Halloween, with all the children dressing up to look like witches, devils, going house-to-house saying trick or treat, asking for a hand out, children having fun.  Should Christians and church’s take part in such activities?  It seems like it is so innocent, besides look how much fun the children are having.

    Did you ever ask yourself just where did this tradition come from?  What does Halloween stand for?  Should Christians observe this day?  Shouldn’t we examine our Holidays (Holy Days)?  What does the Bible say?  Shouldn’t we question our festivals to see what we are celebrating?  Something seems “fun,” no harm done may end up being a deadly sin.

    Halloween stems back to ancient times among the Druids.  The Druids celebrated the first of November as the New Year and on October 31 marked the death of the old year.  The Druids believed on the evening of October 31 Samhain, the false god of the dead, brought forth spirits to return to their homes for that evening.  The Druids customarily lit great fires that evening and presented “sacrifices” to protect them from evil deeds done by visiting spirits.  There sacrifices were the ”Treats” to keep from the “tricks” which the spirits might do that evening.

    After their conquest of Britain, the Romans added to the Halloween tradition.  Features of the Roman Festival held on November first in honor of Pomona, goddess of the fruits of the trees.  The tradition of the Druids of lighting fires on Halloween survived until modern times in Scotland and Whales, and in the concept of ghosts and witches still common, prevalent both in the United States and England, of playing games involving fruits, such as dunking for apples in the tub of water, and the decorative use of pumpkins which are hollowed out, carved to resemble horrible Faces and illuminated by candles placed inside.

    The Webster New World Dictionary says: “trick or treat-give me a treat or I will play a trick on you.”  This is the same thing that happened on October 31, the Druids would present animal sacrifices for the treats, so the spirits would not play a trick on them.

    The prophet presents a sharp contrast between the power of God of Israel and the powerlessness of the gods of pagan and His emphases in this passage, a warning to God’s people, not to adopt the superstitious practices of the pagan people around them.  “Thus saith the Lord, learn not the ways of the heathen, and be not discouraged at the sign of heaven, for the heathen are discouraged at them” (Jeremiah 10:2).

    Halloween is very traditional; no Christians should not partake in the activities of this holiday.  We say how cute or laugh at the costumes, witches, goblins, ghost, devils, skeletons and such.  All these represent Satan, our evil adversary, skeletons, black cats, darkness; they all represent death and evil.  Once again Satan has gained the approval of Christians by making it seem like innocent fun, but this is a form of condoning the work of Satan.