Explanation of Halloween

Yes, there is still a question and answer section about doctrine and Christian living. That section is in the same area where you submitted your question.

The following is a past response to a question regarding the explanation of Halloween.

“All Hallows Evening was a special night because it preceded All Saints Day, an important festival in the medieval church.

“All Saints Day may have been placed on November 1 because this was the New Year’s Day for the Celts of the British Isles. The Celtic festival Sambain on October 31 was concerned with the return of the souls of the dead. The connection of elements of witchcraft or the occult with October 31 thus was in competition with All Hallows Evening and All Saints Day, not a part of it. In countries in which Christianity and superstition co-existed, however, elements of the two often became entangled.

“Standard encyclopedias say that Halloween became a secular holiday in America. It apparently was introduced by the Irish and other immigrants. The emphasis is now on costumes and trick or treat, with the treat always given and the trick seldom played.

“Halloween now is a secular holiday that descended from both heathen and medieval observances. It has often had unsavory elements such as occult symbols and vandalism associated with it. The question then is whether these elements have been sufficiently detached from Halloween, and it has become a secular holiday that can be observed without offensive features. There certainly has been a concerted effort to make it so. Many public schools ban certain types of costumes that are considered too gross or offensive. Secular groups such as UNICEF have tried to replace the emphasis on getting treats for oneself with a concern for raising money to help the needy.

“The fact that some people celebrate Halloween in offensive ways does not in itself rule out the holiday. If this were so, we could not celebrate New Year’s Eve or even Christmas. The fact that Halloween occupies the same day as a heathen holiday is not unique. Many Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter in a sense compete with heathen holidays since both were associated with key points of the astronomical calendar. This is also true of the Old Testament holidays prescribed by God. Some of our Christmas and Easter customs have some similarity to heathen customs just as the Old Testament sacrifices had many points of similarity with those of the heathen. Some Christian holidays have become more secularized even while they remain important festivals of the church year (Christmas). Other minor religious festivals have almost entirely lost their religious connotation (Valentines Day). For most people St. Patrick’s Day has become more of an Irish ethnic fest than a religious holiday.

“Whether or not Lutheran Christians should participate in holidays like St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween is a question of judgment. Such holidays may have different meaning and different customs attached to them in different times and places. Whether Lutheran Christians should or should not participate depends on the meaning of the holiday in the context in which they live and on the impression which their participation will give to others. Naturally, they should refrain from objectionable practices if they participate. They are some good arguments that can be made against Halloween, but individuals should be convinced in their own consciences of what is best for them to do and should be cautious about judging others who may have a different opinion.”