Halloween? Some would cry out in shock, "No way! It's the devil's holiday, as well as pagan, and therefore Christians should have nothing to do with it." Others would see it as innocent fun when kids get to dress up once a year. So who is right?

History of Halloween

Halloween is believed to originally have been a Celtic tradition, that on this day all spirits returned to the earth - good as well as bad. The ancients believed that this was the day when the wall between the dead and living was weakest, and therefore allowed the spirits to return. They saw Halloween as between the sunshine of Summer and the darkness of Winter. This was the point at which the sun began to get weak, until it reached it weakest point on December 25th (or therebouts) when it died.

Fires were burned to light the way for the good spirits to find their way home and be reunited with their loved ones for a day. They were also to scare off evil spirits who were believed to be afraid of light, and so would stay away from any place where light was. With the lighting of yule logs, bonfires etc. the sun received warmth and new life. It was thus enabled to rise again and give its light and warmth to the earth for another year.

Food was left out to placate the spirits as it was believed that if you didn't leave food, the spirits would play a trick on you. Costumes were worn to try to deceive the spirits. It was thought that if you dressed up, the spirits wouldn't recognize you, and would leave you alone. Also by wearing hideous masks it was believed that you could scare the spirits away.

When "trick or treating" was first introduced in the Middle Ages, the poor would dress up and go door to door, begging for food, and in return for the food they would pray for the family's dead the next day. Sidestepping the issue of praying for the dead let's have a look at it from another perspective.

As with many pagan celebrations, the Christian church has taken this idea of Halloween and made it into All Souls Day (November 1) and All Saints Day (November 2).

All Souls Day was originally to remember all who had died the previous year, or others who had died anytime, and pray for them.

All Saints Day was to reflect on the lives of the saints and ask them to intercede for those who had died, to be able to escape Purgatory and continue on their journey to Paradise. It is a good time to look at the lives of some of the great saints, church leaders, reformers who have had great influence on the church and on our lives. It can also be a time to remember the living saints, our brothers and sisters in Christ, members of our churches, i.e all who name the name of Christ, and pray for them to be blessed. In this manner we can take what was reserved for the devil, and make it a day in which Christ is honored through our prayers and sharing with others.

So then, can we participate in Halloween and still maintain, enforce and teach our Christian values and morals? My anser is unreservedly yes. We can take it back from the devil, and in the process make it a positive thing for teaching what we believe.

This year, as the kids go door to door collecting their candy and treats, why not make a list of those they go to see. Usually "trick or treating" is done at the homes of close friends, relatives, and/or neighbors, so perhaps when they get home, before being allowed to devour the candy, suggest that they pray for each one who gave them the candy.

The idea would be for God to bless each person or family who gave and who was a blessing to the child. It teaches them the lesson of Jesus that, "It is more blessed to give than receive". Acts 20:35. It also teaches them to pray, to be a blessing to others and think of them first. It teaches them that it's not about getting and hoarding "stuff", but sharing and blessing others with what they have.

We might also want to sit down with our families to remember friends, loved ones or others who have died, focussing on their good qualities and what made them memorable people. This way the kids learn their family history as part of the fun.

If perhaps a child has received a lot of candy, they might give some to a local food bank where it can be given to kids who may not have gotten candy for Halloween. If there is someone who is poor in the neighborhood, share with them. God has blessed you on Halloween so that you can then be a blessing to someone else.

I know that what I present here is controversial, and perhaps since I don't have any children I should have no say in the matter, however I believe it's a plan that allows children to have their innocent fun while at the same time learning God's ways, which will help them later in life to be the disciples and followers of Christ He has called them to be.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it". The things they can learn from Halloween can stay with them a lifetime and help them.

Finally in closing these are my views alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Christian Gays, my church or anyone else. Would love to hear back as to what you think.

God Bless Everyone of You,
Rev. John W. Brown

If you liked this article, please share it. It's easy to do. Give it a try.

Note from Mary: The Google Ads at the top and bottom of these pages are supposed to reflect the content within the website, however they are selected by robots so may actually be contrary to ChristianGays.com beliefs and principles. ChristianGays.com does not necessarily endorse the Advertisers, although I'm sure some of them are very good.