Do Christians celebrate Halloween?

Question

I know this question has been asked before, but I'd like to get some other opinions. Halloween is based on pagan beliefs, so do Christians celebrate it? Just wondering. Thanks.

Answer 1

Some do. Some don't.

Answer 2

Yes, most do, and unlike some of the other answers say, its not also known as all saints day. All hallows eve is halloween, celebrated as it is normally because it was supposedly the day when the demons, ghosts, zombies etc came back from the grave. All saints day was the day after when the angels and saints came from the heavens and banished them back to hell.

Also, unlike "victor ious" suggests, paganism is nothing to do with satan, or satanism. It is simply another religeoun, like hindu or buddhism, that dissagreed with many christian views, so the old christians shunned it and practically eradicated it, and associated it with devil worship and witchcraft.

Answer 3

Yes.

Our Church canceled all activities on Hallowe'en so everyone could celebrate it. I was relieved and happy to see that they consider Hallowe'en as a community event and festival, rather than some evil pagan bloodbath.

There's even a Hallowe'en food drive!

Kids outside, not in front of TVs and computers? Getting a little fresh air and exercise? Calling on neighbours who may not get visitors at even Christmas? C'mon.

Christians who say that Hallowe'en is evil bore me. They accuse people who just want to have some good clean fun of being evil and worshiping the Occult. These are the ones who encourage people to turn away from the Church, using it to judge others and make themselves feel somehow superior and better than Hallowe'en revelers.

I admire Christians who show tolerance and understanding and know that participating in Hallowe'en in a healthy positive way will not harm anyone's soul. Sharing and giving should be encouraged in these times. And being able to walk safely about in the night with one's family? Priceless.

It is also a time to face our own fears, particularly about death and dying, something we all face.

There's enough bad things in the world without making stuff up about a holiday that does more good than harm.

Answer 4

I would say that they are one of the few groups that DO celebrate it. Since they are a majority in the countries that celebrate it.

Also, Christianity usually transposes their own holidays over pagan holidays (that people still wanted to celebrate). Halloween matches up with something called "All Saints Day." Also one of the reasons Christmas is on 12/25 even though Jesus wasn't born then.

Answer 5

Halloween is a tradition celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets. It is celebrated in parts of the Western world, though most common in Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and with increasing popularity in Australia, and sometimes celebrated in New Zealand. Halloween originated among the Celts in Ireland, Britain and France as the Pagan Celtic harvest festival, Samhain. Irish, Scots, Calan Gaeaf in Welsh and other immigrants brought versions of the traditions to North America in the 19th century. Most other Western countries have embraced Halloween as a part of American pop culture in the late 20th century.

The term Halloween, and its older spelling Hallowe'en, is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the evening before "All Hallows' Day" (also known as "All Saints' Day"). In Ireland, the name was All Hallows' Eve (often shortened to Hallow Eve), and though seldom used today, it is still a well-accepted label. The holiday was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions, until it was appropriated by Christian missionaries and given a Christian interpretation.[citation needed] Halloween is also called Pooky Night in some parts of Ireland, presumably named after the púca, a mischievous spirit.

Halloween is often associated with the occult. Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is one of the liminal times of the year when the spiritual world can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent (e.g. Catalan mythology about witches, Irish tales of the Sídhe).

Answer 6

I am a Christian and i always look forward to Halloween ( its my birthday!) It used to be so much fun but as i've grown, i've been subjected to some of the rudest comments from fellow Christians that i just quit going to church during the month of October. Our intentions when we celebrate this holiday are innocent...so why should I feel bad? I feel bad for them actually, because they are missing out on FREE CANDY!!! :-)

Answer 7

Some do, some don't. It's a personal choice. We are Christians and do not celebrate it because it is a personal conviction of ours to not partake. However there are many devout followers of Christ who see absolutely nothing wrong with it.

I don't think it's a Salvation issue - meaning, I don't believe a Christian would go to Hell for trick or treating if (s)he really didn't see anything wrong with it.

But some Christians just don't feel it's right, and therefore don't celebrate it.

Answer 8

Most of the Christians I know, including my self, do celebrate Halloween. It's fun. What else matters really. It may have some pagan origins, but the its current incarnation has nothing to do with those practices.

Answer 9

Although some might not, I don't restrict myself from celebrating it. Different cultures celebrate holidays of the same origin in different ways. I celebrate because it's the one time out of the year an adult can act like a kid and be crazy in a costume.

Answer 10

Yes. Mostly the holiday is for children. They dress up in costumes and go door to door asking for candy.

Adults like dressing up, too- for parties.

Nothing wrong or evil with that.

The meaning of the holiday (All Hallow's Eve) has changed quite a bit. Check out my link.

Answer 11

Yes, definatly. I myself am Christian, and Halloween is my favorite holiday. Some Christians don't like its Pagan origins, but most of us do.