In the early 9th Century Pope Gregory IV designated November 1st as All Saints Day to honor all Christian saints and martyrs. October 31st became known as All Hallows Evening, a time for prayer and preparation before the feast day (much like Christmas Eve).
Witches and goblins came to be associated with these holy days due to a Celtic festival called Samhain from October 31st to November 1st, which marked the end of the harvest season and to usher in “the dark half of the year”.
Hallowmas is an older name for All Saints’ Day, a Christian holiday celebrated on November 1 to honor all Christian saints and martyrs, both known and unknown. It is also referred to as All Hallows’ Day or Allhallowmas. The term “Hallowmas” originates from the feast of Allhallowsmas, with “hallow” meaning “holy person” or “saint”. The day after Hallowmas, November 2, is All Souls’ Day, a day dedicated to praying for the souls of the faithful departed, particularly those in purgatory. The vigil of Hallowmas, known as All Hallows’ Eve, is the night before All Saints’ Day and is the origin of the modern holiday Halloween.
Gaelic culture believed that the boundary between the dead and the living thinned, and the dead would return home seeking hospitality among the living. If the dead were not appeased, they would wreak havoc on livestock and crops, causing sickness and famine. So, on October 31, the Gaels would wear costumes, light bonfires, and imitate sorcery practices to ward off evil spirits and appease the dead. All hell would break loose, and these festivals would often devolve into nights of havoc and terror.
Samhain was a popular festival at the time when the British Isles were converted to Christianity. Christian missionaries adapted certain pre-Christian practices and customs into the celebration of “All Saints Eve”. This was a deliberate effort to transform and sanctify existing cultural traditions, making them compatible with Christian beliefs and values.
The term “All Hallows’ Eve” is a contraction of “All Hallows’ Evening,” which refers to the holy evening before All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day is one of the seven principal feasts of the church year, and one of the four days recommended for the administration of baptism.
This history presents us with two views of death: one as terrifying and haunted, the other as hopeful and holy. The church has chosen the latter, All Hallows’ Eve is an opportunity for Christians everywhere to celebrate the work God has done in and through his saints, and that neither their stories or ours will end in the grave.
What is All Hallows’ Eve?
So, let’s start with the basics. What is a hallow? Well, hallow simply means holy, as the Lord’s Prayer suggests (“hallowed be thy name”), so a “hallow” is a holy person—a saint. All Hallows’ Eve, then, is the eve of All Saints’ Day—the day the church remembers all the women and men from St. Peter to St. Augustine to St. Thérèse—who have modeled holiness for us throughout the history of the church. All Saints’ Day is followed by All Souls’ Day on November 2, the day the church recognizes all the faithful departed—that is, every person who has ever lived and died in Christ, whether the church officially recognizes them as a saint or not. On All Souls’ Day, many churches hold services that specifically remember loved ones who have died in the last year.
For over a century, the Church has observed All Hallow’s Eve as an evening vigil to watch and wait for these two holy days that honor the friends, family, and heroic saints who are now part of the “cloud of witnesses” spoken of in Hebrews 12:1, cheering us on from heaven as we run the race set before us. All Hallows’ Eve is similar to Christmas Eve in that we are eagerly and festively anticipating the holy day that follows.
So, to recap: October 31 is All Hallows’ (Saints) Eve, November 1 is All Saints’ Day, and November 2 is All Souls’ Day.
Where did it come from?
How witches and goblins came to be associated with these holy days on the church’s calendar.
Likely because October 31 through November 1 was the date of a Celtic festival called Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season. The Gaels believed that beginning at sun down on October 31, the boundary between the dead and alive thinned, and the dead would return home seeking hospitality among the living. If the dead were not appeased, they would wreak havoc on livestock and crops, causing sickness and famine. So on October 31, the Gaels would don costumes, light bonfires, and imitate sorcery practices in order to ward off evil spirits and appease the dead. All hell would break loose and these festivals would often devolve into nights of havoc and terror.
Gaelic Samhain is a pagan religious festival originating from ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. It is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” In modern times, Samhain is often associated with the Gaelic word “SAH-win” or “sow-in/sah-win” depending on the dialect. Samhain was believed to be a time when the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, and spirits of the dead returned to the world of the living. Christian missionaries incorporated elements of Samhain into All Hallows’ Eve, blending pagan and Christian traditions.
In 835 BC the church supplanted this pagan festival, setting All Saints Day on November 1, the same day as Samhain. They replaced the havoc and mischief created by the evil dead on Samhain with a hopeful watching, waiting, and celebration of the holy dead, God’s saints.
This history presents us with two views of death: one as terrifying and haunted, the other as hopeful and holy. The church has chosen the latter, and on October 31 we make a party out of it. All Hallows’ Eve is an opportunity for Christians everywhere to celebrate the work God has done in and through his saints, and that neither their stories or ours will end in the grave.
Christian Origins
All Hallows’ Eve has its roots in Christian tradition. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day to honor all Christian saints and martyrs. The evening before, October 31, became known as All Hallows’ Eve, a time for prayer and preparation before the feast day.
Celtic Influence
However, All Hallows’ Eve also has connections to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Samhain was believed to be a time when the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, and spirits of the dead returned to the world of the living. Christian missionaries incorporated elements of Samhain into All Hallows’ Eve, blending pagan and Christian traditions.
Modern Celebrations
Today, All Hallows’ Eve is celebrated with a mix of Christian and secular traditions. Many people attend church services, while others participate in costume parties, trick-or-treating, and other festive activities. The holiday has evolved to include elements such as:
- Costume-wearing and masquerading
- Trick-or-treating and begging for sweets
- Decorations featuring ghosts, goblins, and other supernatural creatures
- Food and drink offerings, such as soul cakes and apple cider
Conclusion
In summary, All Hallows’ Eve is a celebration with both Christian and pagan roots. It originated as a Christian vigil on the evening before All Saints’ Day, but incorporated elements of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Today, it is a popular holiday marked by a mix of religious and secular traditions, including costume parties, trick-or-treating, and festive decorations.
Due to its decidedly pagan origins, the answer to the question as to whether Christians should celebrate Halloween is a resounding no. The answer to the question as to whether can Christians participate in Halloween activities without compromising their faith is more difficult. Some Christians participate in Halloween simply by dressing up in a costume and having fun, seeing it as innocent and harmless. Other Christians are equally convinced that any form of participation is sinful due to the fact that Halloween is a satanic holiday established to worship evil spirits and promote darkness and wickedness. So, who is right? Is it possible for Christians to participate in Halloween without compromising their faith?
Halloween, no matter how commercialized, has almost completely pagan origins. As innocent as it may seem to some, it is not something to be taken lightly. Christians tend to have various ways to observe or avoid Halloween. For some, it means having an alternative Harvest Party. For others, it is staying away from the ghosts, witches, goblins, etc., and wearing innocuous costumes, e.g., little princesses, clowns, cowboys, super-heroes, etc. Some choose not to do anything, electing to lock themselves in the house with the lights off.
Scripture does not speak at all about Halloween, but it does give us some principles on which we can make a decision. In Old Testament Israel, witchcraft was a crime punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27). The New Testament teaching about the occult is clear. Acts 8:9-24, the story of Simon, shows that occultism and Christianity do not mix. The account of Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-11 reveals that sorcery is violently opposed to Christianity. Paul called Elymas a child of the devil, an enemy of righteousness and a perverter of the ways of God. In Acts 16, at Philippi, a fortune-telling girl lost her demon powers when the evil spirit was cast out by Paul. The interesting matter here is that Paul refused to allow even good statements to come from a demon-influenced person. Acts 19 shows new converts who have abruptly broken with their former occultism by confessing, showing their evil deeds, bringing their magic paraphernalia, and burning it before everyone (Acts 19:19).
So, should a Christian participate in Halloween? Is there anything evil about a Christian dressing up in an innocent costume and going around the block asking for candy? No, there is not. Are there things about Halloween that are anti-Christian and should be completely avoided? Absolutely! If parents are going to allow their children to participate in Halloween, they should make sure to keep them from getting involved in the darker aspects of the day. If Christians are going to take part in Halloween, their attitude, dress, and most importantly, their behavior, should still reflect a redeemed life (Philippians 1:27). There are many churches that hold “harvest festivals” and incorporate costumes, but in a godly environment. There are many Christians who hand out tracts that share the gospel along with the Halloween candy. The decision is ultimately ours to make in the spirit of Christian freedom. But as with all things, we are to incorporate the principles of Romans 14. We cannot allow our own convictions about a holiday to cause division in the body of Christ, nor can we use our freedom to cause others to stumble in their faith. We are to do all things for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
