Halloween and its Origins?

Two weeks ago, we posted a poll to find out what convictions people held towards halloween. We thank and appreciate all who have taken the time to vote. The majority of the voters (81%, 45 of 55) hold the conviction of not celebrating it because they believe it is wrong. However, there were a few votes in each of the other categories which you can see on the right.

We as a family believe that halloween is considered unholy according to scripture, and therefore we do not observe it in any way, nor do we observe an alternative. As Zachary, Leah and I started to prepare for this post during bible study time, we decided to look at history to share “why” this day is unbiblical. We didn’t have to read far for our belief to be re-confirmed.

Scripture tells us that if we know the truth we will be able to discern between right and wrong. We do cover some history but did not feel the need to rehash what has already been written nor go into depth on the origins of the holiday. If you are interested in reading more, please see some links below.

Halloween is observed by many in today’s culture. Numerous forms of how it is observed can be found across North America and parts of Europe. I recently read a short article on the history and origin of halloween. The article started by stating “Halloween is one of many modern observances that we have inherited from our fathers, yet is not rooted in scripture. For me, the fact that it is not rooted in scripture is all the evidence I need to not observe it. But I do recognize the value in looking at the history of the 'unholi-day' and seeing if it is rooted in idolatry.” I agree with the author.


Origins
History shows that Halloween has its roots to the ancient religion of the Celtics in Ireland.

From Encyclopedia.com:

Halloween , Oct. 31, the eve of All Saints’Day, observed with traditional games and customs. The word comes from medieval England’s All Hallows' eve (Old Eng. hallow = "saint"). However, many of these customs predate Christianity back to Celtic practices associated with Nov. 1, which was Samhain , the beginning of winter and the Celtic new year. Witches and other evil spirits were believed to roam the earth on this evening, playing tricks on human beings to mark the season of diminishing sunlight. Bonfires were lit, offerings were made of dainty foods and sweets, and people would disguise themselves as one of the roaming spirits, to avoid demonic persecution. Survivals of these early practices can be found in countries of Celtic influence today, such as the United States, children go from door to door in costumes demanding "trick or treat."

Celtic priests, also known as druids who were members of the pagan orders in Britian, Ireland and Gual, would perform their rituals of sacrifices to scare away the evil spirits and to also calm the gods so the sun would return after the winter.

Druid raiding parties went from home to home and chose certain children to be burned alive on “bone-fires”, as offerings to the sun. Parents tied yellow ribbons around oak trees as prayers to the sun to have their children spared. The fat left over from the child was fashioned into a candle and placed into a hollowed out pumpkin or vegetable with a round sun-shape design. These were lit and placed at the door to signify to other parties to leave the family alone. The victim was called “Jack of the Lantern”. There are several versions of how people think jack-o-lanterns came about, but they all come back to the sacrificing of children.

As a result of the spread of Christianity throughout parts of Europe, including the Celtic territory, Roman and Celtic holidays became intertwined.  This is how we see All Saints’s Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs replacing the pagan festival of the dead, introduced by Pope Boniface IV in the 7th century. It was later changed from May 13 to November 1 making it a day for Christians to remember all the saints who had died in the community. And that is how All Hallows’ Eve (hallow = saint) came about now being observed on October 31. When the English Puritans settled in America, they rejected halloween as a catholic and pagan holiday. Halloween was reintroduced in the United States in the 1840’s when the Irish Settlers immigrated due to the potato famine in their country and brought the halloween custom with them; it was regarded as a night of fear. Only in modern times has halloween been turned into a festive time.

How is halloween being Observed Today?
Today, halloween has become a multi-billion dollar shopping holiday and almost 30 million cards for the holiday are sent out. People generally think of halloween as a happy, spooky night where kids dress up in funny costumes and ask for candy. It has come a long way from its origins, so is it ok to celebrate it? What does the Bible say about witches? “Do not allow a practicer of witchcraft to live” Exodus 22:18. Deuteronomy 18:10 says, “Let no one be found among you who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practises divination, or a user of magic, or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer…”

Many traditions and objects associated with halloween are still very closely related to what the customs that were practiced many years ago. Jack-O-Lanterns are still used, the carving of pumpkins is still being done, children are still going door to door “trick or treating”. These pagan evil practices are still being rehearsed and passed down from one generation to the next. Would Yeshua go around knocking on doors dressed up in some silly or evil costume demanding candy at night on a day that was set apart to appease the sun by sacrificing children and using the fat of them to make candles to put in a pumpkin called a jack-of-the-lantern? Halloween is a holiday which glorifies the dark things of the world. It's a day for the dead, death, and darkness. Would Yeshua imitate those doing so, or even approve of the “trick or treaters” by handing out candy? Yeshua tells us in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Why would someone, as a believer in Messiah and spreader of the Light of the world, even want to associate with these pagan origins?  “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Is YHWH Ok with a Christian Alternative?
Many people today have realized that halloween is not acceptable, parents often feel the need to have the family participate in an alternative because they don’t want their children to feel they are missing out. These alternatives come in the form of harvest parties, a fall fun fest, trunk-or-treat or possibly a reformation day event. Thus, because halloween represents worthless and evil things, does our Creator approve of any other form of celebration on that day? Can we make evil good? Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21 – “How does Yeshua feel when we mix traditions of a pagan with an alternative?” Let us not be like those in Isaiah 1:22, “Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:” Since belief in YHVH and Yeshua is a holy thing, let us not mix it with unholy things. Psalm 106:35 “But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.” Don’t give the devil a foothold in your life to sin against our Creator. Scripture tells us not to mix Yeshua with darkness. 2 Corinthians 6:15 says, “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” The word Belial in the concordance is defined as: “worthlessness; Belial, as an epithet of Satan: - Belial.”

How are to be set apart for YHWH?
Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Let us come together and pray for more understanding for what we ought to do to become more set apart to be pleasing to our Creator. Let us pray for one another in all things even on this night for bonds to be loosened and broken which the enemy may have taken hold of.  Let us ask for forgiveness for allowing the enemy to come into our lives and ask YHWH to take back the ground that belongs to Him. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

May we all worship in spirit and in truth for the Father seeks such to worship him.

If you would like to learn of the biblical Holy Days,our Creator's set apart days feel free to contact us here. 

This post was written and edited by John, Carmen, Zachary and Leah Bruno

Sources: 
Occult Occult Holidays Or God's Holy Days Which? by Fred Coulter
Fossilized Customes by Lew White
http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html
http://www.eliyah.com/hallween.html

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Truth2U - halloween