Halloween: Holy or Hellish?
Even the Innocent looking Jack-o-lantern is rooted in the celebration of darkness...
In her book. "Halloween", author Helen Borten opens with the following lines: "October 31 is a night for make-believe witches and ghosts in pillowcases. It is for funny masks and pirate hats and devil's tails. It is for glued-on mustaches and wearing mommy's lipstick. October 31 is for ringing doorbells and giggling. for shouting BOO and guessing who."
Is Halloween that innocent? How did it originate? What is the meaning behind Halloween's many symbols and customs?
Originally. Halloween was a festival of fire, the dead, and the powers of darkness. It was the second of two Celtic fire festivals and was called Samhain. According to MAN, MYTH AND MAGIC: AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE SUPERNATURAL. It was a "...mystical occasion, being concerned with the links between living and dead." (1) It involved. "the ritual" and "the cauldron and the Four Foods of the Dead." (2)
It Is Interesting to note that Samhain is one of eight public observances still recognized by the Druids. According to Gerald S. Hawkins, the Druids were "the holy men, medicine men, teachers and judges of the Celts," Later he adds, "the Gauls affirm they (the Druids) were descended from a common father, Dis...the god of the dark underworld." (3)
Another Important fact is the date of Samhain. It was observed on the eve of November 1st, or October 31st. It identified the end of fall and the beginning of winter and also marked the beginning of the New Year on the Celtic calendar.
In an attempt to eliminate the Druid celebration of Samhain, the Roman Church instituded ALL SAINT'S DAY, also known as ALL HALLOW'S DAY. Later it intenistfied it's effort by adding ALL SOUL'S DAY. All Saint's day honored deceased saints and martyres, while All souls day was marked by prayers for the souls of the dead. Since All Hallow's Day fell on November 1st, and Samhain on October 31st, it wasn't long before Samhain became known as ALL HALLOW'S EVE and later as HALLOWEEN.
With regard to Halloween's occult tones, Sir James Frazer wrote, "Throughout Europe, Halloween, the night which marks the transition from autumn to winter. seems to have been of old the time of year when the souls of the departed ... revisited their old homes in order to warm themselves by the fire and to comfort themselves with the good cheer provided by their affectionate kinsfolk." (4) This fraternization with and fear or the dead is of major importance when evaluating Halloween from a Christian perspective.
During the night of All Hallow's Eve (Halloween), the hills of Wales. Britain and France would glow with huge fires. These fires were intended to light the way for the dead who stalked the countryside in search of their kinsfolk and the food offered by them.
Food items such as apples, nuts and corn were made availiable for roaming ghosts. Spirits finding no food would cast spells, cause havoc, steal infants, destroy crops, kill farm animals, and haunt the living who failed to treat them. Here we find the origin of the cry, "Trick-or-Treat." In view of this, it is not surprising that Halloween vandelism is extraordinarily high.
Witches and black cats are also an integral part of Halloween. In times Past, black cats were thought to be witches in disguise or reincarnated witches. They were often thrown into Halloween fires accompanied by the cry, "Fire! Fire! Burn the witches." Before you write this off as mid-evil ignorance, let me assure you that witches are more than mid-evil folklore. In the November 1983 issue of THE WRITTEN WORD, Bob Larson wrote, "The I.R.S. has officially recognized witchcraft as a religion and granted tax exemption to the Church and School of Wicca (Seekers of Wisdom )." "if it takes one to know one, then famed witch Sybil Leek knows in excess of 5,000. She claims there are nearly 6,000 witches in twentieth century America.
Modern day practitioners of witchcraft view October 31st, as a time most conducive to the practice of their black, demonic arts. On Halloween night, real witches will practice their Satanic traditions while thousands of ignorant Christians honor the powers of darkness. Youth groups will raise money by turning fellowship halls into haunted houses and the children of Christian parents will be encouraged to dress as witches and goblins.
Even the Innocent looking Jack-o-lantern is rooted in the celebration of Samhain. Lighted pumpkins have their origin in figures carved out of turnips and other such vegetables. These figures were made and exhibited in hope that they would ward off witches, imps, and ghosts seeking to harm the living.
Even the masks worn by little children on Halloween night find their origin in the ancient festival of Samhain. Men and women dressed in grotesque costumes and blood-curdling masks went from house to house. singing and dancing in an attempt to ward off evil spirits. Once again the enemy has deceived thousands of Christians. "The masks have now been transfered to children who, in the United States, visit the neighbors for the food-offerings which once belonged to the dead - or play tricks akin to the legendary destructiveness of witches and imps abroad on this night." (6) I am suspicious that African and Indian witch doctors would love the masks obtainable at any department store during Halloween.
Drive through any American neighborhood and you will be confronted with the symbols and art of Halloween (Samhain). It can be found in schools, homes, stores, restaurants and even churches. Some have objected by indicating that symbols are harmless. If that is so, then why don't we replace the cross with a swastika? How can we as, Christians be so blind? How can we as Christians defend the display of symbols which represent that which is ungodly?
What does the Bible say about all of this?
In the Bible, the Practice of communing with the dead is called "necromancing." Listen to what God says about communicating with the dead. "There shall not be found among you...an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter of familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord..." (Deut. 18:10-12). "And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? On behalf of the living should they seek unto the dead?" (Is. 8:19). "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them; I am the Lord your God" (Lev. 19:31).
Scripture also condemns the practice of witchcraft (spells, seances, divining, and such like). "Thou shall not suffer a witch to live" (Ex. 22:18). "And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from his people" (Lev. 20:6). "Saul died...for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of her" (1 Chr. 10:13), "Now the works of the flesh are...idolotry, witchcraft...they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21).
Some are sure to reply, "It's only an innocent time of fun. You're making a mountain out of a mole-hill." Perhaps the opposite is true and we have made a mole-hill out of a mountain. Paul instructs us to "abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22). James the Lord's brother wrote "...the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4).
No Christian would ever think of voluntarily worshipping Satan, but hundreds of them ignorantly participate in honoring the god-of-darkness each Halloween.
Satanic priest could say to many American Christians, "Ye men of America, I perceive that in all things you too are superstitious. For as I passed through your neighborhoods last night I beheld your devotion to the god-of-darkness. Whom you ignorantly worship, him I now declare unto you. he is the pronce of the powers of the air, the god of this age. the lord of the underworld, and the father of all lies."
Christian friend that which represents Satan and his work cannot be handled or practiced for fun. Such activity places one on dangerous ground and in fellowship with this world and the god of it.
Now that you know the facts, the decision is yours.
FOOTNOTES
1. Man, Myth and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural (New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1970) Volume 6, p. 722.
2. lbid, Volume 6. p. 722.
3. Gerald S. Hawkins. "Stonehenge Decoded" (New York. Doubleday and Co., Inc.. 1965) pps. 14, 15.
4. Sir James Frazer. "The Golden Bough."
5. Man, Myth and Magic, Op. Cit. p. 68.
6. Ibid. p. 68.
copywrite and author unknown
Printable version in Word .doc format
Contact info: Living Hope Outreach P.O. Box 11742 Fort Worth, TX 76110