Origins of Halloween
I must say (unofficially) that Halloween has always been and remains to this day, one of my favorite holidays. Dressing up in fun costumes and gathering mountains of candy. What could be better.
Many Christians, for issues of conscience, choose not to participate, or others, for other issues, openly rave against it. There are even some wonderful tracts published along the theme.
I think it’s difficult to take a hard line here. For most everyone, Halloween means dressing up and eating candy. I have a hard time saying that those who do so are glorifying evil, or participating in a pagan holiday.
However, it is interesting to take a look at the origins of the event. If nothing else, just to witness the amazingnesses that are the Web sites that describe such things.
Origins of Halloween from a horrible Christian Web site. (someone should talk to them about using copyrighted imagery on their site…)
Origins of Halloween from a horrible “Neo Pagan” Web site.
Origins of Halloween from The History Channel’s Web site.
It mostly has to do with a Celtic holiday called “Samhain” (sow-in) which had to do with getting crops to grow and communicating with dead relatives. Trick or treating began as (big shock) a bunch of kids getting together and screwing around during the holiday, without much regard for the particular holiday (at least, so it would seem).
Anyway, just thought I’d throw it out there.
Technorati Tags: christianity, halloween, samhain
So you’re against Christmas trees but for Halloween? What kind of Christian are you? (Said with a wink and a smile.)
I’m a big fan of a bunch of kids getting together and screwing around (at the Bali Satay) for (Lone Strangers) Halloween (concerts).
Jesus said that you can tell what kind of tree you’re looking at by the fruit it produces (Luke 6:44). So, what kind of “fruit” is produced by Halloween?
Sure, there is fun to be had, but let’s be honest for a moment. Everyone knows that Halloween is about fear, horror, and wicked icons. So show me how these are things that a Christian should participate in or have fun with?
I think the reason we don’t draw a hard line with Halloween is not because the facts are fuzzy, but because we still love these aspects of “the world” and feel uncomfortable “shining like stars in the darkness” (universe).
It was interesting for me this year. One of my coworkers is a wiccan, and to her, Halloween is the most sacred holiday. It was kind of interesting hearing from someone who actually celebrates like the earlier origins of the holiday.
Tim… I have ot disagree with you… let’s say that the verse you named actually applies to halloween (which I’m not certian it does)… what kind of fruit is produced?? You said fear, horror, and wicked icons. No one is truely afraid, or hooroified, and as for wicked icons… I don’t think that a jack-o-lantern is really wicked, unless the definition of the word is not what I think it is. What kind of fruit is produced?? If the parrents are involved properly children get fun, unique, social activities, and candy which is consumed in moderation. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve getting dressed up for haloween and trick-or-treating with my friends. For older kids (adults) it can also be a fun and unique social experience. Like so many things in this universe, the “fruit” is what you make of it for you, and your children. That being said I have one burning question… What did Elana Dress up as???