On the downside, the holiday has become a time of increased crime in many places (especially arson and other acts of violence) on Halloween night as well as the night before.
When did this holiday begin and why? Was Halloween’s origin paganistic or is there something more behind Halloween’s history?
On the Halloween origin, some researchers claim that the holiday can be traced back about 2,000 years to the Celts of Europe who occupied parts of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. It was a pagan festival called “Samhain” (pronounced “sow-in”) that celebrated, more or less, the honor of the dead and involved the offering of large sacrifices of crops and animals.
Around AD 600, Pope Boniface IV created All Saints’ Day, and Pope Gregory III later moved this holiday to November 1 in an effort to give a Christian alternative to this pagan celebration.
Christians who did not want to celebrate pagan festivals celebrated something of positive spiritual value—in this case honoring the saints and martyrs. With the overwhelming expansion of Christianity in Europe, All Saints’ Day became the dominant holiday.
A couple hundred years later, the Roman Church made November 2 All Souls’ Day to honor the dead. This may well have been influenced by the continued persistence of the day of the dead by the ancient Irish, Scots, and others in Europe. Standing against this, many Protestant Christians celebrate October 31 as Reformation Day in honor of reformers such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others who spearheaded the Reformation in the 1500s.
Although many affirm that Samhain was the origin of modern-day Halloween, it is significant to note how many cultures throughout the world have celebrated a “day of the dead” (often with sacrifices), occurring at the end of summer and fall. There seem to be too many parallels to call these similar celebrations a coincidence.
It seems no coincidence that cultures all around the world in both present and ancient times have had a holiday when the dead were remembered and animals were sacrificed. We can make a pretty strong argument that this holiday goes back to a time when all the peoples lived together—and then they took this holiday to various parts of the world.
Proper sacrifices in the Bible were associated with sin and death. This goes back to the first sacrifice in Genesis 3:21 when the first two humans sinned against God. The perfect creation that God had made was now marred with sin that deserved death.
Genesis 3:21-Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Leviticus 17:11- For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Romans 5:12- Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
It should be obvious from a Christian perspective that many modern practices of Halloween and days of the dead have evil intent.
1 Corinthians 10:20- But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
There has been considerable paganism that has been associated with Halloween over the years. Evil acts such as vandalism; arson; destructive pranks; and glorification of sensuality, death, and demons are in strong opposition to the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-21- Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
So, a word of caution must be given to Evangelicals who promote some of the questionable modern practices of Halloween.
If anything, an alternative in opposition to Halloween should be offered by Christians. Psalm 24:1 points out that everything belongs to the Lord. Therefore, there is no reason to let Satan have Halloween. Despite Halloween’s origin, it is not his day in the first place!
Psalm 24:1- The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
So where do you go from here? Please encourage your pastors and elders to have some sort of church function to counter modern practices of Halloween. Of course, one of the only nice things that Halloween really has to offer could also be involved—sweet treats (in moderation of course)!
If a Christian alternative is not possible in your location, then take advantage of this opportunity to share with “trick or treaters” the message of the gospel, how Jesus Christ has conquered death, and the forgiveness that can only be found in God.
Part of this real history is the bad news that the rebellion of the first man, Adam, against God’s command brought death, suffering, and separation from God into this world. We see the results all around us.
But the good news is that God has done something about it.
Jesus Christ the Creator, though totally sinless, suffered on behalf of mankind the penalty of mankind’s sin, which is death and separation from God. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice; he died on a cross, but on the third day, he rose again, conquering death, so that all who truly believe in him, repent of their sin, and trust in him, are able to come back to God and live for eternity with their Creator.
Romans 5:8- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I Timothy 2:4-6- Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
What a wonderful Savior—and what a wonderful salvation in Christ our Creator!
— Bodie Hodge
