Halloween, the witching hour, all-hallows’ eve, whatever you choose to call it, one of Utah’s most popular holiday’s in upon us again. Dress up, go to a haunted house, follow kids around the neighborhood soliciting candy, whatever. Just please, don’t preach that the day is evil.
Every year I hear the same people give the same story: Halloween is a celebration of Satan, and dressing up is a service to him. Coincidentally, these individuals are the same wonderful people who protested Harry Potter and feel the need to “save me spiritually.”
I imagine these good folks have erroneous views of Halloween: that it comes from an ancient pagan or druid celebration where animals were sacrificed to heathen gods and people dressed up to ward off demons from the nether-world.
First of all, let’s assume you are right, my friend. Halloween is a celebration dating back to ancient Celtic traditions. Don’t forget that Christianity is based on a man who was born to a virgin in a culture that slaughtered thousands of animals each year in symbolic salvation from Hell. This man was then murdered by his own people, and his blood now saves you from eternal damnation and brings you daily joy.
That’s just as weird as what you are saying Halloween is. There is nothing wrong with that. Practically any religious or cultural tradition is odd when glanced at out of context.
Another example: near the winter solstice every year, we hang lights on pine trees in our houses, put gifts under them, then sit around in the morning and eat candy out of socks. Oh, the candy and some gifts came from an overweight man from the north pole who landed on the roof with flying caribou and came down the chimney while we slept.
Take a minute to learn about a tradition and find out what it really mean. Halloween is not an evil holiday, nor has it ever been.
The celebration of Halloween probably comes from a combination of two sources: Christian traditions and the festival of Samhain.
It’s called “All Hallows’ Eve” because it comes the day before All Saints, or all hallows, Day. This day celebrates those people, especially holy persons or saints, that have passed on. This is primarily to think about ancestors and the examples of the past. This celebration of “Hallomass” throughout the week mixed with the traditional festival of Samhain and became what we now know as “Halloween.”
Because of the transition from Autumn to Winter, spirits were believed to be more able to cross over and visit or haunt this realm. This led to bonfires to attract spirits, dressing up to confuse them, etc, and was called “Samhain.”
I think the belief of evil traditions exists because of money. A harvest festival about honoring deceased ancestors and saints isn’t really marketable. If I wanted to turn a profit on a holiday before Christmas, I would focus exclusively on the belief of spirits being closer and hype it up as much as possible. Just like the easter bunny and Santa Claus, the original holy tradition of Halloween has been corrupted and changed for the greatest financial return.
This year, amid the pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, haunted houses and scary movies, how are you going to remember the true meaning of Halloween? The miracle of seasons changing and another year passing, of hibernation and rebirth, remembering those who have gone before us, these all transcend plastic witch hats.
You obviously have never seen demons cast out of people. You obviously don’t realize how real hell is. I can tell you that demons, witches and warlocks are real and they steal kill and destroy lives- relationships, health, careers and ultimately, people’s eternal soul if they do not have a personal relationship with God.
The father of lies, your enemy, has already done a number on you. But you can know the truth and be free!
You are not aware that many (millions) of those gone before us are in eternal torment in hell screaming and shouting “Josh, NO! Don’t come here. Believe truth and follow Truth”
You need a personal encounter with God. Period. Seek it and you will find Him! Seek truth and you will find Him!
Obviously, you are living in sin. If you die in your sins, eternal hell, where the same demons you are defending torment people for eternity, will be your portion…
Michael,
We live in a pluralistic society that has made freedom of religion a foundation principle. This predicates the possibility that there is no one right way to spiritual fulfillment. In your statement, you have extolled the evil of those who practice witchcraft as destroyers of the ties that bind people together in a wholesome manner, and while this might be true on a case-by-case basis, your opinion slanders those people who self affiliate with the term witch, for example, and who are also good people who support the ideals of family, well-being, productivity, and spiritual wholeness. Another one of the foundations of our society is that people should be assumed innocent until proven guilty, and the personal belief in pagan spiritualism does not inherently produce evil or wrong actions or thoughts. It is up to the individual to decide their own actions, and to be brought…
…to justice individually if those actions should bring harm to their community.
I find that people generally meet expectations, and if you, out of hand, assume that they will do harm to you, and act against them in word and deed, will not those people react in kind? And on the other hand, if you treat people with fairness and offer them friendship, are they not kinder and gentler with you in return? If I recall correctly, isn’t there a passage in the New Testament that pronounces this very thing?
By closing yourself off to the humanity of others, haven’t you, yourself, given into pride and become a pawn of the very powers from which you wish to protect us? Men and women cannot be truly brought to an understanding of faith through force or intimidation, nor through manipulation or bribery. Only through patience and the grace of whatever god or goddess finds them.
May…
May you, through your deeds and words, cleave unto your beliefs, and lead by example, and bring those truly in need of your connection to the divine comfort instead of fear.