All Saints Day vs Halloween
1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
In the month of October, many celebrate Halloween. Straddling the line between fall and winter and life and death, Halloween has long been a time of celebration and superstition.
The Oldest Holiday
Halloween is the oldest holiday still being celebrated, and it is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve but was later changed to Halloween.
Celebrations
Over the years some Halloween activities have included trick-or-treating, attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories and watching horror films. While children would go from door to door dressed in costumes to receive candy or other treats, the world has often turned what would appear to be a fun night for children, into a night that has been perverted by many adults often lacing the treats with substances that if consumed would make the children sick or even cause death.
What Can Christians Do?
Because Christians don’t desire to participate in Halloween, many churches now offer an alternative to Halloween and they observe what is known as Harvest Festival, which allows children to participate in fun and safe ways to enjoy October 31st. As we are now in the Fall Season, and as October 31st approaches, let us all be reminded that Saints can still enjoy fun times without compromising their beliefs. We are in the world, but as Christians, we should always strive to live as becoming Saints.