Many religions and churches stay clear of celebrating Halloween because it is related to a pagan holiday and the history of All Hallow's Eve. However, instead of focusing on the negative aspects of Halloween, we can turn this holiday into a positive, relationship-building tradition for our family as well and provide an alternative place to fellowship with our church family.
So,
let's take a look at a Christian perspective on Halloween.
Since
the eighth century Christians have celebrated All Saints' Day on
November 1 to celebrate the known and unknown Christian Saints.
Saints are not just those whom are heads of the Church, but all
members who proclaim Jesus as Lord - including you and me! "And
he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will
of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and
whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them
he also glorified." - Romans 8:27-30.
Almost as
old as the celebration of All Saints Day is the tradition associated
with All Hallow's Eve. The word hallow means to be holy, (Hallowed be
thy name) The word eve means the evening before. So, Halloween
means "the evening before All Holy Ones' Day." Today we
call that festival Halloween and sadly, it's more centered toward
honor the dead or Satan than honoring those who have died for Christ.
There are many fun secular ways of recognizing it in addition to
religious ways. However, it's important to remember that its
celebration has a long, positive history in the Church.
Like
many of the worldly festivals (Christmas and Easter included), All
Saints' Day and All Hallow's Eve have some connection to pagan
festivals. However, this should not be so, for modern secular
Halloween and paganism actually have very little to do with each
other. The Halloween that is celebrated today in is a day when
children and adults alike can dress up and collect candy. People host
Halloween parties where guests can bob for apples and drink punch.
So, what does that have to do with paganism? Very little, really.
Actually, pagans don’t even celebrate Halloween as a spiritual
holiday.
The pagan holiday they celebrate is called Samhain,
and depending on the pagan, it is observed on October 31st or another
date in mid-November. Samhain is a time when pagans honor their
family members and friends who have passed away. In early times, it
was believed that the veil between this world and the otherworld was
thin, and our ancestors could give advice and guidance. People put
candles in hollowed out turnips so the spirits could find their way,
and set out food as offerings. The spirits of loved ones are not to
be feared—pagans greet them just as they would a living relative
who has been away for a while. Some pagans also celebrate Samhain as
the start of a new year. Samhain is the time to contemplate death,
and on the other side of death is a new life.
Christianity
actually created Halloween. As Christianity was spreading throughout
Europe, the clergy had difficulties convincing the general populace
to stop celebrating their pagan holidays. In most cases, the church
made up holidays that occurred at the same time of year as the old
pagan festivals. Instead of celebrating the Winter Solstice, the
church told people to celebrate Christ’s birth during the long
winter months. And instead of Samhain, the church convinced people
that spirits needed to be scared away by dressing up in ghoulish
costumes, and Halloween was born.
People of many races and
cultures have remembered their dead and have had superstitions about
death itself. Christians can remember death itself on All Hallow's
Eve and celebrate Christ's victory over death.
During the
Middle Ages, Christians would gather in Churches for worship and they
would remember the saints' victories over evil. Likewise they would
put on little displays showing Jesus' victory of Satan, often using
unusual masks and costumes to act out the story. Thus, the
festivities on All Hallow's Eve were the Christian's way of laughing
at death and evil, something we can do in certain hope of Christ's
victory over the powers of darkness. Just as Easter is a celebration
of Jesus' victory over death and evil, so can Halloween.
Just
like any other holiday it all comes down to this, we need to keep
Christ in mind with any celebration. Any secular holiday can be
Christian oriented, we just need to make sure what we do lines up
with God's Word.
Check out some of these suggestions for a
more subdued Christian alternative to Halloween, these ideas offer
alternatives to the customary Halloween activities. They are simple
suggestions to start you thinking and planning. Add your own
creativity and there's no limit to the possibilities for family fun!
Have
A Harvest Party
Offering a harvest party has been a
popular Halloween alternative among Christian churches for years. A
Fall Carnival or Harvest Festival adds a slightly new twist to this
Christian alternative to the customary Halloween activities.
Organizing an event at your church gives children and parents a place
to go and benefit from celebrating together with other families.
Bible theme costumes offer an endless source of amusing choices. A
new variation to this old idea is to create a carnival atmosphere.
With some well-thought-out planning, you can involve various
established small groups from within your church to host carnival
booths. Each group can creatively choose a theme, such as a
"hoola-hoop" contest, or a gourd toss, providing a carnival
midway of entertaining games. Craft booths and creative prizes can
also be incorporated.
Family Pumpkin
Carving
You might consider planning a family pumpkin
carving project. This would be a more personal time of fellowship
with the members of your family. Conclude the festivities by
partaking in a slice of homemade pumpkin pie! Remember, family
traditions don't have to be gigantic, just memorable.
A
Noah's Ark Party
As a Christian alternative to
Halloween, consider offering a Noah's Ark party. This can either be a
church-wide event or you might consider hosting your own party for
neighbors and friends. Read the Genesis account of Noah's Ark and the
ideas for planning will be numerous. Food choices could follow a "pet
food" or "feed store" theme.
Evangelism
Outreach
Some churches like to take advantage of the
Halloween holiday by planning an evangelistic outreach as an
alternative. This is the perfect night to plan an outdoor venue in a
park. You can rent a space or use a neighborhood park. Music, drama
and a message can easily draw a crowd on a night when so many are out
and about. Consider involving the youth of your church and go door to
door presenting the Gospel or greet others on the street (with
parents). Some churches can even put together a "haunted house"
at their church and invite the crowd inside to hear an imaginatively
delivered, evangelistic message.
