(COMMENTS ON THIS POST ARE NOW CLOSED.)
Christians love Halloween, right? WHAT?! Oh, hold up a second. Christians say WHAT about halloween?! There’s no good in it? This is *not* in fact, a day that the Lord has made, and we shouldn’t be glad and rejoice in it? Hiding in the closet pretending nothing’s happening, you say? Uh, sure…?!
For years as a young adult I went through a questioning period about the morality of celebrating Halloween. I swung from “What could possibly be so bad about little kids in costumes and free candy?” to “OK, so basically, we’re going to hell for this”.
My Favourite Holiday?
Here’s what I discovered just before Halloween last year: it’s actually maybe the best holiday of the year. Do you know why? Because it is celebrating the victory of God over evil. We dress up in those lame-o “scary” costumes to mock them, not to try to be them. We make a total and complete mockery of the devil. He is ridiculous. He is a weak, pitiful excuse for power and deserves to be mocked and laughed at forevermore. Thus, we revel in this. We celebrate the total and utter defeat of Satan (it’s a fact, peeps) by making a mockery of all he holds dear.
Halloween’s Origins
Trick-or-treating, dressing up, carving pumpkins. Some say it has its roots in pagan practices. Others claim the exact opposite. What’s true? Is it even relevant to our modern-day participation? Despite the disagreement, everyone can agree that the day after Halloween (November 1st) is All Saint’s Day. A day to celebrate the union of the saints with Christ. Kind of like a President’s Day or Remembrance Day where we remember many different people at once.
According to this source (a fascinating article) the word Halloween comes from All Hallow’s Eve, with the word ‘hallow’ meaning ‘holy’ or ‘saint’. Thus, it is simply the eve of All Saint’s Day.
Halloween As Celebration of Victory in Christ
The concept explained by the article linked above is enlightening.
On October 31, the demonic realm tries one last time to achieve victory, but is banished by the joy of the Kingdom. What is the means by which the demonic realm is vanquished? In a word: mockery.
The one thing that Satan hates more than anything else is to be ridiculed. As Christians we can do this because we know that he has lost the battle already. Dressing up as a devil or a ghost while laughing and knowing that evil has already lost is the best form of mockery.
By doing so we say to the demonic realm that we have no fear because we serve the victorious Jesus Christ who conquered even death! It is no longer to be feared!
What About the Non-Christian Version of Halloween?
I totally get that most people these days are not participating in Halloween as a celebration of Christ’s victory over evil. They revel in the creepiness and gore and evil overtones without a thought as to why. There may be some customs that have less than stellar roots and past uses. Yet as another fantastic article reasons:
Yes, it has a weird history (so did I before Jesus). Yes, it’s mostly about buying stuff (like everything in America). But for most ordinary people it’s just a silly holiday where kids have fun and we satirize things that normally make us uncomfortable. American culture doesn’t have any real answer for death or demonic forces. So, Halloween is just one attempt to cope with those fears.
Think about it – this really makes sense.
If you believe that Halloween is a celebration of Christ’s victory (as I do) and that people don’t really understand the true meaning (most don’t), then you are in good company.
It seems to me the same thing happens at another very important holiday. The one involving the Jolly Old Red-Suited Dude and lots and lots of shopping.
Yes, Jesus’ birthday has been sacrificed on the altar of consumerism by so many, and yet we don’t give up on it. We redeem it. We call it what it is, and we celebrate the Truth. A celebration of the incarnation of Hope, Joy, Love, and Peace. He has come, he has been victorious, and we can celebrate His grace and glory and power for ALL of our days!
So What Does This Look Like, Practically Speaking?
Last year we dressed the kids up and had a lot of fun doing it. Our kids are still little (5, 3, and 16 months) so we keep it minimal. We trick-or-treated on our street then drove 2 minutes to trick or treat at Grammy and Grandpa’s house.
The worst house that we saw in terms of gore and yuck was my parents’ neighbours. The bloody skulls and severed hands and everything else was a bit much for me. Next year we’ll just avoid that house, and when they’re old enough to notice or care then we’ll talk about it.
Actually, let me clarify: we already talk about it in little kid terms. We just talk about general ‘scary things’ as having no power over us because Jesus is the winner and he’s on our side!
Halloween actually presents amazing opportunities to have some deep conversations with kids. I gave a basic explanation of death and evil, and how we are mocking the devil. The conversation will deepen as the years go by, but for now this is a great way to introduce the concept of principalities and powers to your children.
The worst part of Halloween, in my opinion, is the candy. I know, I know… harmless fun…? But really – that stuff is nasty. The ingredients in those things? Mostly unheard of and unpronounceable, high fructose corn syrup solids, artificial colourings that have been linked to behavioural issues in kids, and loads of highly processed sugar in all forms. A few ideas to minimize this, without opting out of Halloween altogether:
- Eat a few treats the night of and throw/give the rest away.
- Do a trade-in for a new toy the next day.
- Host a costume party for a few friends with homemade (waaaay healthier but still yummy!) indulgences, and also hand out candy to the neighbour kids that come to the door.
- Go around to the neighbours handing out homemade hot chocolate mix, then come back for your own party with homemade treats.
- Our church is trick-or-treating this year for canned goods for their food bank.
Does your family participate in Halloween? What are your kids dressing up as this year?
(I’ve got a leopard, a queen, and a firefighter!)
COMMENTS ON THIS POST ARE CLOSED.
I think that the tone of the original article (and the assumption that those of us who don’t celebrate Halloween should) is lacking some key context. [I think this was unintentional, though…I don’t think you were trying to suggest that the “don’t goers” were all just nuts, but your tone was unclear in some points. Now I just pray God MY tone doesn’t go to the crapper trying to discuss a super sensitive issue like this one!!!] [I partly don’t want to reply at all, but I’m really disturbed at some of the assumptions being made…and the lack of representation… Read more »
And I should be clear here – some of the things I highlight in my initial post were responses to Beth’s article; other’s were responses to common arguments I hear from “go-ers” who I know :).
More than 10,000 people of all ages will die TONIGHT, in America–from elderly street people to infants–sacrificed as witches celebrate the ‘highest’ day of the Satanic calendar. I say more than 10,000 because there are at least 10,000 witch covens presently operating in America. People have been kidnapped and held hostage for tonight’s ceremonies, all throughout the month of October. You all enjoy your fun Halloween parties and candy, and try not to think too much about it ok? Don’t bother to take the time (while lots of you are gathered together in HIS name) to say some prayers on… Read more »
Here’s another good read supporting Christians participation in Halloween that has actual scripture references: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/when-jesus-haunts-your-halloween Also, as a person of Irish decent, let me say that “Samhain” is roughly translated “summer’s end.” “Samhradh” = summer. There is no pagan Celtic lord of the dead named Samhain. In fact, the Gaelic word for “November” is “Samhain.” So tomorrow will be the first day of the month of ‘summers end’ in Ireland – Samhain1. While we’re on such a fit about pagan words and our use of them, let’s discuss our days of the week. If we’re supposed to be so legalistic… Read more »
Wow. I read throigh this article and all the comments and I have to say I feel disgusted at these responses for several reasons: 1. Not a single one is loving. Most are judgy and holier than thou, and reeking of smugness. Especially the commenter who went out of her way to write a smiley after each comment that disagreed with Beth’s. Please get a grip- there must be other things you need to get done other than this. 2. We are not called to judge others, yet we are called to judge actions. How dare you call someone else… Read more »
Most unbelievers that want nothing to do with Christianity cite HYPOCRISY as the reason. So-called Christians tell them that they are going to hell, yet LIVE JUST LIKE THEM and think that because they simply ‘believe’ in Jesus their eternal destiny will be different. (Now THAT is truly a log in one’s eye.) The smiley faces I posted were because I was encouraged by others who understand that God has called us to be a people who are SEPARATE from the world, who do our best to live in holiness, and who have the courage to reprove those who participate… Read more »
“Wow. I read throigh this article and all the comments and I have to say I feel disgusted at these responses for several reasons: 1. Not a single one is loving.” Is that really truthful Mariam? You can paint me as the posterchild for the disgusting opposition, if you like–but MOST of the other commenters were very humble, loving, and respectful in what they said. I am sorry if my comments did not come across as loving and humble, but God knows my heart. It is interesting that all of the response seem to focus on HOW the truth was… Read more »
I was very excited to see a blog with this title as I believe Halloween can be celebrated by Christians without conviction but very disappointed in the content. No one really dresses up as a dead person or a witch in order to mock it, they dress up because it’s fun to be it for a night. And your statement “The one thing that Satan hates more than anything else is to be ridiculed” is not true. The one things he hates most is to be rendered powerless which many times means ignoring him and not putting effort or attention… Read more »
Thank you for this post! The thing is, although you & your kids might understand dressing up in a certain way as a ‘mockery’, the average person won’t see that interpretation.
I think that Christians should use Halloween as an opportunity to be generous and loving, like we should every other day of the year! But I personally also think we should not dabble lightly into any of the spiritual stuff, including dressing up as devils or ghosts.
Trick or Treating is HUGE in my neighborhood! I’m talking, the fire trucks come and it’s a huge party. There are hundreds of kids/parent/etc… probably even THOUSANDS. I do no lie! I also ask myself what Jesus would do in certain situations. If Jesus had the unbelieving world in his neighborhood he wouldn’t shut himself up and not come to the door. He would be right out there with them. Would he be acting the same way? NO! But he would be there. He WAS there in scripture. He wasn’t tucked away with the church people, he was eating/drinking with… Read more »
I should proof read! Sorry! haha! 🙂 I’m sleepy. Yup, that’s my excuse.
I really hope the author reads all of the comments. And considers them seriously. Especially since she claims to represent all Christians.
Yes. And then there is this: ‘A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.’ (Titus 3:10-11) She has certainly received more than two admonitions. I’m ‘shaking the dust off’ ANYONE can claim to be a Christian, but Jesus said we should judge (yes JUDGE) by their fruits: ‘A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore… Read more »
I reeeeaallly don’t think it’s a good idea to dress up like evil characters and mock Satan. The Bible never mentions anything about Christians mocking satan. Yes, God has won the victory over death, but that does not mean we should be taunting the devil. As Christians we should never have the appearance of evil but only think on “that which is pure, holy, lovely, of good reputation,” etc. We should be so busy worshipping Christ that we have no time to mock the devil. The devil doesn’t deserve our time and enjoyment. But Christ truly does deserve our time… Read more »
Just thought I would share a quote from Martin Luther himself…
“One must always do what Satan forbids. What other cause do you think that I have for drinking so much strong drink, talking so freely and making merry so often, except that I wish to mock and harass the devil who is wont to mock and harass me.”
In a letter to Jerome Weller at Wittenberg while Luther was away from home during the summer of 1530
Luther is not God. Nor I’s that biblical. Where is the scriptureal reference?
I think this is a great post – thank you Beth for sharing and for graciously dealing with all of the unloving, unkind, un-Christ-like backlash! Our family participates in Halloween by our kids dressing up in fun and funny costumes and going trick-or-treating. I’m not sure I would say that we “celebrate” Halloween, but we definitely participate and have fun – and I think that is the point of this article that so many people are missing. And to the point of What Would Jesus Do? I believe that He would go out with and participate with people on Halloween,… Read more »
Eating a meal with unbelievers is one thing, but I do not believe that Christ would go around dressed up as a witch, a ghost, or anything like that. You don’t need to participate in the evil to shine the light of the gospel. It would probably be more like a preach-the-gospel-on-the-street-corners moment, not an eating-with-unbelievers kind of moment.
But we are not Jesus. He was not only spiritually strong in the Father, but THE strongest of everyone ever on earth. He was perfect. He had no sin. We, on the other hand, are full of sin, battling Satan every day, every moment even, and sadly, often giving in, unlike Jesus. I believe that few people on this earth are strong enough spiritually, to be hand in hand with evil and not be effected negatively by it. Especially children, who are very impressionable. Who can say that skulls, blood and gore, and headless horsemen etc, is not evil? You… Read more »
Oh and one more thing I’d like to mention about un-Christ like backlash…do you remember how Jesus acted in the temple with the money chargers? Jesus hated evil. He hated it. Nothing personal against the people who wrote this, it’s about fighting evil. The associations that go along with October 31 are evil.
And for the most part it seems people are trying to be respectful, quoting scriptures, and giving there interpretations. How is that backlash?
I was raised in a home where everything ,and I mean everything was evil or ” The Devil”. We did not celebrate Halloween because it was ” The Devils day “. We did not do Santa Clause because if you mixed up the letters in Santa you got Satan . We did not eat Lucky Charms , or watch the smurfs because that would be participating in witch craft . I believed that at any second the devil could grab me and take me to hell. I lived in fear , I lived in a prison where everything was a… Read more »
🙂