What Is “Halloween”? …And should a Christian participate in it?

The Hallowe’en customs the world observes on October 31 had their beginnings long ago. The origins and traditions can be traced back thousands of years to the days of the ancient Celts and their priests, the Druids, of ancient Gaul and Britain, who had an elaborate religious and political organization. Some were soothsayers, magicians, sorcerers, and barbs (composers and reciters of spiritually epic tales, usually involving the demonic). Their religion worshipped numerous gods and natural objects (such as trees, wells, mountains, et al), which involved magical practices.

The Druids believed that witches, demons, and spirits of the dead roamed the earth on the eve of November 1. Bonfires (short for “bone-fires”) were lit to drive away the bad spirits. The great bonfires served another purpose as well—on this night, unspeakable sacrifices were offered by the Druid priests to their lord of death, Saman (the Bible calls him Satan). The “celebration” was called “The Feast of Samhain” (pronounced SAH-WEEN). On October 31, black-cloaked Druid priests bearing torches would go door to door to select animals and/or humans for their “New Year’s” sacrifice to the lord of the dead. In return for the greatest “gift” to Saman (Satan) of a child or infant, they would leave a hollowed-out turnip or potato with a candle light shining through a carved face (usually carved with a fearful, demonic face). In the reveling that took place that night, the demons (supposedly loosed for the night) would pass over the homes marked by the carved lanterns (which they called “jack-o-lanterns”); for those families had provided the greatest gift (note the depraved counterfeit to the Lord’s Passover). The non-participating homes could be hit, sometimes with sudden death or other terrible “tricks”.

To protect themselves from the mean “tricks” of those roaming demons (like the killing of their livestock or vandalism of their property), the Druid priests told people to offer the demons good things to eat (sometimes food, sometimes their female children)—thus, it was a solemn “trick-or-treat.” The Druids also disguised themselves with demonic-looking costumes so that the spirits would think they belonged to their evil company and, therefore, not bring any harm to them. They also carried jack-o-lanterns around in an attempt to intimidate or trick the demons around them (to get them to accept them and “pass over” them).

During the actual sacrificial ceremony, the Druids would carefully watch the writhing of the animal and/or human victims in the fire (burned alive). From their death agonies, they would foretell the future of the village. The locals then each took a portion of the fire to their own hearths for good luck and good crops in the new year.

Very similar traditions are still carried over today in the Hallowe’en celebration. People dress up in costumes (often frightful), play “trick or treat” on unsuspecting neighbors, set out jack-o-lanterns, give out treats to those who show up and ask, etc.

Many centuries later, the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) set aside the first day of November to honor all their recognized “saints.” They called it “All Saints’ Day,” which was preceded (as are all their holy days—“holidays”) by a recognized “Eve”—“All Hallows Eve.” When the RCC came to the Druid territories, the population (forced to accept RCC doctrines and practices under threat of torture or death) simply combined their ancient occultic practices with the RCC activities. The Druid-led people submitted to the keeping of All Saints’ Day and All Hallows Eve (eventually combined with Samhain to form Hallowe’en), but they also kept their own occultic practices.

Despite the half-hearted attempts by the RCC to destroy the pagan religious practices associated with Hallowe’en, they have survived. During the Middle Ages, such practices found further outlet in the increasingly open practice of witchcraft (Wicca), which was and still is devoted to communing with the spirits of the dead and, ultimately, to the worship of Satan.

While nearly every major holiday has been tainted with some form of pagan history, none were and continue to be so deeply immersed in the occult as is Hallowe’en. To this day, October 31 is considered to be the “high day” for pagans, Wiccans, and Satanists. 

With the facts in mind, should a Christian be involved in any way with any celebration of “Hallowe’en”?