Halloween is the time of year when the world holds its festival to honor the
powers of darkness -- the time when stores stock up on all the goodies that
children seek as they make their way from door to door with their wails of
"Trick or treat." Doting parents take pictures of them in their little
costumes, dressed as witches, demons, monsters, and their favorite media
characters. They no doubt think of how cute their kiddies look as they waddle
about the neighborhood working their peculiar brand of blackmail.
Humor aside, it's important that Christians consider the true meaning of this
holiday called Hallowe'en. Whether or not Christians should be a part of these
festivities is a legitimate question. It's one among many concerning how God's
people are to relate to the affairs of the world. If we are called to be holy
and separated unto Him, we should seek to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but
as wise (Eph. 5:15).
Many Christians think that Hallowe'en is an outgrowth of Christian tradition
honoring the saints of the Church. While the name and most recent influences of
this holiday appear to be Christian (the name means the evening before All
Hallows, or All Saints Day), most of its customs are remnants of ancient pagan
superstitions connected with the Druidic new year. The date was a joint festival
known as Samhain (or Sowein), held in honor of the Celtic people's sun god and
their Lord of the Dead.
Common to new year festivals around the world, to the Druids this was a time
when the dead came back to mingle among the living. The Celts believed that the
sinful souls of those who had died during the year had been transferred to the
bodies of animals. Through gifts and sacrifices, their sins could be expiated
and the souls freed to enter the land of eternal youth and happiness. The Lord
of the Dead judged the souls and decreed the form in which their existence was
to continue, whether as humans or animals.
Some modern witches claim the day as a time to give thanks to their great
goddess and god for their abundance in harvest. As the start of the pagan new
year, Hallowe'en is the time when they also invoke the help of spirits for the
coming year, since the veil between the dead and the living is believed to be at
its thinnest.
"CHRISTIAN" INFLUENCE
The reason many Christians associate Hallowe'en with Christianity is
that in the eighth century Pope Gregory III established November 1st as the Roman
Catholic feast day honoring the dead. Then, in the ninth century, Pope
Gregory IV decreed that the day was to be universally observed by the Roman
Catholic Church which, at that time, held the greatest influence among the
Christian populous because of its political strength.
The evening before, that Roman Catholic feast day coincided with the pagan
Samhain festival and came to be called All Hallows Eve or Hallowe'en (Hallows
Evening). In reality, then, Hallowe'en was at first a pagan festival which was
later merged with a Roman Catholic feast day.
During the Middle Ages, the evening before All Saints' Day became known as the
time most favored by witches, sorcerers, and devil worshipers.
It should be noted that not all witches are Satanists, since they
believe that Satan is a fabrication of the Christian faith. Today's witches in
the Celtic tradition adhere to Wicca, a form of witchcraft that worships nature.
The belief of Wicca is that God is beyond understanding and, thus, can only be
understood by looking at "parts" of God. Since every person and
everything is believed to be a part of God, they often greet one another with
the expression, "Thou art God."
Wicca holds to a form of dualism that is often expressed in the masculine and
feminine, or, god and goddess. What they believe to be the mother aspect of God
they call Goddess, and prefer it to the father aspect because the feminine is
seen as the more understandable aspect of God. This is why Wicca is very active
in the feminist movement.
Satanism is a different form of witchcraft which invokes the power of Satan
specifically. There are many kinds of witchcraft throughout the world and some
of their traditions are similar. Satanism is one form of witchcraft whose
traditions and practices are in many cases similar to those of Wicca. To both
forms of witchcraft, Hallowe'en (which they call Sowein, pronounced similarly to
"cowain") is the most sacred day of the year.
PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DANGERS
The physical dangers that Hallowe'en presents to children are easily
discerned. There are numerous warnings on radio, television, and in other mass
media outlets of what to beware of in the way of contaminated food, how to dress
to avoid the hazards of fire and to be easily seen at night, and what to give
children to offset the aches in their little tummies from gorging themselves on
too many sweets.
However, the physical dangers of Hallowe'en are minimal when compared to the
spiritual dangers. Yet through ignorance and/or love of human tradition, many
professing Christians continue to engage in its festivities and encourage their
children in them. The common argument in favor of their doing so is, "It's
only in fun and the kids don't know the difference anyway."
And that's the problem: it's all in fun and they don't know the difference. The
desire for fun often runs counter to the commands of Christ. Our joy should be
in Him, and the things we do for enjoyment, while not always necessarily
spiritually edifying, should at least not compromise our testimony. As we should
do all things to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), so too, we should abstain from
all appearance of evil (1 Thes. 5:22).
When we engage in tributes to Satan and pagan gods, we are sanctioning the works
of God's enemies. It is the same as enjoying a banquet held in honor of someone
who has sworn to kill our earthly father. If we will look at pagan festivities
in that light, we may better understand how our involvement grieves our Lord.
In participating in these things, either we are failing to acknowledge the
reality of those demonic forces and their influence in the world, or we think
they are something with which we can align ourselves and not be adversely
affected.
Nor does the argument that Hallowe'en isn't what it was originally hold up in
view of its continued observance by witches in honor of their pagan gods. On
that day, also, Satanists continue to engage in all sorts of perversions,
including animal and human sacrifices.
Whether we believe in these things or not, the traditions linked to Hallowe'en
carry evil connotations, and the fact remains that it's still a feast of Satan.
It really doesn't matter whether or not certain types of witches acknowledge him
as a reality. Therefore, its practices must be exposed for the evil they are.
As we look at these customs, we should realize that their very nature is
contrary to the Christian faith.
TRICK OR TREAT
The modern custom of going from door to door begging candy, nuts,
apples, and money while masked and dressed in grotesque costumes goes back to
the pagan new year feast. The spirits that were thought to throng about the
houses of the living were greeted with banquet-laden tables. At the end of the
feast, masked and costumed villagers, representing the souls of the dead,
paraded to the outskirts of town leading the spirits away. This was done to
avoid any calamities the dead might bring upon them should they not be provided
for. Were the living to fail in their provisions, they believed that they might
find their lives disrupted by having their livestock die, their milk turn sour,
their food spoil, or by some other mischief the spirits of the dead might
devise.
This appeasement of the spirits was celebrated in various ways according to
locale and custom, with minor differences. One way was to set out bowls of fruit
and other treats so they could partake of them and, once satisfied, would leave
in peace. Your child, going door-to-door, is re-enacting that ancient
superstition.
JACK-O-LANTERNS
The jack-o-lantern (also known as will-o-the-wisp, fox fire, fairie
fire, friar's lantern, and corpse lantern, among other things) was believed to
be a wandering soul which could not find refuge because of a particularly evil
deed committed in its lifetime. Some believed it to be a malignant imp. The
Finns believed that it was the soul of a child buried in the forest.
According to ancient folklore, a will-o-the-wisp wanders about swamp areas,
enticing victims to follow. Should a person succumb to curiosity and follow its
light, he may become hopelessly lost or lead to his death in a bog or pool.
There are tales of these mischievous spirits chasing terrified victims through
mud and brambles until confused, and then leaving them stranded with the sound
of mocking laughter ringing through their ears. Today's Icering pumpkin face is
symbolic of that mocking spirit.
A corpse candle is said to be a small flame moving through the air in the dark,
and is believed by the superstitious to be an omen of the observer's imminent
death, or the death of a loved one. These strange fires, thought by the more
rational to originate from the atmospheric ignition of swamp gasses, where also
known as "Ignus Fastuus," or "Foolish Fire," because only a
fool would follow them.
BONFIRES
Most everyone is familiar with the Hallowe'en bonfire. This had its
origins in the Celtic fire festivals, which at times included human sacrifice
(hence, the "bone-fire").
In North Wales, every family built a bonfire into which each member would throw
a stone he had marked with his own identification. The family would recite
prayers to their gods while gathered around the fire. Should a stone be missing
when they returned to the site the next morning, it was believed that the owner
of that particular stone would die within the coming year. A similar belief
existed in the Scottish Highlands, and diverse forms of fortune-telling would
accompany the festivities. The Celtic new year provided a suitable time for
predicting the future due to the closeness of the spirits. Even today, during
this time of year modern "mystics" fill the newspapers with their
predictions for the next year.
It is believed that the bonfires were first meant to provide light and heat to
compensate for the feeble sun during the darkening and chilling winter to come.
On this particular night, all the people would extinguish their fires at home
and congregate at a great community bonfire consecrated through sacred rites
during the fire festival. In order to receive fire for the next year, it was
necessary to engage in pagan rituals, many of which included human and animal
sacrifices to the gods of nature.
DUCKING FOR APPLES
There were many divination practices associated with Samhain, many of
which dealt with marriage, health, and the weather. Ducking for apples was a
marriage divination based on the belief that the first to bite into an apple
would be the first to marry in the coming year. This is similar to the wedding
tradition of the throwing of the bride's bouquet for women and her garter for
men.
Apple peeling was another type of divination to determine how long one's life
would be. The longer the unbroken peel, the longer the life of the one peeling
it.
BLACK CATS & OTHER TALISMANS
Witches of many persuasions own living talismans -- animals indwelt by
evil spirits through which they (the witches) derive their power. Common
talismans are dogs, owls, snakes, and swine, but among the most common are cats.
The witches invoke the familiar spirits to enter the bodies of their talismans
for the exercising of power.
The black cat in particular has come to symbolize these familiar spirits,
because black represents evil, death, and darkness -- commodities with which
evil spirits are obsessed.
THE UNHOLY MADE HOLY?
The other trappings of Hallowe'en are all steeped in magic and the
occultic practices of ancient civilizations. With the advent of Christianity,
rationalizations were given to these practices in order to make them palatable
to the Church, while providing for appeasement of pagans forced to become
"Christians" or lose their lives at the hands of the Roman clergy.
One variation on trick-or-treat, for example, was for children to go around on
the eve of All Souls' Day (the day following All Saints' Day) offering to fast
for the departed souls of loved ones in exchange for money or some other
offering.
Like many pagan festivals that were conveniently adapted for Christian usage,
Hallowe'en is today accepted as Christian in origin and practice. But the
darkness that permeated the minds of those within the Roman Church at that time
resulted in the taking of that which was consecrated to Satan and the pagan gods
of nature, and offering them to God. We have numerous Scriptures that reveal
this as an abomination to God, punishable by death. That's how much He detests
such practices, regardless of whom one says they honor.
Jeremiah and the prophet wrote, "Learn not the way of the heathen" (Jer.
10:2). Lest those "under grace" think this doesn't apply to the
present, they should read Paul's words in 2 Cor. 6:14-18.
To engage in revelry associated with such an anti-Christ festivity as Hallowe'en
is a slap in our Lord's face. Yet because of "vain tradition,"
Christian parents -- and even some churches -- go all out to make Hallowe'en a
special time of celebration. Some churches and Christian organizations even go
public with "haunted" houses designed to scare the wits out of people
for profit in order to finance their programs. Yet God says that He has not
given us a spirit of fear, but of love and power, and of a sound mind (2 Tim.
1:7).
THE REAL ISSUE
Witches frequently propagate their beliefs through the handing out of
tracts to trick-or-treaters. But is it suitable for the Body of Christ to
embrace the symbols of Satan for any cause and, for the excuse of
"fun," induce ungodly fear in people? How easy it is to become
oppressed by evil spirits if we don't keep our guard up and continue in the
peace and joy of Christ, but instead allow ourselves to indulge our senses in
momentary pleasures revolving around Satan and his domain.
We cannot have fellowship with them or involve ourselves in their festivities.
There is nothing on earth, least of all some bits and pieces of candy, which can
justify embracing Satan in his unholy days celebrations. For too long,
Hallowe'en has captivated the minds of Christian children and adults alike to
the detriment of their spiritual lives. It's time that pastors and teachers take
responsibility to educate their flocks to God's requirement of holiness for His
people.
As pastors and teachers have the responsibility of educating parents in the
Church, so too, the responsibility of educating children belongs to parents --
especially the fathers. But no more so in this age or society than in ages past.
The difference is that today children rule many homes, Christian and
non-Christian alike. For that reason, compromise is the easy way out for
parents. Thinking they are showing love by acquiescence, they are really
destroying their children's spiritual life.
ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES?
No matter what evil the world utilizes to entice children, parents are
forever searching for alternatives in order that their children not feel
deprived of the world's fun. When it comes to Hallowe'en, Christians decide to
substitute their own parties for the world's. Instead of calling their
festivities "Hallowe'en parties," they call them "Harvest
Festivals" and dress their children in the costumes of Bible characters.
But that's what Hallowe'en is: a Harvest festival!
By dropping the name "Hallowe'en" in favor of "Harvest
Festival," they are actually drawing closer to the meaning of the pagan
celebration. If anything, it would be more "Christian" to retain the
name "Hallowe'en" and shun the name "Harvest Festival."
Besides, many children of professing Christians wear Bible character costumes
for Hallowe'en anyway, so what's the difference except in the compromise of
their minds? You can be sure that to most children it's still Hallowe'en that
they are celebrating.
It is a religious spirit that persuades Christians that by substituting angel
costumes for witches costumes they are somehow pleasing God. But His Word calls
for separation, not compromise.
It isn't going to traumatize children if they aren't allowed to join in some
things just because "everyone else is doing it." It's the
responsibility of Christian parents to teach their children the truth from the
beginning -- not wait until they've been sufficiently infected by the world that
they must be deprogrammed at a later date.
Children who are taught to love Jesus will understand that, because of that
love, they should not have anything to do with a celebration that glorifies the
power of God's enemies. Even if they rebel and, for a time, reject the truth,
parents can trust God's promise: "Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prv. 22:6).
If parents will be faithful in their responsibility to bring their children up
in the knowledge of God's righteousness, He will keep His hand upon their
children and will guide them back to the truth. On the other hand, Jesus'
warning in Matthew 18:6 applies no less to parents and Church leaders than to
child molesters and abusers:
"... whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
If Christian parents encourage their children in celebrating pagan festivals
in any manner -- even by calling it something that it isn't -- they are placing
before them stumbling blocks in their relationship with Christ. This is an
offense against their own children, even if propagated in ignorance.
Yet there is a Biblical alternative to Hallowe'en: A church service which
educates Christians to these and other dangers, and which continues in worship,
praise, and prayer. This is an idea whose time has come.
Special services can be held for the children in which the Church can help the
parents by educating the children of their responsibility to avoid the
appearance of evil. It's a perfect time to contrast our faith with the world's
beliefs. Thus, we will be displaying to God our seriousness in wanting to stand
for His righteousness to reign in the hearts of our neighbors.
This is no trivial matter. Satan is alive, and souls are being lost in great
numbers daily. But so, too, is God alive. And He is working His plan of
redemption. If we want to be a part of that plan and, just as importantly, if
Christian parents want their children to be part of that plan, we must once and
for all let God have His way at any expense.
This is a tremendous responsibility; hardly worth sacrificing on the altars of
worldly pleasure.
* This material has been adapted and/or excerpted from a Media Spotlight Special Report of October, 1989.
