WHY DOES THE CHURCH GO DARK ON HALLOWEEN?

October 31 is a controversial date for many individuals. For some, it is a day where kids dress up in costumes and go door-to-door asking for candy. To others, the day is filled with witchcraft and the worship of Satan.

My family and the church I pastor and am a part of does not endorse or celebrate the day of Halloween.

PERSPECTIVE

Historically, the origins of Halloween as we know it find their root in the Celtic culture of 300 BC. Priests known as Druids instilled fear in the hearts of the people with their witchcraft and evil ways (Tom C McHenry). Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year". Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them. In light of this, why do we as Christians seemingly celebrate such a holiday?

WHAT’S WITH THE NAME?

The term Halloween is shortened from All Hallows' Even (both "even" and "eve" are abbreviations of "evening", but "Halloween" gets its "n" from "even"), as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day", which is now also known as All Saints' Day. It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions, until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from May 13 (which had itself been the date of a pagan holiday, the Feast of the Lemures) to November 1. In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the Vigil of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.

TURN THE LIGHTS ON

Just how are Christians supposed to respond? Can we take advantage of the only day in the year where our neighbors come to our doorstep? Can we love our neighbor at least one day a year in front of our own home?  Can the church capitalize on this opportunity to share Jesus along with some candy? Even if we don’t go to them 364 days, can we share the light when they come to us 1 day? Should we even dare walk the neighborhood going to each house to GIVE rather than to RECEIVE?

As your neighbors go for “trick-or-treats”, please use these opportunities to shine bright by extending the message of the Gospel with practicality, love, and wisdom.

Enjoy The Ride, 

Pastor Cecil