Growing up, I didn’t know if Christians should celebrate Halloween. I only felt odd about the idea of wearing a costume at night and requesting a trick if there were no treats available. But overall, I welcomed a reason to eat senseless amounts of candy and had few other thoughts. That was before I became filled with the Holy Spirit and met Jesus for myself.
You see, I thought Christians celebrating Halloween was a matter of personal preference and conviction. And maybe it is. But I can also tell you that I didn’t have a consistent relationship with my Bible back then. Now, I understand that the word of God is a divine book of patterns—and there’s not a single principle that supports the celebration of darkness.
I find that most Christians who are ready to squabble that I’m delusional, Halloween is “harmless fun” or a “‘Christian’ holiday,” are also those who spend limited time in fellowship with God’s word. I stand firm on my belief that these are the type that care more about being right and justifying their carnal pleasures than the privilege of understanding the mind of God.
“But let the one who boasts, boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” –Jeremiah 9:24 (NIV)
Scripture tells us that understanding God and His ways is something to be proud of as believers. Can we honestly say that we know God, but still find peace in the doctrine of demons? Well, according to scripture…no.
“If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” –1 John 1:6
It only makes sense to research both the word of God and the Holiday itself. For the record: Halloween is not a “Christian” holiday because it’s not about Jesus Christ. Those would be Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday, and Christmas. It was however, “co-opted” by the Catholic church from pagans, so there’s that. We talk about that below. Nonetheless, Halloween, like everything else these days, has become much more godless and dark than it was when I was a teen and it could be cutely deemed an innocent day of “candy-centric fun.”
For the record: It’s not a “Christian” holiday because it’s not about Jesus Christ.
Now we see sexual costumes, upside down crosses, ouija boards, rituals, dressing like murder victims or God-knows-what, spell casting, and even gravedigging. People actually think those are harmless, seasonal fun! If you get nothing else from this post, get this: Your spiritual health is important to God and it matters what you open yourself up to for “fun.”
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Halloween’s Pagan & Supernatural Origins
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Halloween has roots in an ancient Celtic festival called “Samhain,” that began at dusk around October 31st. During this time, the “world of the gods” was believed to be made visible to humankind, and the gods played many tricks on their mortal worshippers. It was a time fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes. Sacrifices and propitiations of every kind were thought to be vital, or else they could not counteract the activities of the deities.
Samhain is considered a favorable time to practice divination, since the connection to the spirit world was stronger than usual. The lifting of the veil between the “Otherworld” and the natural meant that it was a perilous time. The Celtic Otherworld is often described as existing in tandem with, as opposed to completely separate from, the human world. During Samhain, these realms were thought to converge and passage between them was easier. Spirits could act with more powerful agency on the human world (World History).
When Christianity reached Ireland in the 5th century CE, the Catholic Church attempted to convert the Celts by incorporating pagan celebrations into the Catholic calendar. Attempting to include Samhain under a contextually similar Christian holiday, All Saints Day was created. Today, Halloween is erroneously called a “Christian” holiday when it has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
Halloween remains a period for heightened levels of evil, curses, and gatherings of witches and diviners. All is happening just outside a bubble of believers that do not acknowledge the activity of demons. Many have forgotten that even our Lord Jesus Christ cast out them out regularly (Mark 1:39). Ex-witches have also spoken of their activities and ability to cast more spells.
As Christians, we know that demons and the occult are real. The Word of God we profess as Christians clearly says they are and evidence is available. We know God sets us apart for our preservation and His glory–not to be a killjoy (2 Corinthians 6:16-17, Deuteronomy 12:30). We are in the battle for light over darkness.
In the end, your choices are your own and God will always love us. Yet, Apostle Paul’s words are fitting. “All things are lawful, but not all are beneficial for me.” (1 Corinthians 10:23). We are not meant to live legalistically, thus we should seek to honor God in all of our activities–fully convinced in our own minds (Romans 14:5). Only be watchful and wise. So to answer the question, no, Christians shouldn’t celebrate Halloween.
