Overview
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)
There are multiple beliefs about the origin of Halloween. This article sets forth my reasonable and hopefully useful understanding of the origin of Halloween and how it should be viewed today. Moreover, the article suggests the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-43) should replace Halloween and its related feasts.
Halloween is the first of three feasts established by the Catholic Church that occur in sequence: Halloween (October 31), All Saints Day (November 1), All Souls Day (November 2). Many Protestant and perhaps other churches have adopted some aspects of these feasts/festivals.
In short, Halloween is also known as All Hallowed Eve or Hallowed Evening. Hallowed means holy or set apart (Exodus 20:11; Matthew 6:9). In terms of timing All Hallowed Eve (Halloween) immediately precedes All Saints Day; it is the eve of All Saints Day similar in concept to Christmas Eve being the eve of Christmas or Christmas Day. Both Halloween and All Saints Day are done to honor all saints (known and unknown whether canonized or not). Therefore, All Saints Day and All Souls Day are days for remembering Christians who have died. In essence, Halloween is a Christian Celebration that has been much too much secularized.
To understand the original intent of Halloween one need to have a grasp of what All Saints Day and All Souls Day are all about.
To understand the difference between All Saints Day and All Souls Day, one must understand that Catholic doctrine holds that some of the saved believers go immediately to Heaven and others go to a place called Purgatory where sufficient purification takes place that was not sufficiently achieved before death. Catholics hold that one’s destination is determined by one’s degree of faithfulness while alive. The Catholic Answers Tract listed in the reference section below says: “Sanctification involves suffering (Romans 5:3-5), and purgatory is the final stage of sanctification that some of us need to undergo before we enter heaven”. “. Of course, I and many other Christians do not have such things as purgatory as part of our faith.
So then All Saints Day is for those saved believers who have gone on to Heaven. All Souls Day is for all saved believers whether in Heaven or purgatory according to Catholic Doctrine.
It is the concept of purgatory and related concepts that give me pause about the three feasts.
One should understand that the Catholic Church reportedly made a decision to encourage its members to stay away from participating in feasts and festivals that were associated with Jews/Israelites and what is called Judaism. Pentecost or Feast of Weeks is the exception. The fear was that such participation might lead the people into thinking Gentile Christians are bound to such activities for purposes of salvation and obedience just as some Jews tried to convince Gentile Christians that they must be circumcised which is ceremonial in and of itself.
One should also understand that the Catholic Church reportedly developed a strategic policy to replace pagan feasts with Christian feasts that occurred during the same time as pagan feasts so as to give the converted populations an alternative to the pagan festivals with which they were familiar. According to some, the idea for Halloween and All Saints Day was to encourage converted persons to participate in the Christian Celebrations instead of the pagan Celebration called Samhains. Of course, sinful humans then as well as now probably continued to incorporate pagan activities and symbols into the Christian Celebrations and/or continued to participate in the pagan celebration. The Letter from Pope Gregory to Mellitus listed in the reference section discuss this strategy.
The wisdom of having Christian feasts at the same time as pagan feasts may be questionable and unwise; but, it is not pagan and not unholy to hold such Christian feasts as long as only holy things are officially allowed as part of the feasts despite the fact that people unofficially do unrighteous things as part of the feasts.
So then for me, I have decided to seek not to participate in any of these three feasts of Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day.
Personally, I think such fears of participation in biblical feasts were and are unfounded and not spiritually healthy at all. For the church could have and should have simply taught the people that participating in such feasts with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are not for purposes of salvation or obedience. Instead, such participation is for purposes of honoring the intent of why God established such feasts in the first place. This includes fellow Jew/Israelite brothers and sisters. For in the Bible Jews and Gentiles worshipped together. One would have expected Jews and Gentiles to have kept the feasts together for those who chose to keep them.
In fact, I believe it would have been better and still is better if the church had decided years ago to hold the biblical Feast of Tabernacles instead of Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day.
The Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned in Leviticus 23:33-43 as well as other scriptures. It is also known as Sukkot in Hebrew. Sukkot means temporary shelter. It is also known as the Feast of Booths as well as the Feast of Ingathering.
In the Bible once the Jerusalem Temple was built those who could traveled to Jerusalem for the feast. Yet, one would expect that those who could not go to Jerusalem still kept the feast where they lived. Therefore, it is still valid to keep the feast even though there is no operational Jerusalem Temple today.
The Feast of Tabernacles is a seven day fall feast held during the seventh Hebrew month at the end of the fall harvest. However, there is an eighth day immediately following the seven feast days that God commanded. The first and eighth day are designated sabbath days regardless of the day of the week on which they fall. The seventh month occurs in September or October depending on when Spring starts since the Hebrew New Year starts in March or April in the spring.
The Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from bondage in Egypt. During this time, they lived in temporary shelters, and God provided for their needs. These temporary shelters are called booths (Leviticus 23:42; Nehemiah 8:14).
Leviticus 23:40 and Nehemiah 8:15-16 describe various material from various trees to be used in building the booths and seemingly in rejoicing ceremonies. Leviticus 23:40 mentions boughs from thick trees. Meriam Webster dictionary defines a bough as a branch from a tree, especially a main branch. Nehemiah 8:15 also mentions branches from trees. Thus, both Leviticus 23:40 and Nehemiah 8:15 indicate the booths were made using branches from trees and other material from trees.
The feast involves setting up these temporary shelters or booths in a special memorialization of what God provided for the Israelites all those years ago. For Christians it is a joyous reminder and commemoration of God’s provision and protection over our lifetime. For Christians it is a time to reflect on the end time when Christ returns, and all nations will worship the Lord together.
Under the New Covenant it is more about keeping the feast in the spirit of the law rather than in the letter of the law. Scriptures such as Colossians 2:14-17, 2 Corinthians 3:6, and Romans 7:6 provide guidance regarding keeping it is the spirit in contrast to the letter.
Formally recognizing the Feast of Tabernacles in the coming years is something I hold that all Christians should consider. Doing so in the spirit rather than the letter means people may recognize it using different methods and means and to different degrees.
For example, some may set up temporary dwelling in their yard, on their balcony or in a community space or other designated place. Some may spend time eating in the dwelling. Some may also sleep overnight in the dwelling. Some may also pray alone or with others or do other holy things in the temporary dwelling during the seven day festival. One does so remembering that only the first day and eighth day are sabbath days so one can still do other things like go to work during the other days of the feast is one is compelled to so do.
Many non-Catholic churches have come to recognize there is something just not right about Halloween no matter how well intentioned it began. Therefore., many churches have gone to what is called something like Fall Festival. However, I tend to hold that Christian Churches might as well go further and make the Feast of Tabernacles the focus of the Fall Festival, again in the spirit of it not the letter of it.
I emphasize in the spirit of the feast of Tabernacles since in fact there is very few who keep the feast exactly as prescribed in the law of Moses. In fact, under the provisions of Colossians 2:16 there is seemingly no mandate to keep it. And if one does there is no mandate to keep it as written.
Keeping the Feast of Tabernacles is not a matter of salvation and seemingly not even for obedience under the provisions of Colossians 2:14-17. Yet, I am suggesting that it is better to keep it especially in contrast to Halloween and even in contrast to what is called Fall Festivals. For in so doing one moves the focus more to things of God rather than things of the world.
Less there be a misunderstanding of the scope of what I am saying let me say that though I believe Halloween was and is unwise, I do believe other Christian celebrations such as Christmas and Easter were and still are wise and worthy of participating in. For Christmas and Easter as well as some other Christian Holidays are rooted in sound biblical doctrine. It is up to the head of each household and Christians in general to ensure that the methods and means used for Christian Holidays are holy.
Details
Now let me get into some details on Halloween and related feasts or festivals.
In a homily given on Nov 1, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI said regarding All Saints Day:
“…The Saints are not a small caste of chosen souls but an innumerable crowd to which the liturgy urges us to raise our eyes. This multitude not only includes the officially recognized Saints, but the baptized of every epoch and nation who sought to carry out the divine will faithfully and lovingly…”
In a homily given on Nov 2, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI said regarding All Souls Day:
…we commemorate all of the faithful departed, who have “gone before us marked with the sign of faith and… who sleep in Christ”
According to Catholic Doctrine the above “Saints” have already entered Heaven; All Saints Day remembers them. On the other hand, All Souls Day is seemingly intended to remember all Christians who have died but who sleep in Christ having not yet arrived in Heaven.
In the context of All Saints Day, the Catholics use the word Saint in a specialized way. It does so to only refer to those saints who have died, and who lived a life which qualify them to already be in heaven in the eyes of the Catholic Church in contrast to Christians who have died and not yet reached heaven according to Catholic doctrine. In doing so, it seemingly does not mean to deny that all Christians are saints to include those who are yet alive on earth. But is seems to claim to have special knowledge about the certainty of certain persons qualifying as saints and who have entered heaven.
There is nothing unbiblical about remembering the dead. In fact, the United States Memorial Day is a similar secular day celebration except Memorial Day is officially intended to remember American military members who died while serving in the military. Also, we often do so on loved ones birthdays, Mothers Day, and Fathers Day, and similar days.
Problems occur when the manner of such remembrance involves activities that are inconsistent with biblical holiness (hallowed). Problems also occur when the secular world had or have celebrations at the same time as these days. Problems further occur when Christians incorporate secular activities that are inconsistent with biblical admonitions.
So then should Christians avoid celebrations during these days because humans have corrupted the idea of remembering the dead? Well, should Christians avoid celebrating Christmas because humans have in some cases commercialized it and in some cases employ unbiblical activities and symbols? Of course not; Christians should still celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ which is what Christmas is all about. We as Christians certainly should not give the non-Christians power to determine our celebrations.
Now we should understand that some Protestant derivatives from the Catholic Church also recognize these three feasts though some do so in altered form. For example, the United Methodist Church celebrates All Saints Day on November 1st. But it includes all Christians who have died as saints to be remembered. It is unclear as to whether they celebrate All Souls Day separately or combine it with All Saints Day or not celebrate it at all. The reference section gives a additional reference to a document concerning the United Methodist Church celebration of All Saints Day both historically and in modern times.
As indicated earlier I have decided to seek to not to participate in any of these three feasts of Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. Now that does not mean that I might not at times be physically present where activity related to such feast occur. But that happens even for doctrinally unsound activity not related to feasts. In such circumstances my physical presence does not mean I concur with or participate in such activities for I try to hold and demonstrate my position on the matter regardless of what others are doing. It is like Jesus who ate with “sinners’ yet did not sin. Now this does not mean I will not participate in other alternative feasts taking place at the same time when such alternative feasts are void of unbiblical/unholy themes, activities, and symbols.
My non-participation decision is not based on the feasts being done as replacement feasts for pagan feasts. My decision is rooted in the doctrinal uncertainty as to whether all or some or any of the dead go to Heaven immediately or go to sleep awaiting Christ return. And I certainly do not subscribe to the doctrine of purgatory. So for me these three feasts are unwise and unnecessary. I say unnecessary because in my home church during church anniversary each year we remember those members who have gone on having faith, hope, and love they are with the Lord Jesus in eternal peace having eternal life regardless of the logistics of where they physically are. I know the scriptures say to be absent from the body is to be with the Lord. Yet, it also speaks of us being asleep in the grave. So the timing of it all is not conclusively specified in scripture as I understand it.
Halloween gets its name from the hallowed celebration intended to be held in the evening of October 31st.
Problems occur when the manner of such celebrations involves activities that are inconsistent with biblical holiness (hallowed). Problems also occur when the secular world had or have celebrations at the same time as Christian celebrations and vice versa. Problems further occur when Christians incorporate secular activities that are inconsistent with biblical admonitions. For example, dressing up as a witch or demon and presenting oneself at someone’s door for candy gives honor to the concept of a witch and a demon respectively. But the Bible clearly says witches and demons are evil; therefore, Christians should not participate in any specific activity that honors them. So then if one does participate in Halloween using a costume then the costume should not reflect anything that is evil. This principle of course extends to other activities.
It is clear that in America, Halloween has become extensively commercialized. Also, humans for whatever reason have come to incorporate a great deal of clearly unbiblical activity. Some churches have chosen to do nothing on these days. Others hold special worship services and/or fall festivals/carnivals as alternatives to secular Halloween activities during this time. The idea is to counter the influence of secular Halloween activities on adults and especially children. It then becomes the responsibility of the faithful courageous Christian family to come and bring their children to the church Halloween (Hallowed/Holy Evening) rather than participate in secular Halloween activities.
Although, I have chosen not to participate in Halloween, I hold that Christians should not avoid Halloween celebration based on the fact that humans have corrupted the idea of such a celebration? For if that was a reason then one should ask the question should Christians avoid celebrating Christmas because humans have in some cases commercialized it and in some cases employ unbiblical activities and symbols? Of course not; Christians should still celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ which is what Christmas is all about. We as Christians certainly should not give the non-Christians power to determine our celebrations.
At home, the head of household is to determine whether a celebration occurs and the manner of that celebration. At church, the head of the local church and/or its “board” or “leadership council” according to the church’s standard procedure is to determine whether a celebration occurs and the manner of that celebration. Likewise, at school, the head of the school and/or school board is to determine whether a celebration occurs and the manner of the celebration. In all cases, participants in any such celebrations are to ensure all activities are consistent with biblical principles. Of course, the head of the church and the church in general are to preach and teach the whole counsel of God so all will know what is consistent with biblical principles at home, at church, at school, and in society in general.
We as Christians should always be mindful that the Bible exhorts us to not be of the world though we be in the world (John 17:14-15; 1 John 2:15-17,21). The three feasts were started by the church; they are therefore not secular feats. However, there is uncertainty as to the soundness of the doctrine that distinguishes All Saints Day from All Souls Day. In the end, it is a personal decision as to how one deals with such feasts. In the spirit of Colossians 2:16 I choose not to judge others on the feasts in general though I do judge as to the rightness or wrongness of certain activities and certain other matters of the feasts.
References:
Liturgical Year : October : History of All Hallows’ Eve | Catholic Culture
Halloween: Its Origins and Celebration | EWTN
Pope Gregory Letter to Mellitus on Conversion of Pagans and Their Temples
Which saints are honored on All Saints Day? (aleteia.org)
What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Purgatory? | Catholic Answers Tract
All Saints Day: A holy day John Wesley loved (umc.org)
Catholic Encyclopedia on All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
