Is it okay for a Christian to celebrate Halloween?
Perhaps that is a question you have been pondering, and if so, this article is for you.
The decision of whether or not to participate in Halloween celebrations is one that has become quite muddled by the differing views on the matter.
On the one side are those who believe that it is ok to participate in Halloween events, viewing it as simply a fun autumn event they can enjoy with their families.
On the other are those who vehemently oppose it due to its roots in pagan religious practice and a desire to avoid anything that would be considered worldly.
The question comes down to this: should a Christian celebrate Halloween?
Why or why not?
And what does the Bible say that is relevant to the issue?
Today, I am going to take a look at the history of Halloween and how it developed into what we see today and then explore the positive and negative aspects of celebrating it. I will also touch on some alternative options.
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How Halloween Began
Let’s start with the history of Halloween.
There are a variety of perspectives on Halloween came into existence. But, the most common one is that Halloween began as a festival celebrated by the ancient Celts living in the British Isles, which was called Samhain.
To the Celts, Samhain was a significant part of their culture and religion.
Their year started on November 1st, and thus October 31st was their version of a New Year’s celebration.
However, Samhain was different in its focus from what we would view a typical New Year’s time. A major portion of the festival was devoted to those who had died.
A significant belief among the Celts was that it was during this time of the year that those who had died would return to their homes.
They also believed that this same time was the period during which those who had died during the year leading up to the festival would begin their journey into the underworld.
In addition, they believed that evil spirits were most present during the festival season.
Some common customs at the time were to dress in costumes to disguise themselves from being recognized by the ghosts of the dead as well as evil spirits.
Samhain, under the Roman empire’s rule over the British Isles, eventually became integrated with other Roman celebrations. When the Catholic Church came into power under Rome, they made an effort to rid the culture of pagan influence and arranged their holidays to replace the pagan celebrations of the past.
In doing so, they moved All Saint’s Day from May to the end of October, replacing Samhain and its pagan traditions with a time to remember the saints. Some popes even encouraged people to dress up as saints.
Today, some elements of the original festival, such as the wearing of costumes, have been borrowed and adapted for modern use. However, the original intention of the festival is no longer practiced.
Since we have now established the background of Halloween, let’s look at the pros and cons of celebrating it.
Halloween Celebrations and the Bible
It is important to note that the Bible does not directly address Halloween. However, it does provide us with some key guidelines for how to approach decisions regarding the things we decide to participate in.
Decide according to your faith.
If you determine that celebrating Halloween will be damaging to your faith or the faith of your family, then you should refrain. Romans 14:23 tells us that if one has doubts about participating in a particular practice (in the immediate context, whether to eat food offered to idols), then he should not engage in it.
Decide according to your convictions.
In Romans 14:5, the Apostle Paul articulates the thought that every person has a different perspective on days, whether one is better than another or if all days are alike. He concludes that each person should come to their own firm decision.
Determine not to allow others to judge you.
Colossians 2:16 says “Let no one, therefore, judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
” Whatever decision you make regarding celebrating Halloween, live freely in that decision. And by the same token, allow others to live freely with the choice they have made according to their own conscience.
Celebrating Halloween: The Pros
There are several positive points about celebrating Halloween, which can be taken into consideration when making the decision about what is best for you and your family.
It can be a time of fun with family and friends.
Many Christians believe that Halloween celebrations are harmless and they have no problem allowing their families to participate. To them, Halloween is simply a time for dressing up in costumes, having fun with family and friends, and eating candy.
A witnessing tool.
Others go beyond that and see Halloween as a witnessing tool. They utilize Halloween themed tracts or put on family-friendly outreach events such as “Trunk or Treat” where they allow kids to gather candies in a safe setting, but also take the time to share the Gospel with them.
An educational opportunity.
One benefit of participating in Halloween events and celebrations is that it could be used as a conversation starter, sparking discussion between you and your children.
One example would be using it as a time to talk about different beliefs of life, death and what happens after death. There are multiple cultures, even contemporary ones, which set aside time during the year to commemorate those who have died and celebrate or grieve their lives.
To go further than that, you could use the discussion of life and death to point to the death and Resurrection of Christ, which stands in contrast to the fears of death and evil demonstrated throughout many cultures.
A launchpad to discussing other significant events.
There are two Christian traditions with ties to October 31st. One is All Saint’s Day, which is a time set aside to remember believers who have gone before and are no longer living, but whose lives made a significant difference in the church.
Another event that occurred on the same date is Reformation Day, which commemorates the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses, starting what became the Reformation and the beginning of Protestantism.
Even if you decide to forgo allowing your family to participate in Halloween, many of these aspects can still be used as a way to educate your kids about differing views and significant events, as well as teaching them the Truth of the Gospel and Jesus’ victory over death and evil.
Celebrating Halloween: The Cons
While there may be positive things about celebrating Halloween, there are certainly also negative points to go along with them.
It can be very scary for some children.
Halloween can be very scary for some children; especially those who are too young to understand how to separate fiction from reality. It is very common for young children to mistake costumes and even other disguises as being real, and not simply pretend, which can cause distress for some. You are the best judge as to whether or not your child is ready to participate or if they should participate at all.
Ties to pagan religions.
A number of Christians believe it is necessary to avoid celebrating Halloween due to its origins in the pagan Celtic festival of Samhain as well as the current celebrations which often involve dressing up as evil or demonic beings.
Though many have chosen to participate due to seeing the modern celebration to be very different in its practices, others may feel it is best to refrain.
Could encourage greediness.
Some children may exhibit greedy behaviors over accumulating candy.
Of course, this could also be used as an opportunity to teach generosity and having a proper attitude toward the things we have.
Possible Alternatives
As believers, we serve a God whose ongoing work is to redeem all of creation. Thus a question we can ask ourselves is how might Halloween and the season surrounding it be used for His glory?
Some ideas on how to do so include:
Celebrate All Saint’s Day, using it as a day to remember Christians throughout history who have served God in mighty ways.
Celebrate Reformation Day, teaching about people like Martin Luther and others who wanted to see reform in the Catholic Church.
Utilize family-friendly events. As I mentioned before, some churches host “Trunk or Treat” outreach events. Others choose to have Harvest Festivals with clean, family-friendly activities that avoid any elements of Halloween and simply focus on good quality autumn fun.
Which Choice is Best for Your Family?
I highly encourage you to prayerfully consider, along with your spouse, which choice is best for you and your family.
You and your spouse, as the parents, know what is best for your family and fits the mission and values you wish to cultivate in your children.
Bibliography
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Halloween.” Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween.
And voilà! I hope you liked this article about “Should You Celebrate Halloween as a Christian?”.
If so, make sure to save this post for later to your Halloween board on Pinterest!
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