Posted on 10/22/2006 10:37:57 AM PDT by DouglasKC
Halloween is undoubtedly one of the strangest holidays people celebrate, with its symbolism of witches, devils, skeletons, bats and black cats. Is it not a little bizarre that children are taught to dress up as ghosts and monsters to go from house to house demanding "trick or treat!" (with the threat of a trick or prank constituting a playful form of extortion)?
While tricks are no longer the norm in most places, it used to be common in many areas that refusal to give trick-or-treaters candy invited minor acts of vandalism, such as having one's windows marred with a bar of soap, trash dumped on the lawn, toilet paper unrolled across tree limbs, and raw eggs thrown against the house and car.
Where, how and when did such strange customs begin? And why do they continue?
Many parents encourage their children to celebrate Halloween, assuming it to be harmless and innocent fun. But why? Would parents honor this holiday if they knew what's behind it—behind the mask?
Halloween's origins
Few people really understand the origins of Halloween. However, many clues are obvious from the trappings of the holiday—witches, ghosts, jack-o'-lanterns, skeletons and the like.
History shows that behind the dark mask of this popular children's holiday reside the terrors of an ancient Celtic festival renamed All Hallows Eve. It was originally a holiday marking the mythical time when the dead supposedly rose from their graves to walk the earth.
To better understand the origins of Halloween one needs to be introduced to the ancient pagan festival of Samhain (usually pronounced sow-en).
In The Encyclopedia of Religion, under the heading "Halloween," the authors link Halloween to the eve of Samhain, "a celebration marking the beginning of winter as well as the first day of the New Year within the ancient Celtic culture of the British Isles."
This encyclopedia explains that "the time of Samhain comprised the eve of the feast and the day itself (31 October and 1 November). This event was a crucial seam in the social and religious fabric of the Celtic year, and the eve of Samhain set the tone for the annual celebration as a threatening, fantastic, mysterious rite of passage to a new year" (1987, p. 176).
Both the eve and day of Samhain were thought to be a time when the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken, allowing passage between the two. "Other worldly entities, such as the souls of the dead, were able to visit earthly inhabitants, and humans could take the opportunity to penetrate the domains of the gods and supernatural creatures.
"Fiery tributes and sacrifices of animals, crops, and possibly human beings were made to appease supernatural powers that controlled the fertility of the land. Samhain acknowledged the entire spectrum of nonhuman forces that roamed the earth during that period" (ibid., p. 177).
The Encyclopedia of Religion then explains the origin of the bizarre customs that survive in today's Halloween: "Divination activities remained a popular practice. Adults, dressed in fantastic disguises and masks, imitated supernatural beings and visited homes where occupants would offer tributes of food and drink to them. A fear of nocturnal creatures, such as bats and owls, persisted, since these animals were believed to communicate with the spirits of the dead" (emphasis added).
Halloween comes to the New World
Centuries later, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought the custom of Halloween with them to the New World. After massive immigration of the Irish to the United States during the great potato famine in Ireland (1845-46), Halloween eventually became a national event.
Today, says The Encyclopedia of Religion, "modern Halloween activities have centered on mischief making and masquerading in costumes, often resembling otherworldly characters. Folk customs, now treated as games (such as bobbing for apples), have continued from the various divination practices of the ancient celebrants of this occasion. Supernatural figures (such as the ghost, the witch, the vampire, the devil) play a key role in supplying an aura of the mysterious to the evening, whether or not they originally had an association with the festival.
"Children are particularly susceptible to the imagery of Halloween, as can be seen in their fascination with the demonic likeness of a carved and illuminated pumpkin, known as the jack-o'-lantern. In recent times, children have taken up the practice of dressing in Halloween costumes and visiting homes in search of edible and monetary treats, lightly threatening to play a trick on the owner if a treat is not produced . . .
"There also has been renewed interest in Halloween as a time when adults can also cross cultural boundaries and shed their identities by indulging in an uninhibited evening of frivolity. Thus, the basic Celtic quality of the festival as an evening of annual escape from normal realities and expectations has remained into the twentieth century" (p. 177).
God unmasks Halloween
Does the Bible have anything to say about strange customs and holidays such as this? In fact, it does—and none of it is good.
While God's Holy Days in the Bible celebrate the role of Jesus Christ in bringing mankind to salvation in the eternal family of God (as explained in the following article and our free booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind), Halloween is a celebration of the opposite—of demonism, witchcraft, death and evil spirits.
God's Word makes it clear that no one should dare entertain witchcraft or act as a sorcerer. "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD" (Deuteronomy 18:10-11, emphasis added throughout).
God pronounced death on any Israelites who would dare dally with demonism or Satanism: "A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them" (Leviticus 20:27). "You shall not permit a sorceress to live" (Exodus 22:18).
Why such a harsh penalty? God did not want such perverted, demonic practices to spread among His people and corrupt others. "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst" (Deuteronomy 13:5).
Would God be against something as harmless as Halloween, especially since it allows children to have fun and enjoy a little entertainment? Can't we let them have a little harmless fun?
Frankly, Halloween is anything but harmless. It focuses one's attention on witchcraft and demonism, which flies in the face of the holy God Almighty! When parents not only allow but also encourage their children to celebrate witches and goblins, they are teaching them that it's acceptable to deal in demonism.
And we have seen what God thinks of that. God is a God of light and truth (1 John 1:5). Satan, "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4), is a very real being—a being of darkness, deception and death (Revelation 12:9; John 8:44). We are to have nothing to do with his ways. (To learn more, request our free booklet Is There Really a Devil?)
Do not assume that Halloween is a harmless holiday. God hates mankind's dabbling in the spirit world of Satan and his demons!
If there were no other reason available, that should be enough. But there are more reasons. Halloween keeps humankind, and many Christians, confused, disoriented and separated from the one and only true God.
God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Nor is He the author of Halloween or any other "Christianized" pagan holidays (Amos 5:21). Why would the only true God who loves mankind support any worldly holiday that blinds human beings to Him and His truth and that holds men, women and children captive to deception?
What does God expect from you on Halloween?
You now know what lurks behind Halloween's mask: Satan the devil! God will one day unmask the ritual and tradition of Halloween to all people (Hebrews 8:10-11).
If you believe that God exists and you understand that He is highly offended by the holidays designed and perpetuated by the god of this age, then you have a choice: whether you will begin honoring God the way He expects to be honored and be blessed for doing it, or whether you will ignore the truth revealed in history and His Word. Don't wait!
God is not a god of masks, but a God of truth. God says that if you honor Him, He will honor you (1 Samuel 2:30). Ignore God and He will leave you subject to the god of this world and all that entails. God expects all who love and honor Him to repent from dead works and turn in faith toward Him, the only true God. GN
Sorry to hear that. Maybe we can meet in person sometime so I can show you I'm not such a bad guy.
Obeying God is dead! Believing the bible is dead! Doing what Christ did is dead!
That is the problem. Casually reading Romans 14 leads you into error because you bring you're pre-conceived notions about God's holy days into the reading. However, a careful study of Romans 14 (all of Romans 14) will show you that Paul is primarily interested in eating practices and how they relate to certain days. Nowhere in the chapter are God's feast days discussed. There is a specific greek word used to refer God's feast days. It's not there.
Are you disagreeing with my assertation? Did God created "Halloween", "All Soul's Day" or "All Saint's Day?" Not in my bible he didn't. I find that he created:
Lev 23:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
Lev 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.
Lev 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
The feast of weeks. or Pentecost.
Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.
The feast of trumpets.
Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
The day of atonement.
Lev 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
Lev 23:35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
Lev 23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
The feast of tabernacles and the last great day.
These ARE the Lord's feast days. HIS, we he gave us to observe.
Catholics DO believe All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day. Thanks a lot for subjecting your ridiculous ways onto religions that you don't agree with. For your information, you spew King James' lines which many religions don't follow. So why you are putting down other religions or making strange statements is beyond me.
I'm not putting down other religions. I'm pointing out that God created holy days in the bible..and that he DID NOT create others. If that's sick then I feel great about it. Thanks a lot for subjecting your ridiculous ways onto religions that you don't agree with. For your information, you spew King James' lines which many religions don't follow. So why you are putting down other religions or making strange statements is beyond me.
Douglas, you're truly drifting into Moonbat territory.
I haven't seen one to agree with.
I must say you are handling all of the posts to you so well.
Thanks...as you can imagine I get a LOT of practice... :-)
Well, at least you are consistent.
So, because you abrogated your parental responsibility, I should likewise abrogate mine?
Well here you go. Meet those who do the same thing as you on Halloween. From the website of The Church of Satan:
"31 October, XLI A.S.:
A “Happy Halloween!” to true Satanists the world over.
Magus Gilmore’s perspective concerning this holiday has become a tradition for our site:
Tonight is the night when the mundane folk try to reach down inside and touch the darkness—which for we Satanists is a daily mode of existence. Particularly in the United States, Halloween is a time for celebrating “monster films,” wearing costumes of a macabre nature, and evoking the thrill of “fun fear.” Children of all ages can indulge their fantasies by donning garb that allows for intense role playing and the release of those demonic cores, oft-hidden in the oubliettes of their psyches.
Though there are traditions which make this an occasion for recalling the dead, it has been popularized as a time to play with what historically were fears directed towards the unquiet spirits of the departed. And the grand traditional question “Trick or treat?” has become a means for fulfilling an indulgence in sweets, without the need to resort to the optional coercion. We embrace what this holiday has become, and do not feel the need to be tied to ancient practices. This night, Satanists smile at the amateur explorers of their own inner darkness, for we know that they enjoy their brief dip into the pool of the “shadow world.” So on this eve of magic and mystery, we encourage their tenebrous fantasies, the candied indulgence, and the wide-ranging evocation of our aesthetics (while tolerating some of the chintzy versions), even if it is but once per annum. At other times of the year, when those not of our tribe shake their heads in wonder at us, we can point out that they may find some understanding by examining their own All Hallows Eve doings, as an alternative to our recent favored saying: “We’re just part of the Addams clan.”
So, have an indulgent, mysterious, and deeply satisfying Samhain!
They have called you just about everything.... and you have answered their ridiculous statements with a very Christian demeanor. Don't know how you do it!
Some of these questions and statements directed to you display an ignorance of scripture beyond belief. I guess that's generally the way it is though....step on their little party, and show it to be what it actually is....and they begin to scream!
Nothing insidious or Satanic about it.
Back when this was the "Celtic new year", people believed the dead walked the Earth as they went to their final resting place. They also believed if you had to go out on that night, you could be grabbed and taken along. This is why the costumes. If you looked like the dead, they would leave you alone. Also, to prevent the dead from doing mischief to your home, treat were put out to placate the dead. The Jack-o-Lantern is an ancient ward against evil, so many put them on doorsteps for protection.
Folding all this together gives us the modern day Halloween.
Heretical maybe to you but not to most true Christians. Halloween is the devil's holiday and I applaud those millions of Christians who quietly and fearfully try to practice their faith.
So go ahead and ridicule away. I know Douglas KC can stand the abuse...like millions of Christians before him.
http://logosresourcepages.org/HalloweenBook/occult.htm
As I told ladyinred, practice. :-)
But seriously, credit goes toward God. It's not easy to get offended when we're grounded in biblical truth...and believe that the source of that truth is God.
Thank you as always for your kind words.
Thank you for that statement and thank you for the informative link.
Thanks for the wikipedia summary of Haloween. The point with DouglasKC's post was to enlighten people about those who take the origins of this day seriously.
He has done a good thing by reminding us of its origins.
http://logosresourcepages.org/HalloweenBook/occult.htm
Thank you for that statement and thank you for the informative link.
Guilt by association is a logical fallacy. Especially since I don't "celebrate monster films," "wear macabre costumes," or any of those other things.
Linda---the discussion is not about how many satanists are in your neighborhood---we are talking about its origins and those who celebrate it seriously: satanists and Wiccans Crowleyites and others of their ilk.
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