Fellow Christian Believers: Do you think Halloween is a bad holiday to celebrate or is it okay?
I’m a Christian and I personally think Halloween is okay to celebrate because it has nothing to do with Pagan rituals anymore and it’s fun. But, I’m moderate with it. i want to know what your guys stance is on Halloween.
You might also be interested in
Nearly all religions of the world have some sort of celebration of the dead.
Ironically, Halloween is a Christian holiday, taken over by non-Christians, while Christmas was a non-Christian holiday, taken over by Christians.
Our church is in the middle of town, surrounded by houses. We won’t do anything formal, but we will open our doors, turn on all our lights, let kids come in and use the restroom.
We’ll have Christian music playing, and we’ll give out candy and Bible information.
This is our way of being in the world, and not of the world, at the same time.
(By the way, The Golden Bough, has come under a lot of criticism in modern times, because of it’s questionable research.)
the day is evil
I wonder why ANY Christian would take issue with kids dressing up and going out trick or treating. It has nothing to do with God, the Bible, or any of it.
I mock the devil on Halloween! According to the Bible, the one thing the devil hates most is scorn. That’s good enough for me.
when u can celebrate birth of a fairytale zombie. Jesus..
wats wrong in celebrating halloween…hmmmm
actually it has everything to do with pagan rituals, you just do not know what to look for.
and for your information, Halloween predates the christian religion, and has been celebrated by almost every major human civilization one way or another.
its what is in the heart of a person that God looks at.
we have fun dressing up in our family
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANY TRICK OR TR EATERS GO AS JESUS OR THE APOSTLES. THANK YOU D’S
It is no different than any other day to me, and it is my birthday as well. (It is your ‘motives’ that make it an ‘evil day’.) No different to me than an amusement park day, or St. Patrick’s Day for that matter.
I agree.
Having fun on Halloween can be done without Worshiping the Devil.
Just like we can have statues of Jesus and not be worshiping the Statue itself.
Isnt that an oxymoron? "bad holiday"…. bad meaning "bad… holiday meaning Holy Day.
It has everything to do with pagan rituals…. lets see demons, ghosts, axe murderers…. yeah, they seem all ok to me.
If you think it is ok, why do you have to be moderate about it?
i wonder do u do it to please god – we r to do what is pleasing to god – peace
It’s evil because children dress up as Harry Potter.
I do acknowledge and participate in this holiday. Though I do it just for fun. Kids get candy and get to dress up and its fun to give out candy too! I’m not sure what it use to mean or why we even celebrate it so maybe I celebrate because of my ignorance (lack of knowing).?.
There are two things I love on earth, Jesus and Halloween. Any bastard from the state of Ohio or Arkarsas that wants to ruin Halloween for me is going to get beat up real bad.
Halloween started as all Saints day.
You don’t have to be involved in some satanic ritual to enjoy candy.
Um, pretty much every significant Christian event like Christmas and Easter is riddled with pagan symbols and rituals. I’m kind of amazed you guys left Halloween alone.
It is based in pagan witchcraft and superstition. Christian believers should have nothing to do with it.
I have celebrated Halloween my entire life. I loved trick-or-treating as a kid.
I believe it is all how you look at it. It reminds me of the Bible saying It is ok to eat meat offered to idols but if the weak in faith oppose it don’t eat it.
Halloween does not change my faith one iota and I choose to continue to celebrate it.
First consider what you are saying … while I know what you mean, I think perhaps you’ve used the wrong wording.
Is Halloween a bad holiday to celebrate for Christians?
Yes, if you are actually celebrating the pagan rituals, for you are a Christian, not a pagan.
No, if to you the celebration is letting your kids dress up and scam the neighbors for candy.
No, there is no actual evil day, but for those who actually celebrate the day for its pagan beginnings, it’s a day to reflect upon evil.
My kids are dressing up and going to their granny’s neighborhood; they love being out at night, carrying flashlights and parading up and down the street in their costumes. We have a great time and get lots of wonderful photo ops.
When you become a Christian you are suppose to be peculiar and not like the World and it is hard. That is why it is hard to be a genuine Christian because we all like to do things of this world. But we also all fall short of the Gory of God. I think it is what really convicts you!!! but here is some information about it.
Few have taken the time to ask about the origin of Halloween and whether or not Christians should participate in this holiday. The truth is that Halloween is not Christian and should not be celebrated by true Christians:
"The principal fire-festivals of the Celts . . . May Day and the other on Allhallow Even or Hallowe’en, as it is now commonly called, that is, on the thirty-first of October, the day predecing All Saints’ or Allhallows Day . . . the feast of all souls. At the beginning of November, which under a thin Christian cloak conceals an ancient pagan festival of the dead . . . in the manner of their celebration and in the superstitions associated with them, and alike, by the antique character impressed upon both, betray a remote and purely pagan origin" (The Golden Bough, p. 733-34).
"Do not pursue after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise. You shall not likewise to the Lord your God: for every abomination that the Lord hates, they have done to their gods. They have even burned their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be sure to do it: you shall not add to it, or take away from it" (Deut.12:30-32 Para.).
God of the Dead
The following sources show that Halloween was originally a holiday celebrated in honor of the god of the dead:
"The earliest Hallowe’en celebrations [in the British Isles] were held by the Druids in honour of Samhain, Lord of the dead, whose festival fell on November 1" (Halloween Through Twenty Centuries).
"It was a Druidical belief that on the eve of this festival [Hallowe'en], Saman, Lord of the Dead, called together the wicked spirits . . . (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition, "Halloween").
In the ancient pagan world, it was believed that the souls of good people would rise to heaven and the souls of evil people would be turned over to the lord of the dead. And once a year, the spirits of the dead people would be let out.
"Hallows’ is an old word for a saint and Allhallows’ Eve (31 October) is the vigil of All Saints (1 November), the Christian festival corresponding to an ancient feast of the dead. In many European countries it is traditionally a time when the spirits of the departed visit their former homes; a fire, food and drink are put ready for them.
"In Sicily the ghostly visitors bring gifts for the children – toys, sweets and clothes stolen from the shops. The Welch believe that a ghost came and sat on every stile when the clock struck twelve. In some parts of Wales the wandering shades [ghosts] appeared as a white lady, while in north Wales and Scotland people feared the spectral Black Sow" (Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Magic, Venetia Newal, p. 16).
"In Wales until the eighteenth century it was customary to burn a candle in church to see what the future held. A bright flame meant a prosperous, happy year. An irregular flame foretold trouble, and if it went out this signified one’s own death. Hallowe’en divination probably derives from Samhain . . ." (Ibid, p. 16).
Halloween is a purely pagan, occult holiday. The symbols of Halloween tell the true meaning of the day. The Jack-O-latern is an idol to the Lord of the Dead (Satan). The lighted candle within is a remnant of Halloween Fires to light the way for the returning spirits of the dead. The witch represents the high priestess of Satan worship. The full moon is the Sabat night on which witches perform their ritual worship of the spirits and Satan. The black cat is associated with witchcraft and symbolizes a witches’ spirit guide (demon).
The skeleton depicts Ankou, Lord of the Dead who allegedly traveled in the dead of night to claim his victims. Superstitious beliefs portray Ankou as living in an underground palace filled with thousand of candles. Each candle is supposed to represent a human life. He claims his victims by blowing out the candles.
Satan Worship
The truth is that when people observe and commemorate pagan holidays, they actually worship Satan who wants to be worshiped as God:
"Taken altogether, the coincidences of the Christian with the heathen festivals are too close and too numerous to be accidental. They mark the compromise which the church [not the Church of God] in the hour of its triumph was compelled to make . . ." (The Golden Bough, Frazer, p. 419).
The Bible shows what God has commanded his people to do and not do. He commands his children not to learn the way of the Heathen (Jer.10:2). Moreover, God allows no way to sanctify a pagan festival as Christian:
"But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrific
It is hard to know a lot of times what God expects of us but I believe in the Holy Spirit and he will guide me in the things I must know. I have only to be patient. Over time I will come to understand these things.
You needn’t worry about how you live your life, whether or not God approves of your life style because as long as you live in the Spirit of God all the things you do shall be pleasing to him. But if you live in the flesh, you live in sin, it doesn’t matter if you do good or not, God will not be pleased with you. Always put God first in your life and everything else will take care of itself. Hope that helps.
Celebrating harvest is ok. Celebrating harvest by honoring ghosts, demons, witches, vampires, etc..is not ok. If you love Jesus, why would you praise the hosts of Hell? Nobody can serve two masters.
I’m a Christian and I believe Halloween is OK to celebrate, especially for the very young; with trick or treating for candy and dressing up.
Halloween have different meanings for everyone. I believe Halloween is a day of remembrance and celebration for the dead. Many people celebrate Halloween in remembrance of their love ones that have moved on hopefully to a better place (heaven). They create an altar and place their pictures and favorites foods they once shared and liked or other gifts. They visit the dead love ones resting place and decorate it and visit with a picnic.
GOD BLESS! AMEN! SHALOM!
We don’t have anything to do with that day. I used to but not any more. All the "fun" things people do on this day can be done any day of the year, for many, many, many other reasons. Halloween does not have a monopoly on candy, dressing up, party time or begging for food. These things can be done any time for lots of different reasons. When you peel away all of these things, there is nothing left but ugliness, and a place in your soul you may not ever return from if you don’t stop kidding yourself about the true meaning of this day.
Be Well. Be Wise. Be Blessed.
The way I look at it is it’s like partying with my brother’s murderer. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And that is one of two high holy days for those who worship Satan and for other pagan cults. My question is, if you know that an activity is based on non-christian or anti-christian rituals, and you’re a christian, why are you involved in them. What do you think Jesus thinks about this?
I think one needs to be careful not to make a "blanket statement" either way. Not everything associated with Halloween is necessarily evil; not everything associated with Halloween is innocent.
The name of Halloween comes from the Roman Catholic festival of All Saints Day (November 1). It was a more important holiday in the middle ages than it is today, and like Christmas, had its own day of preparation: All Hallows Eve (All Saints Eve).
The overtones of witchcraft and sorcery that have become associated with Halloween do not come from the Christian holiday, but from Pagan beliefs and superstitions that pre-date Christianity. What is interesting is that while Christianity condemns witchcraft and sorcery, belief in these Pagan ideas persisted among "Christians". This, in part, was due to the methods of evangelism often used by mis-guided Christians: "believe and be baptized or die". They "evangelised" by the sword instead of by the persuasion of the Word. Therefore, people became "Christian", but retained existing deep-seated beliefs.
To condemn all dressing up and merriment goes too far. But one also needs to be careful not to trivialize the dangers of witchcraft. Witchcraft is not innocent fantasy, but a powerful and dangerous evil practice. Nor is it true that paganism is purely history; it continues today, is even experiencing some growth, and has combined a number of ancient pagan festivals into their modern observance of Halloween on October 31. I also wonder about the propriety of encouraging our children to petition for candy and other treats with the threat of a trick.
To dress up as and give honor to prominent figures of history, like George Washington, Joan of Arc, Martin Luther, and the like is fitting; but to dress up as and give honor to witches, murderers, and ghouls is hardly fitting for Christians
its not bad cuz it has lost its paganess but if u celebrate the pagan aspect, then yes it is bad
Ive lived in a Christian home before, so I totally understand where your coming from, Halloween goes way back before Christ. from The celtic people that lived in now what we call france and the British IslesWhen they actually feared goblins ghosts witches and cats. . October 31st is the eve of the Festival Samhain, Lord of the Dead. They say evil spirits were everywhere. So what they did is make sacrifices to him to please him. With prisoners of war, criminals, or animals so they burned them alive in a basket. while they burned they observed them and saw the omens of the future. the good and bad. the charms spells and predictions were said to have more power on the eve of Samhain. since so many spirits were out. If anyone honored the spirits the spirits may repay them with the help of magic. But if ignored they might hinder or punish the person. So trick or Treat. As for Samhain, it is a joyful harvest festival and as well a day of the dead. It marked the death of the old year and the beginning of the new. This day was paying the honor for the sun god Baal, who has given the grain.
But when the religion Christianity came along. The belief spread like wild fire. And from Rome the king saw that Paganism spread to his soliders, something that he didnt like, Change started to approach, The christians killed most of the pagan belief as well as the believers, changing the name of the celebration to All Saints Day. In memory of early Christians who died for their beliefs. Was once celebrated in Early May now on Nov. 1. The Celtic people who became Christians were told that the fire rites they had held for the Lord of the Dead on October 31 would now protect them against the Devil. the jack o lanterns is a respect and honor for the living and the dead. As well as the Holiday and giving thanks, when you think its bad your going to believe its bad. I would go research some more, to get a broader aspect of it.
Hope this helps I know its so long.
Happy Halloween!
It’s all in good fun.BOO!
Halloween cannot, by any stretch, be called a Christian holiday. But just as Christians in pagan societies in centuries past found reasons for Christian celebrations at the same time as the pagans were celebrating non-Christian traditions, so the church can have harvest festivals and wholesome autumn activities for its youth and children. Paul’s admonition applies to all our activities, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col. 3:17).
Elder Greg
(((SFCU)))