Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Historical Perspective

Every year, 31st October is observed as Halloween mainly in much of Europe and North America. While there have been some attempts at modifying the events of Halloween, its origin from the pagan Celtic Festival of Samhain celebrated on October 31st. This festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time associated with death. The Celts believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth.

With the spread of Christianity, efforts were made to Christianize these pagan traditions. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints’ Day, a day to honor all saints and martyrs. The evening of October 31st became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually evolved into Halloween.

The All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd) were established by the Roman Church to honour the saints and pray for the souls of the departed. These Christian observances were intended to replace the pagan festival of Samhain with a focus on Christian themes of remembrance and prayer.

Over time, Halloween has become a more secular celebration, especially in the North American countries and Europe, where it is associated with spooky costumes, trick-or-treating, jack -o’- lanterns, giving of candy and community activities. However, the historical Christian connection remains through the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Understanding this history can help Christians decide how they want to approach Halloween, whether by participating in traditional activities, creating alternative celebrations, focusing on the religious aspects of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days or do nothing at all.

Remembering The Dead Vs Consulting With The Dead

As believers, the bible is our guiding light and instructs us on God’s view of Life. The subject of how to deal with the dead is clearly written in scripture. I will begin with a few scriptures:

1 john 5: 21 tells us “ Little children, keep yourselves from idols”

Jesus talking to a concerned disciple in Luke 9:60, admonished him to “Let the dead bury the dead” but he should rather go to proclaim the kingdom of God.

Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:21 “ …you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the table of demons”

Furthermore, one of God’s instructions to Israel in the old testament was that if one touches any dead thing, they are defiled and cannot approach the temple. Micah 7:18, Leviticus 21:1

Does this mean we should neglect or forget about people who have passed on? No. There is a difference between remembering the dead and fellowshipping or consulting with the dead. Let us explore the biblical perspective further.

In remembering of our loved ones we:

1. Honor their memory: The Bible encourages us to honor the memory of those who have passed. For example, Psalm 116:15 states, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” This suggests that remembering and honoring the lives of the faithful is valued by God.
2. Have hope in the resurrection: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 advises believers not to grieve like those without hope, as Christians believe in the resurrection through Jesus Christ. Jesus said He is the resurrection and the life. This provides comfort and a hopeful perspective on death.
3. Respect and remember their works and example: Honoring the dead can be seen as an extension of the biblical command to honor one’s parents and elders, as mentioned in (Exodus 20:12 and Leviticus 19:32). It is an opportunity to follow the examples of those who through their faith and patience finished well and learn from their mistakes also.

Avoiding Necromancy: Consulting The Dead

1. Prohibition of Necromancy: The Bible explicitly forbids consulting the dead known as necromancy. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 warns against practices like divination, sorcery, witchcraft and consulting the dead, considering them detestable to the Lord.
   Halloween often features costumes and symbols associated with ghosts, witches, and the supernatural. While these are typically seen as playful or symbolic, the Bible’s prohibition against consulting the dead and engaging in necromancy suggests that Christians should be cautious about participating in activities that might be seen as endorsing or trivializing these practices.
   We must keep ourselves from idols, witchcraft and events that may promote demonic activities around us. Paul warned the Corinthian church not to be ignorant of spiritual things (1 Corinthians 12:1). Just because you do not know or see something physically does not invalidate its existence.
2. Seeking God Alone: Isaiah 8:19 advises against seeking mediums and spiritists, urging people to seek guidance from God instead. This underscores the importance of relying on God rather than attempting to communicate with the dead.
3. Consequences of Necromancy: In the Old Testament, those who engage in necromancy or consult spirits should be put to death (Leviticus 20:27), highlighting the severity of this prohibition in biblical law.
   While the Bible supports honoring and remembering our loved ones who have passed on from this world, it strongly prohibits consulting the dead or engaging in necromancy. Christians are encouraged to seek guidance and comfort from God and to honor the memory of loved ones in ways that align with their faith.

How Should We Approach Others Who Wish To Celebrate Halloween?

Some points to consider include:

1. Show love and be tolerant: we are not to condemn others who choose to celebrate, but rather pray and guide them in a spirit of humility till they come to the same understanding as us. Remember we were once like that in our ignorance. We are not to get into unnecessary arguments that only engender strife, rather show love and accommodate other people’s faults.
2. Should we join them to celebrate so they are not offended at us? No. Romans 12:1 tells us not to be conformed to the traditions of this world but instead be transformed by renewing our minds to prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. We are to shine as lights in this world. If we do not shine our light, the world will not appreciate God’s glory. We are a peculiar people to God and must not join God’s temple with demons.
3. What about our children in school? Personally, I try to let the teachers know that due to our faith, my children do not celebrate Halloween or attend Halloween parties. However, I would usually have the conversation with my children first to let them understand our beliefs and they have always been on board with it. The Bible tells us to train up our children in the way they should go so when they are old they’ll not depart from it. It’s our responsibility to show them the right way. They’ll choose their way when they grow up.

What Can We Do Instead?

There are some options that you may choose according to your convictions.

A). Stay in Your Freedom in Christ: Romans 14:5-6 speaks about the freedom believers have in Christ to observe special days or not to observe them according to their own convictions. This can be applied to this day. But it is a matter of personal conscience. You may choose to do something or not do anything. Whatever we do should be in the name of our Lord Jesus and seek to glorify God. We are not bound by any law regarding these celebrations if done in the right spirit.

B). Engaging with the Community: Some Christians see Halloween as an opportunity to engage with their neighbours and community in a positive way, reflecting the principle of being “in the world but not of the world” (John 17:14-16). You may choose to use this opportunity to engage positively with your community by handing out treats while sharing your faith through small notes, or hosting safe events for children with positive themes. Philippians 4:8 encourages believers to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. You may be inspired to create alternative celebrations that emphasize positive values.

C). Opportunity to remember loved ones: We are allowed to remember our loved ones who have passed away. We may choose to use this period to remind ourselves of their good deeds, or draw lessons from their lives and remind ourselves of the hope of resurrection in Christ.

D). A time of Thanksgiving for Life: Giving of thanks – In some places the Halloween has been replaced with harvest or thanksgiving. You may choose to use this period as a time to give of thanks to God for the gift of life. Celebrate your eternal life in Christ and let your family gather round to share about things they are grateful for in their lives.

Ultimately, the decision to celebrate Halloween is a personal one, and Christians are encouraged to seek guidance through prayer, scripture, and discussions with their faith community.

How do you feel about these different perspectives? Share your thoughts in the comment section.