Halloween: The History of the Celebration

One might think that Catholics would be against celebrating Halloween because of the images of evil and death and things that go bump in the night. Quite the contrary! All Hallows' Eve along with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, or "Days of the Dead," is celebrated October 31 and November 1 and November 2. This three day "Hallowtide" is a special time when Catholics pray for the dead. Hallowe'en is effectively one vigil for the two feasts, All Saints and All Souls.

All Hallows' Eve or Halloween is a time for remembering the damned, those neither in Heaven nor Purgatory. This is a time to consider Hell and Satan and the reality of evil. This is a time to remember our baptismal promise to reject "Satan and all his works." This is also a perfect time to remember that with Christ, we have absolutely nothing to fear!

Today, confusion may exist among Catholics and others that Halloween is a pagan holiday, which is quite simply untrue. The holiday is not from or for Satan, but from the remembrance of evil and how to avoid it. This might be the perfect time to teach children about evil and the fact that it does exist among us, why we should avoid evil and to celebrate our deliverance from Satan through Jesus Christ. To read more about Samhain and its connection to Halloween, read Samhain and the Pagan Connection to Halloween.

Catholic Halloween customs are derived from old European Catholic celebrations. Our custom of dressing up for Halloween came from the French "Danse Macabre" or "Dances of Death." The French dressed up as the dead and acted out the "Danse Macabre" during the days of the Black Death.

Jack-o'Lanterns came from the Irish Catholics, but instead of carving pumpkins, the Irish carved turnips! The tale of Jack and his lantern is a legend that also reminds us to turn from evil in order to get into heaven. Legend has it that Jack, the trickster, was known to be ornery and miserly. He loved to prank everyone, including the Devil. Old Jack tricked the Devil into climbing an apple tree, but he quickly carved crosses in the trunk of the tree, forcing the Evil One to remain up the tree! Jack bargained with the Devil, promising to remove the crosses if the Devil promised not to take his soul. The Devil agreed. But when Jack died and arrived at the Pearly Gates, St Peter informed Jack he was not worthy to see the Face of God. Back to the Gates of Hell, where he was also forbidden entrance. Jack would be forced to roam the earth for all eternity. It is said that the Devil threw an ember to old Jack, which he placed in a hollowed out turnip, creating his Jack-o'Lantern to light his path.

After carving your pumpkin and explaining the woeful tale of old Jack and his lantern, be sure to save the seeds for roasting. The best recipe for roasting the delicious innards of Jack's lantern can be found here.

Our Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating came from our English Catholics, who went door to door begging for "Soul Cakes." Instead of "Trick or Treat, Trick or Treat, Give me something good to eat," our English brethren exclaimed, "A Soul Cake, A Soul Cake, have mercy on all Christian souls for a soul cake!" Soul Cakes, which look like halos, were said to be created when a cook baked up cakes with a hole in the middle to remind people of eternity! Not only did this tradition bring us Trick or Treating, but the doughnut as well!

As you enjoy your Halloween celebrations, it is important to remember that the vigil of All Hallows' Eve is there to remind us that evil exists all around us. Not created by pagans, but by the religious Catholics to remember the dead and the lessons learned from the damned, the Saints and all others gone before us. It is also wise to remember because evil does exist, that when confronted with horrific evil, to call out for Jesus Christ.

For favorite Halloween prayers, click here.
Sources:

Catholic Culture.org

American Catholic.org

Fisheaters.com