Should Christians Participate in Halloween? the Answer May Surprise You

Halloween's origins date back two thousand years to the Celtic New Year festival of "Samhain" (pronounced sow-in) named after their god of the dead. (If it's been a while since World History class, the Celts occupied England, Ireland and northern France.) Samhain was also one of the four high days (sabbats) of witchcraft or, more accurately, Wicca.

On the night before the November 1 new year, Celts believed that Samhain and the dead would roam the earth causing all kinds of trouble. So the Celtic priests, Druids, would demand that all light be extinguished on Halloween night and sacrifices be made to prevent trouble.

To avoid "tricks," the villagers would bake up "treats" to appease the dead. They would also dress up in ghoulish costumes and parade to the outskirts of town hoping the departed souls would follow them out of town.

After sacrifices, villagers would carry the fire, thought to be sacred, back to their homes in carved out vegetable shells.

In the eighth century Pope Gregory II moved the church festival honoring martyrs of "All Saints" to November 1 as a Christian alternative to the Celtic New Year celebrations. "All Hallow's Eve" or "Halloween" means the "evening of holy persons" and was to be used in spiritual preparation for All Saints Day. (Souce: James Watkins' website).

How should a Christian respond to a holiday that has obvious pagan origins?

First we must get the question right before we can answer. The question is not, "What are the origins of Halloween," the question is rather, "What does our surrounding culture believe about Halloween today?" Most people that celebrate Halloween today do not worship the dead or even use Halloween to prepare to honor the saints on November 1. The purpose of Halloween today is largely to have fun as people pretend, eat candy, and attend festivals and haunted houses. I don't understand why Christians would not be able to participate in a cultural event? Since people around us are not worshipping any deity through these festivities, then why can't we participate? I could understand Christians abstaining if people around them were worshipping false gods through these festivities; however, this is largely not the case. The origin is irrelevant if it is not intact in the festivities. Thus, it is possible to enjoy Halloween unto the glory of God.

Not convinced yet? Well, listen to what Paul says,

4Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." 5For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"- 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Cor. 8:4-6).

An idol is nothing. So, just because someone on earth may worship "nothing" on Halloween through dressing up, carving jack-o-lanterns, and trick or treating, it does not mean that Christians are forbidden to do the same things for different reasons and meanings on the same day! Is dressing up wrong only on Halloween? Is going door to door asking for candy wrong only on Oct. 31? I believe we have freedom in Christ to do whatever we want that does not violate the Scriptures. Last time I checked, it was not sinful for Christians to play pretend, go door to door for candy, and attend fun festivals on any day in God's world. We must not participate in immorality; but, these things in and of themselves are not immoral. And a cultural holiday does not make them immoral either. Now, we don't want to communicate to pagans that we are participating in worshipping their god(s), but I know of no one worshipping pagan gods through Halloween festivities. So, until I know (1 Cor. 10:25, 27-30), I am free in Christ to do whatever I want on Halloween that does not violate the Scriptures.

To summarize, if you are against participating in Halloween, then you must be against what takes place on Halloween as well. If your children cannot play pretend, receive presents, or attend carnivals on Halloween, then they cannot any other time during the year either. You cannot live as if Oct. 31 belongs to the Druids or the Devil; for, there is no God but our God... and He owns all days!

The implications thus of you refusing to exercise your Christian freedom on Halloween actually communicates a type of dualism. In trying to legalistically distinguish yourself on Halloween by refusing to participate in cultural festivals, dressing up, or giving out candy, you agree that Halloween is a pagan holiday; even though the apostle Paul says that the god(s) these festivities previously pointed to do NOT exist. If you know all days belong to God, why limit your freedom in Christ because some pagan spewed lies thousands of years ago? Do you believe their lies? If not, then enjoy the Lord through your Christian freedom on Halloween! Furthermore, if you know of no pagans that might associate you with worshipping their gods if you participate in Halloween, then by limiting your Christian freedom, you place yourself in legalistic bondage.

In conclusion, abstaining from Halloween festivities does not bring you near to God; we are no better if we abstain, and no worse if we participate (1 Cor. 8:8).

What do you think?