The word “Halloween” comes from the combination of “All Hallows“, which translates as “night of the saints”, and “evening“, which means evening or eve in Spanish. Therefore, it refers to the eve of All Saints’ Day.
Over the decades, the holiday has been modified according to historical moments, beliefs and religions, to what it is today. Halloween is celebrated in the afternoon and evening of October 31, as a global event.
Today, Halloween consists of dressing up and visiting homes to ask for candy, a custom that is mostly carried out by children. The success of Halloween has given rise to food, movies, series, characters, theme parks and thousands of businesses worldwide related to this holiday.
Halloween in the Bible
The Bible does not mention Halloween as such, for obvious reasons, since the festivity developed centuries after it was written. However, it is related to themes derived from Halloween, such as death, darkness, and spiritual or otherworldly forces.
There are also passages in the Bible that warn Christians about engaging in pagan practices involving witchcraft, worship of other deities, and rituals or cults to mythological beings.
Why don’t Christians celebrate Halloween?
Although Halloween has evolved in several ways, Christianity remains firmly opposed to the roots of this festival, which are connected with paganism.Halloween, as its most faithful explanation indicates, is the time of year when the advocates of Wicca, a network of practicing witches, celebrate the time when the separation between the spiritual and physical realm is thinnest, on October 31.
These celebrations are interpreted as being linked to Satanism and the occult. The premise of Halloween involves mischief and behaviour that is not normally frowned upon at other times of the year, which is often proudly displayed.
Although for many the behaviors and traditions related to Halloween are harmless and it seems exaggerated to prohibit them by Christianity, the fact that they come from an origin linked to sinister influences means that they are not well regarded.