The origin of Halloween.
Ages before the birth of Christ the countries England, Scotland, Germany, France and Ireland were inhabited by people called Celts. They celebrated their new year called Samhain on the 1st of November which was the end of the summer and the harvest time. They believed that on New Year’s Eve, the 31st of October, spirits of all those who died throughout the preceding year came over into the world of the living to possess their souls so that they would have a living body in the new year.
The priests called Druids offered animals, harvest and even people to their gods. They kindled a bonfire or bone fire (fire of bones). They put all the bones they had offered together, laid a fire to assure that the sun would rise again after the winter and to chase away the wicked spirits.
The custom to go from house to house started this way.
The Celts had a great fear for the spirits, that’s why they put fruit and food in front of the house to satisfy them. Later the custom changed when the beggars in England went from house to house to ask for ‘soul cakes’ (a square bread) in exchange of which they would pray for the deceased souls of the families.The phrase trick or treat is more modern and started being used in the year 1930.To chase away the wicked spirits they put in front of the house a pumpkin with a demonic face carved out in it, thinking that the spirits would get scared if they saw something uglier than themselves.The custom of the pumpkin comes from an Irish fable about a cursed soul called Jack O’lantern.
Where does the name Halloween come from?
In the year 43 AD Rome invaded the greatest part of the Celtic territory. In the year 500 AD when Catholicism became the world religion the Christian influence spread in the territory of the Celts, but the pagans continued to celebrate their customs. That’s why, to replace the celebration of the pagans (instead of stopping them and teaching them better), Pope Gregory III moved in the year 800 AD the All-Saints Day or All Hallows Day from May 13th to November 1st which coincides with the new year of the Celts. They called the eve of the all-saints day which is October 31 All Hallows Eve and finally it became Halloween. The danger is that until now many customs of the Celts have continued and got mingled with Christianity.
Where does the custom to disguise come from?
They disguise as everything that is frightening so the wicked spirits, that according to their believe are running around loose, do not recognize and harm them. Nowadays children dress up as
demon, witch, death’s-head, ghost, etc. and go from house to house. In order to get sweets they have to say “trick or treat”. And who are they imitating?
What should we do?
Perhaps you’re thinking, but I’m not sacrificing, I’m not a Satanist, I just have fun. But you’re having fun with things that has to do with death and suffering. Does this please God? With a feast one celebrates something as a birthday or a success; there is a reason to come together, but what is being celebrated with Halloween? Is there something to celebrate? Although we recognize that nowadays people organize feasts because they miss the sociability instead of improving the atmosphere at home, family disasters keep on augmenting. If you are a Christian mother or father and you let your children participate in this feast, you’re playing in the area of Darkness.
What does God say? We cannot participate in the works of darkness;
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 5:11 [NKJV]
If you are a child of God separate yourself from these things;
Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
1 Corinthians 10:20 [NKJV]
We have the promise that God protects our children. If we allow them to participate in these feasts the promise of God is no longer valid. You as a parent are responsible for the spiritual life of your child; just stand still and think for a moment. What positive is there in a feast that contains: Black magic, spirit and … death? In what way do these practices please God? If you were to draw a picture for your child to color, would you draw a death’s-head? But if at a feast they have your child disguise himself with something diabolic, it is very normal. Don’t you think that’s strange?
Therefore, Scripture says:
My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.
Hosea 4:6 [NKJV]
We are seeing enough tragedies and death in our land to play with and even celebrate death. We want things to go well for us. We want our land to be blessed. How is that possible if we ourselves open the door for satanic influences? Be wise and abstain from these kinds of practices. Let’s seek God’s face and He will restore our land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If you are sorry if you ever participated or did other kinds of these things, repent of your sins, ask Christ Jesus to come live in your heart and He will lead you into all truth.
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