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Too Trick or Treat or Not to Trick or Treat?
Halloween originated among the Irish Celts, Scots and Anglo-Saxons in Britain long before the Christian era. Originally called Samhain, it was a time when they believed the division between the worlds of the living and the dead became very thin and when ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished. The name “Halloween” is a shorter form for the Gaelic name All-hallow-evening. Pope Boniface IV instituted All Saints' Day in the 7th century as a time to honor saints and martyrs, replacing the pagan festival of the dead. In 834, Gregory III moved All Saint's Day to Nov. 1, thus making Oct. 31 All Hallows' Eve ('hallow' means 'saint').
On the night of Samhain, it was believed spirits of the restless dead and mischievous spirits would freely roam about with humans and during this one night spirits were able to make contact with the physical world as their magic was at its height. The Celts believed that by allowing the dead to have access to the world on this one evening, they would be satisfied to return to the land of the dead. The Celtic people would put out food offerings to appease the spirits who might inflict suffering and violence on them and Celtic priests would offer sacrifices, animal and human, to the gods for the purpose of chasing away the evil, frightening spirits. They built fires where they gave sacrifices to the Celtic deities to ensure protection from the dead spirits. Samhain was also a time when it was customary for the pagans to use the occult practice of divination to determine the weather for the coming year, the crop expectations, and even who in the community would marry whom and in what order.
When Rome took over their land, the Samhain was integrated with two other Roman festivals: Feralia and a festival to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. By the time Christianity come on the scene, Halloween had already taken root from the pagan beliefs and was integrated into Christian practices. As the Europeans found their way to the New World, they brought with them their traditions which soon evolved to fit their new country.
Many customs still observed today come from these ancient beliefs. For example, the elaborately carved jack-o-lantern is said to have been named after the Irish story of a greedy, hard-drinking gambling man, Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil into climbing a tree and trapped him there by carving a crude cross into the trunk of the tree. In revenge for being stuck in the tree, the Devil cursed Jack and made him walk the earth at night for eternity. The jack-o-lantern of today is carved with a scary face to keep Jack and other spirits from entering their homes.
A problem for the Celtic people was... if the souls of dead loved ones could return that night, so could anything else, human or not, nice or not-so-nice. So, to protect themselves on such an occasion, these superstitious people would masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot to hopefully blend in unnoticed among them. This is the source of modern day Halloween costumes portraying devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.
So here is the Question. Why Would Christians want to give worship to the devil for one night?
On the night of Samhain, it was believed spirits of the restless dead and mischievous spirits would freely roam about with humans and during this one night spirits were able to make contact with the physical world as their magic was at its height. The Celts believed that by allowing the dead to have access to the world on this one evening, they would be satisfied to return to the land of the dead. The Celtic people would put out food offerings to appease the spirits who might inflict suffering and violence on them and Celtic priests would offer sacrifices, animal and human, to the gods for the purpose of chasing away the evil, frightening spirits. They built fires where they gave sacrifices to the Celtic deities to ensure protection from the dead spirits. Samhain was also a time when it was customary for the pagans to use the occult practice of divination to determine the weather for the coming year, the crop expectations, and even who in the community would marry whom and in what order.
When Rome took over their land, the Samhain was integrated with two other Roman festivals: Feralia and a festival to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. By the time Christianity come on the scene, Halloween had already taken root from the pagan beliefs and was integrated into Christian practices. As the Europeans found their way to the New World, they brought with them their traditions which soon evolved to fit their new country.
Many customs still observed today come from these ancient beliefs. For example, the elaborately carved jack-o-lantern is said to have been named after the Irish story of a greedy, hard-drinking gambling man, Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil into climbing a tree and trapped him there by carving a crude cross into the trunk of the tree. In revenge for being stuck in the tree, the Devil cursed Jack and made him walk the earth at night for eternity. The jack-o-lantern of today is carved with a scary face to keep Jack and other spirits from entering their homes.
A problem for the Celtic people was... if the souls of dead loved ones could return that night, so could anything else, human or not, nice or not-so-nice. So, to protect themselves on such an occasion, these superstitious people would masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot to hopefully blend in unnoticed among them. This is the source of modern day Halloween costumes portraying devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.
So here is the Question. Why Would Christians want to give worship to the devil for one night?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rev. L.J. Wilson on -
See how the devil blurrs the line between good & evil.
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
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Permalink Reply by Rev. L.J. Wilson on
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“Trick or Treat!”
36.1 million
The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2006 — children 5 to 13 — across the United States, down 45,000 from 2005. Of course, many other children — older than 13, and younger than 5 — also go trick-or-treating.
109.6 million
Number of occupied housing units across the nation in 2006 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters.
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Permalink Reply by Rev. L.J. Wilson on
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to me its the whole festival itself, no matter what you dress up like you are still participating in it. That is how the devil is blurring the line. But i like the alternative like most churches do, either have service, or a festival with no costumes, kids play bible games, things like that no celebrating it.
GOD BLESS
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Permalink Reply by Rev. Teddy Walker on -
I agree, we always have our fall festival at the church that night
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Permalink Reply by Tiffany on -
the ppl from my church usually dress up as Biblical characters...i've never been to it, so i dont know what all they do there....but, im not sure i agree with that...its still halloween...ur still participatin in it....
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Underfinger on -
I have heard some area Charismatic churches dress up like Bible Characters, but now it is not practiced. I felt like they were doing the same thing as dressing up even if it was for "the right" alternative.
There are usually festivals all over in our area that is called Fall Festivals. I am just not so sure about the Trunk or Treat. I don't have kids, however, why should anyone give the devil that day, when each day belongs to the Lord. I think I would rather go on an off day and take them to a fall festival.
"this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it"
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Underfinger on
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I worked at a Bible Bookstore a decade ago and I read a book about Halloween. One thing they added was when a sacrifice was made, they took a person from the house and they placed a carved jack-o-lantern on the front porch to represent a body would be sacrificed.
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Permalink Reply by Rev. L.J. Wilson on
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yes, very true also.
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Permalink Reply by Rev. L.J. Wilson on
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why churches have fall festivals a good alternative.
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Permalink Reply by Caitlin Arndt on -
I was brought into the church at the age of 9. The last time I celebrated Halloween I was 10, and I am 17 now. After my mom put her foot down and said that my brother and I were no longer allowed to celebrate Halloween, we complained about it as most children would do. My mom got tired of hearing the ongoing complaints, so she found a way to make it fun- Every year around Halloween, we would go to Wal-mart, the dollar store, wherever and buy LOADS of candy, popcorn, and juice. Then we'd head to the Arts & Crafts section of the store and buy a little of everything imaginable... paper cut-outs, glue, scissors, pens, crayons... You name it, we got it. We'd put a note on the outside door saying, "We don't celebrate Halloween- be safe and God bless!" The more I grew in the church and came to understand WHY we don't celebrate Halloween, the more I enjoyed the family time. Just having a mini junk food party and making arts&crafts. We'd sometimes watch TV like Tom and Jerry or Spongebob or something, and Halloween was never mentioned. It was nice and it felt good to know that we can still have fun, but we can do it in a different manner than the rest of the world. What I'm saying is, there are ways for our children in the church now a days to have fun and not feel so left out, but we can make it a FAMILY thing, in the house, and in a safe environment. Not just for Halloween, but maybe once every week, just to spend time with the family. That way Halloween is just another family night like the rest. Kids need to have fun and not feel like the church is holding them back, but they also need to understand that line between worldly and Godly. That's my opinion on it. God bless y'all =]
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Permalink Reply by Caitlin Arndt on
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Thank you =]
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