Why do Chistians participate in a pagan Holyday?

Question

That is what Holloween is, Isn't it.

ok, so spell check doesn't always work.

Yes, I do understand the historical significance of why CHRISTmas,Easter and Pentecost are where and why they are on the calendar.

The same uestion probably better put would be why do children of the Light play with and in the darkness?

Answer 1

Why not let the kids have some fun, they don't relate Halloween to a pagan anything, its just good clean fun to go trick or treating. Get over it and yourself.......########

Answer 2

The word Halloween comes from 'All Hallows Eve' which was what the Catholics tried to change the pagan holiday of Samhain into. Same with Christmas-it was originally the Winter Solstice celebration (Yule in some areas) and Easter was named after the pagan holiday spring festival. The spring festival was a fertility festival (hence the baby animals, egg hunt and rabbits) and the main goddess celebrated was Eoster.

Answer 3

Actually, a good case can be made that all major Christian holidays celebrated in the US are simply repackaged pagan celebrations. In the case of Halloween, there are a number of traditions that spring from uniquely Christian/indigenous syncretic roots such as the Mexican "Day of the Dead" celebrations. These are at least partially Christian in origin.

Much of modern Christian practice originated in non-Christian practices. This does not necessarily make them unholy or satanic, but it is important to have eyes wide open.

Frank Viola's book "Pagan Christianity" is a good starting place, pretty approachable and interesting, only don't read it unless you're really willing to examine what your church does. Frank does go a little over the top, but that's his style. There are other more academic treatments of the same subject. Any pastor with an MDiv degree could steer you through a high-level view of the topic.

Grace and Peace!

Answer 4

We recognize that this can be a very controversial topic. Some Christians view Halloween simply as a day to dress up in a costume and have fun. Other Christians regard Halloween as a satanic holiday designed to worship evil spirits and promote darkness and wickedness. So, who is right? Is it possible for a Christian to participate in Halloween without compromising their faith?

Halloween, no matter how commercialized, has completely pagan origins. As innocent as it may seem to some, it is not something to be taken lightly. Christians tend to have various ways to celebrate or not to celebrate Halloween. For some, it means having an “alternative” Harvest Party. For others, it is staying away from the ghosts, witches, goblins, etc., and wearing less evil or pagan costumes e.g., little princesses, clowns, cowboys, super-heroes, etc. Some choose not to do anything, electing to lock themselves in the house with the lights off. With your freedom as a Christian, you are at liberty to decide how you react.

Scripture doesn't speak at all about Halloween, but I believe that it does give us some principles in which we can make a decision on. In Old Testament Israel, witchcraft was a crime punishable by death (Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27). The New Testament teaching about the occult is clear. Acts 8:9-24, the story of Simon, shows that occultism and Christianity don't mix. The account of Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-11 reveals that sorcery is violently opposed to Christianity. Paul called him a child of the devil, and enemy of righteousness and perverter of the ways of God. In Acts 16, at Philippi, a fortune-telling girl lost her demon powers when the evil spirit was cast out by Paul. The interesting matter here is that Paul refused to allow even good statements to come from a demon-influenced person. Acts 19 shows new converts who have abruptly broke with their former occultism by confessing, showing their evil deeds, bringing their magic paraphernalia and burning it before everyone (Acts 19:19).

So, should a Christian celebrate Halloween? Is there anything evil about a Christian dressing up as a princess or cowboy and going around the block asking for candy? No, there is not. Are there things about Halloween that are anti-Christian and should be avoided? Absolutely! Parents, if you are going to allow your children to participate in Halloween, make sure you keep them from getting involved in the darker aspects of the day. If a Christian is going to take part in Halloween, their attitude, dress, and most importantly, their behavior should still reflect a redeemed life (Philippians 1:27). There are many churches who hold "harvest festivals" and incorporate costumes, but in a godly environment. There are many Christians who hand out tracts that share the Gospel along with the Halloween candy. The decision is ultimately yours to make. I believe God's view on the subject is clear: "Be Holy, as I am Holy" (1 Peter 1:16). "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5b).

Answer 5

Halloween (Allhallows Even) was observed by some churches with religious services. However, most persons regarded it as a secular festival. In its strictly religious aspect, it is known as the vigil of Hallowmas or All Saints' Day, observed on November 1 by the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.

The festival of Halloween is based on a combination of the Christian commemoration of the departed faithful (All Saints' Day) with the pre-Christian Celtic feast associated with a celebration of the end of summer and the Celtic New Year

Answer 6

You are correct.

In addition, what is commonly called Easter was in fact a pagan ritual around the end of March with ties to fertility and the coming planting season. Female deities, common among pagans, which the term "easter" dervies its name from are : Esther, Ashtoreth, Ishtar. She is the graven image with multiple breasts.

In the Julian calendar, what we would now call December 21st, and is commonly referred to as the Winter Equinox, was a pagan Holy day long before it was hijacked at Christmas.

In fact most scholars place the birth of Christ in the month we would call September.

Additonally, the "first day of the week" the day of Christian worship is named in fact after the Sun.

Constantine the Great co-mingled infantile Christianity with existing paganism to make peace between the two factions, thus tightening his control over both.

Merging both Christian and pagan holy days was indeed an act of brilliance on his part.

Monday of course, is named after the moon, Saturday after Saturn, etc,etc,etc.

Many of the world's oldest cathedrals are built on spots held sacred by pagans for thousands of years.

Answer 7

Most of the time, Christians don't participate in the pagan end of the holidays we observe. The simple fact is that a few of the holidays we recognize are from pagan backgrounds. For example Christmas. We have no real proof that Christ was born on Dec 25, but we still celebrate His birth there. Easter likewise. The book of Acts tells us of a king that was in town to celebrate EASTER, but not the easter we know. It's a simple gesture of taking what the enemy meant for bad and using it to bring glory to the name of Jesus. God Bless!!

Answer 8

All the Christian holidays were originally Pagan. The early Christians incorporated them into the Christian religions so they could coheres -er- persuade the Pagans to convert!

Answer 9

Not all do. Some fundamentalist Christians regard it as pagan, so they refuse to celebrate it. They will, however, participate in a "harvest festival" about the same time. Go figure.
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Answer 10

Halloween is All Saints Day. It would be equivilant to Christmas ( celebrating Santa coming) actually being Jesus' Birthday.
All are holidays made to catch the spirit and attention of children.

Answer 11

Hallowe'en is purely secular and has been for centuries. Before then, it was the night before the Western Christian holiday of All Saints.

Christians aren't participating in a "pagan Holyday" any more than Columbus Day is "pagan".