It helps to know that Halloween is part of a three day long Christian holiday called Allhallowtide. It begins with Halloween, the next day being All Saints Day, followed by All Souls Day. It is not inherently evil or satanic, any more than Easter or Christmas, unless you think it such.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allhallowtide
The basic idea is that, for a three day period, the veil between our world and the next becomes thin. Those souls with “issues” are anxious to return to this world and so come through on the first day. They want to seek out the living they remember, so are anxious and confused. The wearing of costumes, especially by children, is so that these shades do not pester them.
The second day, All Saints’ Day, is when the most virtuous of Christians pass through the veil. They act like shepherds to bring the anxious souls back; but they also impart blessings on the living while they are here.
The third day, All Souls’ Day, is for the vast majority, the peaceful dead. It is seen in things like the Mexican Day of the Dead, where families go to picnic, and remember their honorable dead family members.
The bottom line is that Allhallowtide can be a non-sectarian Christian holiday, once it is removed from those who would corrupt it, as they have Easter and Christmas. To refuse to participate because some have commercialized or corrupted its meaning is to let the bad guys win.
Thank-you for the info!
November 1, All Saints, we commemorate (very joyfully!) all of the faithful dead who are in heaven, but who aren't formally canonized (or maybe even known) by the Church and so don't have their own feastday. It's the feastday for "all the rest of youse guys" in heaven that we don't commemorate by name.
November 2, All Souls, we commemorate (in a very somber way -- the liturgy that day is identical to the funeral Mass except for the blessing of the body/casket, and traditional priests wear *black*) the faithful dead who are still in purgatory and need our prayers.
(This will start the screeching of "there's no such thing as purgatory" by the usual suspects. Those of you who are already reaching for your keyboards to post that, don't bother. I don't believe in your "secret rapture" thing, so we're even.)
To refuse to participate because some have commercialized or corrupted its meaning is to let the bad guys win.
Christians are those whose faith is in Jesus and what he said, it makes no difference what any one else said that is why we have the new testament.
Any one who adds or takes away from what Jesus or his apostles said is a liar, why would any real believer want to go to a church based on lies?.
Just like Christmas originally was pagan holiday and celebration before Constantine made it a celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday?
Most Christian churches that hold trunk or treats are doing something similar -- taking a secular/pagan day and turning it into a community outreach, They should be congratulated.