Is It A Sin To Celebrate Halloween?

Halloween is a holiday that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Christians have mixed feelings about the holiday. Some see it as harmless fun, while others believe that it is a celebration of evil. So, is it a sin to celebrate Halloween?

So, what is the true meaning of Halloween? And, why do we believe it is imperative to teach our young ones not to give in to temptations to celebrate that holiday? The reasons will become clear as we explore the pagan roots and origins of Halloween as well as the way it has evolved especially here in the United States.

The History Of Halloween:

The word Halloween comes from “All Hallows’ Eve”, which is the evening before All Hallows’ Day or All Saints Day. Halloween is also known as All Saints’ Eve. All Hallows’ Day is a Catholic Church holiday that commemorates all of the saints who have died.

The roots of Halloween festivities can be traced back to an end-of-summer pagan festival from, Northern Europe, and Ireland called Samhain. The Celts believed that on October 31st, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead became nearly open. They believed that on this day, ghosts and spirits could come back to earth.

To ward off these evil spirits, during the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, the Celts built bonfires and wore costumes made of animal skins. They also left food and drinks out for the spirits. If treats were not left the evil spirits would do cruel tricks to the people living in that home.

Some people took advantage of these beliefs and would call out “trick or treat?” Thus giving way to our modern-day celebration of such a ‘call out’ encouraging children to continue to say trick or treat at a door in hopes of receiving candy.

The Celtics weren’t the only ones who believed in ghosts and spirits. The Druids, who were the Celtic priests, also held the festival called Samhain. During this festival, they would offer human sacrifices to their gods in hopes for a winter that was tolerable and crops the following year would be ample for all.

Halloween eventually made its way to America with Irish immigrants. In the 1800s, there was a huge wave of Irish immigration to America due to the Potato Famine. The Irish brought their Halloween traditions and pagan rituals with them.

In America, Halloween became a holiday for kids. Children would dress up in costumes and go door to door asking for candy. This tradition is called “trick-or-treating”.

So, what does the Bible say about Halloween? There is no specific mention of Halloween in the Bible. However, there are some principles that we can apply to determine whether or not celebrating Halloween is a sin.

The first principle is that we should not participate in activities that involve worshiping false gods or idols.

Deuteronomy 32:16 NIV says They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.

The second principle is that we should not partake in activities that involve evil spirits or demonic activity. 1 Samuel 28:3 says (New Living Translation) Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. Again, as we saw earlier, the Celtics and Druids believed that ghosts and spirits could come back to earth on Halloween.

Isaiah 8:19 (Amplified version)

When the people [instead of trusting God] say to you, “Consult the mediums [who try to talk to the dead] and the soothsayers who chirp and whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?

The third principle is that we should not partake in activities that involve sinful behavior, such as sexual immorality, drunkenness, or violence. Traditional Druid rituals were that of sacrificing children and worshipping evil gods.

So, based on these principles, it would appear that celebrating Halloween is a sin.

The Evolution Of Pagan Practices On Halloween Night:

As the holiday has evolved in the last fifty or so years it has become a night of celebrating horror and violence. Costumes have become more and more demonic and sexual. Adults flock to bars and parties covered in blood and showing as much skin as legally possible.

While children have also begun to wear more frightening costumes and are encouraged to play mean tricks on people who have not left the porch light on, or complain about not receiving the desired candy. Horror films are played in many homes for even the youngest of our population to view.

Haunted houses can bring in an estimated $50,000-$2,000,000 according to estimates by CNBC. The more terrible the larger and more financially successful. Jesus Christ said “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 16:26 (KJV)

Some Christians believe that Halloween is a celebration of evil. They believe that by dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door, we are imitating the activities of demons and witches. Others believe that Halloween is harmless fun.

As long as we don’t get too caught up in the dark side of things, they say, there’s no harm in enjoying a bit of fun.

What Is The Church’s Response To Halloween?

Some churches offer a Christian alternative with a safe place for children to join together in non-scary costumes and hear some New Testament or Old Testament stories from God’s Word; sharing the light of Jesus with snacks. Some Christians celebrate Halloween as a Harvest Festival instead.

Christian families can still bob for apples and play fun games together and help the young children to learn ways to enjoy the fun and not delve into the demonic realm. Explaining that one day of the year is no different than any other. Finishing the evening with lots of candy and laughs.

Another View Of This Tradition:

The Catholic church celebrates All Saints Day on November 1st. All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation for the Catholic Christian faith. This means that Catholics are required to attend Mass on this day.

Saints are those who have been recognized by the Catholic Church for their heroic virtue. The process for becoming a saint is called canonization. All Saints’ Day is a Christian holiday commemorating all of the saints, both known and unknown.

It is observed on November 1st in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity. In many Lutheran churches, it is celebrated as All Saints’ Eve (Hallowe’en), the evening before All Saints’ Day.

Catholics believe that there is a communion of saints, which consists of the blessed in heaven (the “church triumphant”), the blessed on earth (the “church militant”), and those yet to be fully purified (the “church penitent”).

In some years, it falls on the same day as another major feast such as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception or the Feast of Christ the King. When this happens, the other feast takes precedence and All Saints’ Day is celebrated on a different date.

All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in many countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, France, Italy, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Venezuela. It is also a regional holiday in Canada (New Brunswick) and

The reason they celebrate All Saints Day is that they believe that there are many people who have led holy lives and are now in heaven. We honor these people on this day and ask for their intercession.

If you do choose to celebrate Halloween, be sure to do so in a way that honors God and doesn’t involve any pagan or demonic activity. Also, be careful not to let your kids participate in any activities that might be harmful or inappropriate. This time of year, as in all seasons, there are multiple reasons to celebrate without wickedness.

Using a direct reference from the Apostle Paul, in the King James Version:

 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Christians today need to learn, teach and live by Biblical principles, using their own convictions as followers of Christ on October 31st as much as every other day. Christian communities need to pray for God’s supernatural power, and God’s wisdom, instead of encouraging the worship of other deities.

P.S. Plain and Simple, Is it a Sin to celebrate Halloween

Yes! It is in direct opposition to the God that we claim to serve. Putting aside the worthless deeds of evil and the official religion of witchcraft, chasing after the Holy Spirit and the glory of God with all that is in you has to be our number one priority above everything else.

Resources:

History.com

Biblegateway.com –The Holy Bible references

CNBC.com