Satan's Sabbaths: Halloween
Satan's Sabbaths: Halloween
Introduction
What should followers of Christ think about Halloween? Popularized as a night of costumes, candy, and harmless fun, Halloween’s origins and deeper implications, however, should cause us to stop and consider whether or not we as Jesus followers should be participating. Like Easter [1] or Christmas,[2] this holiday’s roots have undeniable pagan origins. So, what are the historical foundations of Halloween, and what are the spiritual ramifications for those who partake?
Origins of Halloween
First, as usual, we want to orient ourselves by considering some historical facts related to this day.
- The Encyclopedia of Religion (1987), Vol. 6, p. 176: "Halloween's roots lie in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a celebration of the end of harvest season and the onset of winter. It was a time when the Celts believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became thin, allowing spirits to pass through. Bonfires were lit to ward off harmful spirits, and people donned costumes to mask themselves from wandering souls."
- The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1910: "With the spread of Christianity, efforts were made to supplant Samhain with the festival of All Saints’ Day on November 1, intended to honor the holy dead. All Hallows’ Eve (the night before All Saints’ Day) thus became a hybrid celebration, combining pagan and Christian traditions, but retaining much of its original character—dark, fearful, and focused on the spirits of the dead."
Origins Continued: Adoption of Pagan Symbols
Halloween’s familiar symbols—ghosts, witches, carved pumpkins—have deep roots in pagan tradition, not scripture.
In The Golden Bough, Sir James G. Frazer, p. 437 notes the following: “The jack-o'-lantern derives from a Celtic custom of carving faces into turnips to frighten spirits, with a candle set inside to keep evil forces at bay. This practice, like the festival itself, was appropriated and transformed in the New World, using pumpkins as the medium. Yet its aim remains rooted in folklore, focused on protecting oneself from a world perceived as haunted." This seemingly harmless activity is based on ancient pagan superstition, something we should avoid.
Another "harmless" Holloween tradition is exposed in The Encyclopedia Americana, 1964, Vol. 13, p. 753: “Costumes and masks served a similar purpose. In an age when people feared malignant forces would seek them out, donning disguises allowed individuals to move freely, hoping to avoid notice by blending in with spirits wandering on Samhain night.” Today, we "may" or "may not" be donning these costumes for the same superstitious reasons, but the paganism of the tradition continues on, just with different intentions.
Halloween Enters Via Compromise[3]
By the Middle Ages, the merging of Christian and pagan practices in Halloween was well underway, even as church authorities voiced concerns. Like Easter, the widespread influence of pagan festivals was met not with eradication but adaptation. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, explains this shift: "To draw in the local populations, the Church sanctioned the practice of certain customs, deeming them harmless, in order to convert pagan peoples. Yet, the essence of these customs remained at odds with the gospel message." Antichrist admits that these pagan practices were adopted in order to "convert" (i.e. subsume) pagans into the Church.
Some of us may have had experiences with the Paranormal or the Occult, which sometimes can spark some interest in it. We might, naturally, be curious about what demons are, how these things take place, and how to combat them. But we shouldn't seek to learn how to practice or participate in these dark things. Put another way, while we shouldn't be ignorant of the existence of these things, we also shouldn't be practicing the things which are forbidden. In scripture, there is a clear call to separate from all practices rooted in idolatry and superstition.
- Leviticus 19:31 – “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 – “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD…”
- Isaiah 8:19 – “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?”
We shouldn't consult with witches or wizards and fraternize with these people except to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom and Teachings of Jesus to them. Friendly, peaceful relationships can be had with such people, but I suggest with strict boundaries. Remember, we don't want to be tempted to begin to do those things that defile them.
- 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 – “So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD…”
There's a difference between understanding these things exist and actually performing them. God despises the latter.
- 3 John 1:11 – “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”
- 1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Solutions
The simplest solution, as with all things that errors is Repentance. As with Easter and other adapted festivals, the scriptural solution is to return to what Jesus and the early disciples observed. Rather than participating in celebrations/ holidays that center around ancient pagan superstitions, believers are called to reflect on holiness and truth as taught by Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Halloween stands as another example of how pagan customs have seeped into Christian culture under the guise of harmless fun with, of course, the help of the apostate Catholic tradition. The careful disciple should consider the following: do these symbols and activities reflect the teachings and life of Jesus? To walk in purity requires a clear choice—rejecting practices that are obviously harmful pagan traditions.
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[2] Satan's Sabbaths: Christmas
[3] Verses used in this section are from the KJV