I don't know about you, but as soon as summer starts to fade, it seems like halloween costumes, scull motifs and pumpkin decor starts to flood every shop window and neighbours houses. My entire instagram feed is filled with ghostly baked goods and spooky ideas gearing towards this weird holiday everyone seems to love...halloween.
When I was younger I always felt like I was missing out. My parents weren't advocates of this specific holiday and I never understood why! Dressing up sounded like fun, extrovert me getting to say hi to all my neighbours sounded like fun, coming home with a sweet supply that would last me until New Years sounded like fun, so what was the problem?
I have to confess, I remember going round to a friends house one year to chill out and it just so happened to be halloween. She definitely dressed me up as a witch and took me on my first and last trick-or-treat outing. My parents were never told, but I'm pretty sure they knew exactly where I'd been since I came home with a bag full of sweets. Sorry mum and dad!
As with anything on this Christian journey, and in life, in order to understand why you do or don't do something, you have to do research and formulate your own conclusion. That's exactly what I did. Here's what I found:
5 Reasons Why I Don't Celebrate Halloween
1. Halloween has pagan origins
First of all, what is halloween? This question alone has a number of layers we need to look at in order to understand it fully. The customs of this holiday are more likely than not traced back to a festival celebrated by the Celtic druid priests. It dates back even centuries before Christ, was observed on 31st October and was called the festival of Samhain, the lord of death.
Personally I don't subscribe to any other God but the God of Heaven. So I'm definitely not trying to be involved in this festival!
When Rome conquered Britain and 'Christianised' it, they tried to wipe out some traditions. Britain however clung to some of their pagan practises. As a result Rome changed its approach and 'sanctified' a number of them instead, this being one of them.
2. The name and the holiday couldn't be further apart
The name Halloween actually means "holy or hallowed evening". That in itself is a shock to me. There is nothing holy about dressing like a ghost, in the dark, trying to frighten people!
The entire holiday is centred around fear and the Bible clearly states that God doesn't want that for us. Looking at the origins of the holiday, people believed that evil spirits would visit them that evening. People were afraid to go out of their houses and dressed up in awful and terrifying costumes in the hopes that the spirits would think they were one of them!
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
3. The holiday itself in no way points to God
There's nothing in this day that points to God or uplifts Him. In fact it points to the enemy, Satan! We are given a list of things that can help us decipher virtuous things in Philippians 4:8
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
If this was a relationship it would be a red flag! It doesn't tick any of the boxes, another reason for me to steer clear.
4. The Bible warns us against flirting with evil
When God tells us to stay away from something, there's a reason. 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Ephesians 5:11, James 4:7 and Romans 12:9 are just a handful of verses that tell us to stay away from evil things.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 - Abstain from every form of evil.
If you play with fire, you're going to get burnt! I want you to notice that in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 it doesn't say, stay away from most or some evil, it says every form of evil. No matter what shape or size the delivery its something we need to steer clear of. Whether that looks like a 'fun' festival or just a huge fancy dress party, it's still included.
5. As much as it seems harmless, the devil and demons are real
In the western world we don't often see people possessed or attacked by demons but just because we don't see it, doesn't mean it isn't happening. There are examples in the Bible (read Matthew 4:24, Matthew 8 and 1 Sam. 16:15-16) of individuals who suffered from this. What makes us think it isn't still real today? Ask your friends from other parts of the world, chances are they may have seen, heard or even experienced something to do with it.
The Bible counsels against spirits, mediums, witches and the like. If they weren't real why would these verses be present?
Lastly Revelation 12:9 tells us that Satan was at some point in history thrown out of heaven, his angels with him. I'm pretty sure those angels aren't sitting with their feet up doing nothing on this earth.
So there you have it, the reasons I have chosen not to celebrate halloween. I hope this was food for thought. Please note this is my thought pattern and reasoning. There may be things here you agree with and others you disagree with. That's okay. Whatever you decide to do this halloween, I just hope you take time to think carefully about it.
What are your thoughts and views on halloween? Do you celebrate it? Yes or no? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below.
Links for further reading: Wikipedia | Adventist Review | Amazing Facts
I most certainly share your view here! It would also be good to hear your thoughts on probably the most popular festival in the whole world - the birth of Sun god (aka Christmas). As history tells us, just like Halloween, it was celebrated long millennia before Christ's birth. How do you relate to it?