Is Halloween Religious or Cultural?
Written by Rev. Zheng revised on 29 October 2023
Halloween is not a Christian festival. It originated from an old Celtic pagan ritual akin to the Chinese Hungry Ghosts Festival, whereby people believed that the gate of the nether world was opened on that day. People put on horrifying masks to avoid being recognized by the evil spirits. After Christianity became the national religion in the 4th century, many pagans were ‘converted’ to Christianity in name. In order to stop the pagan customs, the Roman emperor Christianized them. This Celtic festival was now called All Saints’ Day, or Halloween, to venerate the martyrs and catholic saints.
Many pagan customs were reduced to cultural customs in the postmodern 21st century. For example, today, Christmas is celebrated without a trace of its Saturnalia origin- an ancient Roman festival. Similarly, Even though Halloween is still a celebrative day for Satanism today, It is becoming less of a religious festival and more cultural in most Asia countries. Profit-driven merchants are filling the festival with cultural events aimed at youth based on myths of death and the devil. As such, can Christians celebrate Halloween?
The Bible is clear that we must not attend any activity that smacks even the slightest of religion, for it would be idolatry. As for cultural events, consider whether they are in line with godliness. We ought to walk away from anything wild, sensual, unrighteous, or related to evil spirits. God has sternly warned the Israelites not to be involved in the Canaanites’ practice of divination, sorcery, witchcraft, contact with the dead…etc. (Deut 18:9-14)
While we do not need to fear evil spirits, for the indwelling Spirit is far greater than all other spirits, let us not show contempt to the devil by flirting with the nether world. When the archangel Michael was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, the Bible said he did not dare condemn the devil. (Jude 1:9)
Also, safety must not be neglected in any activity, especially for Halloween. Years ago, a 9-year-old girl in America was shot by her relative accidentally when she dressed up as a skunk! In 2012, three teenagers were killed in a stampede during a Halloween celebration in Madrid. The memories of the stampede that killed 159 people on a Halloween celebration street in Korea last year are still vivid.
Keep yourself holy and wise, young saints! Before you attend an event, check and make sure it is not religious. If you cannot know or discern the contents, the wisest choice is to “keep yourself from being polluted by the world.” (Jas 1:27) Do not sell your birthright for a day of fun, as Esau did for a bowl of soup. The Lord Jess has brought us out of darkness into His wonderful light, so “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (eph 5:11)
0 Comments