Is it OK for Christians to celebrate Halloween?

Answer 1

Is it OK for Christians to celebrate Halloween?

The Bible does not specifically refer to Halloween. However, unlike other holidays with a pagan origin (like Christmas and Easter), Halloween has kept much of its original focus. Even today, Halloween is the most important holiday for a variety of satanic groups and witches' covens. (For that reason, many animal shelters will not let people “adopt” black cats before Halloween to reduce the likelihood of their being used in some sacrificial rite.)

Since Halloween is not specifically forbidden in the Bible, but involvement with witchcraft, spiritists, and so forth is; the celebration of Halloween becomes a matter of conscience. Romans 14:1-15.6 (chapter 14 verse 1 through chapter 15 verse 6) discusses matters of conscience and uses food as an example. Some Christians avoid the holiday altogether, make the evening a family night, and go out to dinner or a movie. Some churches hold special activities with games and prizes at the church on that evening, calling it a “Fall Festival.” Other Christians give out a Christian tract along with candy, using that opportunity to spread some information about Christianity. Comic book style tracts published by Chick Publishing are well received by “kids of all ages.” (If people come to your house seeking free treats, it is reasonable that you can give them something that is much better for their future.) If you choose to follow this route, we recommend choosing tracts appropriate for two age levels. For example, the Chick tracts Best Friend, Charlie’s Ants, or The Little Ghost are good for young trick-or-treaters, with the adult tracts being OK for the teenage visitors. (Remember, if you give a child nightmares with an adult tract, you will have only alienated that parent toward you.) Also, try to keep the tracts from being too “religious” or using too much “church talk,” since most visitors would not be Christians and would be put off by such language.

Like observing Halloween, watching the movies and reading Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings books, it may be a matter of conscience also for people since it is conceivable that it can lead to an interest in the occult. We do know that the Christian world at large reacted negatively because they felt that the Harry Potter series and the Lord of the Rings trilogy cast some witchcraft and magic in the "white-magic" or good category.

Certainly, we need to be careful of the things that our families see and hear. We also need to know when things are simple entertainment and when they are dangerous. Learning to be discerning and how to view and deal with things that God disagrees with has benefit as well. A parent might prepare their child for what they are about to read or watch, then use what they saw as a teachable moment to explain the truth from God's perspective.

As a side note, please notice that many nursery rhymes and fables deal with some of these same issues, yet Christian parents often read these to their kids. Many cartoons are similar. What about those blasts from the past "I dream of Jeannie" and "Bewitched?" In each case, discernment is necessary. Some shows on TV deal with occult issues as very real and try to place the occult in a positive light. It is hard to see how a Christian would justify watching those.

Historic Footnote: Martin Luther, a German monk, professor of theology, and later church reformer, his teachings inspired the Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines and culture of the Lutheran and Protestant traditions. As well as the course of Western civilization. Luther's formulation of the doctrine of sola fide, "salvation by faith alone," became the principal cause and distinctive feature of the Reformation movement.

On October 31, 1517, according to tradition, Luther posted 95 Theses on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg for a disputation on indulgences. The Theses condemned greed and worldliness in the Church as an abuse and asked for a theological disputation on what indulgences could grant.

Luther's contributions to Western civilization include his translation of the Bible (Which up until that time all Bibles were written in Latin), which speeded the development of a standard version of the German language and added several principles to the art of translation. His translation significantly influenced the later English King James Bible. Due to the recently developed printing press, many of his writings were widely read, influencing many subsequent Protestant Reformers and thinkers, giving rise to diversifying Protestant traditions in Europe and elsewhere. Today, nearly seventy million Christians belong to Lutheran churches worldwide, with some four hundred million Protestant Christians tracing their history back to Luther's reforming work.

Answer 2

Halloween is derived from a Catholic holiday, All Hallows Eve. There's some debate how much of a connection there is between All Hallows Eve and an earlier pagan holiday called Samhain. (Among other things, All Hallows Eve wasn't originally in the autumn, much less Oct 31, and it wasn't celebrated in an area where Samhain was celebrated!) Does a possible pagan root make it unChristian? If so, then you can rule out Christmas too! Regardless of roots, new meanings make for new holidays.

The Halloween that most people are familiar with has lost its Catholic meaning. It's just a holiday, an excuse for kids to dress up and eat candy. It doesn't have to have hidden meaning, and I don't think holidays can "trick" you into celebrating something you don't want to celebrate. If all you're doing on Halloween is dressing up and eating candy, then that is all you're doing, and there's certainly no rule in Christianity against that.

Answer 3

Well, to be a Christian is to be Christ-like. Halloween was originally a pagan religious festival. Would Jesus or the first century Christians celebrate it? Nope.

Halloween’s roots, although not found in the Bible, can be traced back to a pagan origin. The pre-Christian Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all celebrated a festival for the dead. These ancients believed that on these occasions the spirits of the dead returned; therefore food was left for them and lamps were kept burning so they would not lose their way.

The Celtic order of Druids worshiped Samhain, lord of the dead, as well as a sun-god to whom the horse was sacred. On November 1, which was also their New Year, they held a joint festival in honor of these gods. It was believed that the souls of those who had died the previous year because of their sins were confined to the bodies of lower animals, and at the time of this festival Samhain assembled them together, and they were released to go to the Druid heaven. On the eve of the feast of Samhain the pagan Celts used to keep bonfires burning, believing that this would protect them from evil spirits.

The many features of today’s Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations can be traced directly back to paganism. The ancients associated this time of the year with the supernatural and with the thronging of dead spirits, so it was right in line with Catholic church policy to adopt this date for their All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day. The people were thus able to keep their pagan customs and beliefs and still celebrate what are called Christian festivals of the highest rank. But the varnish applied by Christendom to these pagan feasts is so thin that there is no questioning the fact that Halloween is rooted in paganism.

Christians should be motivated by Scriptural principle and not by human reasoning that may argue: “What harm can come from letting children attend a costume party? Everyone else participates, and it is hard on the children when they are different.” It is not Scripturally wrong for children to have a costume party or play games such as bobbing for apples. However, doing so as a part of Halloween would be celebrating that pagan religious feast. This would be compromising Christian principles. One can be sure that Christ Jesus, who always stuck close to what the Bible said, would heed the divine commands: “You must not walk in the statutes of the nations.” “Do not learn the way of the nations at all.” (Lev. 20:23; Jer. 10:2) Jesus was never influenced by human reasoning into compromising on Scriptural commands! Therefore, neither will a Christian today compromise, even if it means being different and separate from the world.

Answer 4

It is just a holiday for most people, a time to dress up and have fun. There's nothing wrong with anyone celebrating it. If you are worried about celebrating it because it was originally pagan, then leave out Valentine's Day, Easter, Ground Hog Day, May Day & Christmas (originally Yule). I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of them right now. Most of the Christian holidays were actually taken from pagans. It was one way they could get people to convert without using warfare. Check out the true stories about St Patrick if you want to see how this was done and why.

Answer 5

The Christmas tree, caroling, Yule log, and many other Christmas symbols are rooted in Paganism. The Gregorian (Christian) calendar is patterned after Pagan practices, mythology, and astrology. Halloween is rooted in Pagan belief.

Despite these things, modern Christians use and celebrate these things/symbols without regard to their origins. Halloween has evolved into a secular, festive holiday, primarily for children, but everyone can join in the festivities.

If Christians can use the Gregorian calendar with no intent of celebrating Pagan holidays, and if they can put up Christmas trees with no intention of celebrating its Pagan origin, then they can also celebrate Halloween as purely a silly, light-hearted, fun holiday.

Answer 6

Halloween is also known as All Hallows Eve. During the middle ages, it was believed by Christians that it was the night during which angels descended from Heaven to purge the Earth of evil before Christmas.

Answer 7

Modern day Halloween has very little to do with Samhain or any other All Hallows Eve celebration. Its a perfectly fine holiday for any religion.

Answer 8

Generally speaking, yes. Some consider Halloween to be a tribute to the occult and demonic ways, but that's really not the meaning of it in today's society. It's a reason for kids to go out and dress up and get candy. So go have fun and stop worrying about going to hell :P.

Answer 9

If it is about dressing up and partying and yummy candy, by all means celebrate it. If it is celebrating the spirits of the dead forget it. @yuki should have told me Mormons can;t do halloween my ward had their YM/YW Halloween dance yesterday. Had to explain the thriller video to the Bishop's wife(hehe) cause the kids did a reenactment for Halloween.

Answer 10

My dad did not like us to celebrate Halloween b/c he said it was the devils day, but I seen it as me getting some candy and playing dress up, and I knew I wasn't worshiping the devil, b/c I have so much love for the Lord!IT IS A OKAY AS ;LONG AS YOUR HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

Answer 11

Halloween is the Wiccan New Year, the more the Merrier.

& Jesus probably wouldn’t celebrate it. He was Jewish, not Pagan, although he was most likely more accepting than any of you.& he would have been welcomed to join in the festivities, just as all of you are.

Blessed Be.