Halloween. A fun, popular and harmless nationwide holiday celebrated in America. Or is it? Personally, you may not believe in supernatural spirits. You might simply view taking part in Halloween and similar celebrations as a way to have fun and teach your children to explore their imagination. Many people, though, regard these celebrations as harmful.
While the Bible does not mention Halloween, a holiday that many observe on October 31 each year, the ancient origins and traditions of Halloween conflict with Bible teachings. You would be wise to dig a little deeper into knowing the truth about this popular holiday. I’d like to share with you how this holiday and all it’s influence is not as innocent as you grew up thinking it to be.
HALLOWEEN’S ORIGIN’S
SAMHAIN The origin of Halloween can be traced to this ancient pagan festival celebrated by the Celtics marking the end of the harvest season. The celebrations included bonfires, guising or mumming, divination and feasting. During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead. Some Celts wore ghoulish costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to the spirits to appease them.
PUMPKINS & JACK-0-LANTERNS
The concept of using a round fruit or vegetable to depict a human face goes back thousands of years in some northern European Celtic cultures. On Samhain eve, October 31, the spirits of the dead were thought to mingle with the living. To ward off restless souls, people donned costumes and carved frightening faces into root vegetables. During the 1800’s in North America, pumpkins replaced turnips because they were plentiful as well as easy to hollow out and carve.
GHOSTS, WITCHES, VAMPIRES & MONSTERS
These creatures have long been associated with the evil spirit world. Referring to them as “supernatural monsters,” the book Halloween Trivia states that such creatures are “closely connected with death, the dead or the fear of dying.”
DOES CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN MATTER?
You may not be aware but the practices associated with Halloween are in fact, in direct conflict with Bible teachings. Halloween is based on false beliefs or teachings about the dead and invisible spirits, or demons. Take a closer look at the following Bible verses that show how God views the beliefs associated with Halloween:
- “There should not be found in you anyone who…employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead…” Deuteronomy 18:10-12
- “[Do not] be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons…” 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21
- “Stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil; because we have a struggle . . . against the wicked spirit forces.” Ephesians 6:11, 12
So, what do these scriptures tell us? One, that God does not approve of efforts to contact the dead or even of giving the appearance of trying to have contact with those who have died. Two, those who want God’s favor must avoid any connection with demons. And three, christians should oppose wicked spirit forces and not pretend to celebrate with them.
WHY IT’S CALLED HALLOWEEN
In the A.D. 700’s to 800’s, the Christian church established a new holiday, All Saints’ Day, on this date. All Saints’ Day was also called All Hallows’. Hallow means saint, or one who is holy. The evening before All Hallows’ was known as All Hallows’ Eve, or as it came to be abbreviated, All Hallow e’en. This name was eventually shortened to Halloween.”
WHAT’S THE APPEAL?
The commercial and entertainment industry has capitalized on occult themes, making them a prominent part of movies, TV shows, video games, and books. As a result, many young people have developed an interest in such things as astrology, demons, vampires, and witchcraft. It’s only natural to wonder about the future or to miss a loved one who has died. But there are dangers that you should be aware of. As already noted above, the Bible contains strong warnings against anything connected with spiritism.
Spiritism promotes alliance with demons. The Bible teaches that some angels rebelled against God and made themselves his enemies. (Genesis 6:2; Jude 6) These wicked angels, called demons, mislead people through spirit mediums, fortune-tellers, and those who practice divination and astrology. Practicing these things would align us with enemies of God. And do not forget that these wicked angels will hurt you and your families. (Luke 9:38-42)
This is a brief discussion on the topic of Halloween. This celebration is loaded with sinister occult influences that most people are unaware of. If you are interested in learning more please visit JW.ORG.
Thx!