Is Halloween Evil? Should Christians Support or Fight All Hallow's Eve?
The history and traditions surrounding Halloween in the United States have been debated for some time, but for Christians, the issue is especially important.
Some Christians celebrate the holiday, while others demonize and even fear Halloween. Revealing some history about what used to be called All Hallow’s Eve could shed some light on this issue.
Halloween originated about 2,000 years ago as Sahmain, a Celtic new years’ festival. During Sahmain, Celtic folk would start bonfires, dance, and wear masks and costumes of animal parts to defend against - or in some cases even blend in with - ghosts, ghouls, and demons.
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Celtic peoples would also burn crops, animals, and possibly people as a sacrifice. To whom they were sacrificing, no one is absolutely sure. Celtic gods of the time could have been Morrigan and Dagda, as well as any number of characters from Gaelic lore.
Because Deuteronomy 18: 9-14 outlaws “detestable ways” such as witchcraft and sorcery the Halloween we know can be specifically linked to pagan activity.
However, there is evidence that Christian influence could have turned the holiday into a more positive story for believers.
In 609 A.D., Pope Boniface IV created All Martyrs’ Day, which honored those persecuted for their faith with Rome’s Pantheon. Later, another religious leader, Pope Gregory III moved the All Martyrs’ Day to November 1, and also widened the celebration to saints as well as martyrs.
About 400 years later, the church called Nov. 2 All Souls’ Day, which was an opportunity to pray for the spirits of the dead who were yet to be judged. The day was also called All Hallow’s Day, with the night before named All Hallow’s Eve.
When Puritan settlers first came to what was then the British colonies in the New World, they strictly outlawed the holiday, and no reference of All Hallow’s Eve is in their historical records.
During the days of early America, there were some smatterings of harvest festivals taking place in late October, but nothing concrete had been developed as a public holiday.
By the 1800s, however, the influx of Scottish and Irish immigrants had began, and with them came the widespread celebration of All Hallow’s Day, an occasion they had continuously celebrated since its inception.
By the late 1920s, the customs we know of Halloween had been established. Parades, trick-or-treating, and entertainment were prevalent in America.
This year, Americans are estimated to spend $6 billion on Halloween, the second most expensive holiday topped only by Christmas.
