Halloween and Faith: Why People Disagree
Every October, millions of people across the country celebrate Halloween through costumes, candy, and scares. However, not everyone participates in the holiday. Some choose to avoid the holiday because of their religious beliefs, while others view it as a harmless tradition.
The two perspectives raise questions about how Halloween’s historical origins, modern celebrations, and religious interpretations influence people’s decisions.
Although Halloween is widely associated with horror movies, trick-or-treating, and parties, its origins trace back to a Celtic holiday called Samhain, celebrated 2,000 years ago. According to Religion Unplugged, the festival marked the beginning of a cold and harsh winter, when people believed that ghosts and spirits roamed the earth.
The holiday was associated with beliefs about the dead and roaming spirits, connections that can still be seen today. Nevertheless, these historical associations have influenced how some religious communities view the holiday.
Some religions prohibit or discourage participation in the holiday. For instance, Halacha, or Jewish law, prohibits Jewish participation in the holiday due to its pagan and Christian background, which classifies it as a Gentile or Non-Jewish festival.
Despite the holiday’s historical connections to Christianity, some Christians choose not to celebrate it since they believe its associations with spirits, witchcraft, and the supernatural conflict with biblical teachings. They believe that a child of light should not celebrate a dark holiday.
“To me, Halloween is a celebration of death and fear, and it is a high holy day for Satanists, witches and people who practice the occult,” said Pastor Claudia Prada at Vertical Church.
Other Christians take a different approach, choosing to host or offer alternatives to traditional Halloween celebrations. Some churches host family-friendly events that allow people to gather and participate in festivities without focusing on the holiday’s more supernatural elements.
Vertical Church, for instance, hosts a “Family Fun Night” as an alternative way for families to spend time together on the day of Halloween.
But these events raise another question: does celebrating Halloween inherently conflict with religious beliefs, or does it depend on how one interprets and participates in the holiday?
Others, including Christians, argue that Halloween is not necessarily an evil holiday, and its meaning depends on how people choose to perceive it. Jay K. M. Bowman, a Christian himself, says that “The very nature of Halloween is a man-made holiday that bears no weight on souls.”
From this perspective, celebrating Halloween does not mean that you are going against your beliefs; instead, it can simply be an opportunity to enjoy a night of fun, spending time with friends and family while taking part in lighthearted traditions.
“I choose to celebrate Halloween because it’s a fun time to go out and dress up however you want. You can be scary, cute, hot, literally whatever you want without being judged. And in my opinion, it shouldn’t be a religious event,” said sophomore Katherin Jorge-Leon.
These differences in perspective are also reflected among MLEC students, where Halloween can hold different meanings depending on their personal beliefs, religious backgrounds, and experiences.
The disagreement surrounding Halloween often comes down to whether its religious history defines how it must be celebrated today. The costumes, parties, and tricks don’t necessarily represent demonic aspects or religious practices.
The distinction was explored in the article “Is Halloween Demonic? The Truth About All Hallows’ Eve.” The celebration of Halloween or Hallows’ Eve precedes All Saints’ Day, a Christian Holiday where all saints of the church are recognized and honored. This time relativity results in a conclusion that Halloween is a Christian holiday, challenging the idea that it is solely associated with pagan traditions or evil practices.
“I don’t believe that everyone who goes out trick-or-treating or dresses up in a costume or celebrates Halloween is necessarily evil or wants to worship the devil,” said Pastor Prada.
Halloween is more than just costumes, candy, and scary decorations. For some, its history and associations are reason enough to stay away from the holiday, while for others, it’s simply a chance to have fun and enjoy the holiday on one night of the year. All things considered, the way Halloween is celebrated depends solely on what people believe it represents.
