A few days ago, the staff of our charity shop received a drubbing from one of their customers, because of the window display, featuring some Harry Potter imagery, marking Halloween. It is, I’m afraid, common among certain branches of the church to condemn Harry Potter and other such tales because of the references to magic, and to evil. Sadly, many who criticise it, especially from within the Christian Community, have only a scant understanding of the content of the books – which are essentially about the great struggle between good and evil, set within a fantastical framework. They miss the fact that Harry Potter is a good guy, a good guy who ultimately gives up his life for his friends, following the example of Jesus Christ, in order to defeat evil. One wonders whether such critics of Harry Potter would also condemn the Bible, because of its inclusion of stories about the Devil!
So, today, on Halloween, let’s ponder this celebration that many of us know well, but few really undertand. Halloween has become synonymous with costumes, sweets, and eerie decorations, but behind such paraphernalia lies a rich history - and an opportunity for thoughtful reflection for Christians.
The roots of Halloween go back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sown” by celtic speakers today). ‘Sown’ marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. For the Celts, this was a time when the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, allowing spirits of the dead to return. To protect themselves, people would wear costumes and light bonfires to ward off any harmful spirits.
When Christianity spread through Celtic regions, the Church adopted elements of Samhain and incorporated them into its own traditions – essentially ‘hollowing’ them: giving them a holy, or hallowed purpose. So, November 1st became All Saints’ Day, a day to honour all the saints and martyrs who had gone before. In old English, they were the ‘hallowed’ ones – the holy ones. The night before, October 31st, became known as All Hallows’ Eve (or Even) eventually shortened to “Halloween.” This blending of practices is a recurring theme in Christianity’s history: it’s a willingness to embrace aspects of cultural traditions and to imbue them with new meaning. The date of Christmas is another very good example – coming at the winter solstice, when the days begin to lengthen, Christians took the ancient feast of Saturnalia, and hallowed it by reference to the Light of Christ coming into the world…defeating the darkness.
In modern times, Halloween has evolved into a secular holiday in many parts of the world. Children dress up as superheroes or monsters, families carve pumpkins, and households open their doors to trick-or-treaters. For some, Halloween is just harmless fun, but for others, it can feel at odds with Christian values. All those ghosts, skeletons, and witches, coupled with the focus on fear and death, may seem to glorify the dark and the supernatural.
Yet as Christians, we’re encouraged to look beyond surface-level interpretations and ask deeper questions. Could Halloween be an opportunity for us to reflect on our mortality, on good and evil, and on our own Christian calling? How might we approach Halloween in a way that honours our faith?
Halloween, for all its frights, reminds us that life is fleeting. This isn’t a theme unique to Halloween; scripture too reminds us of our limited time on earth. In Psalm 39:4 for example, we read, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days.” Halloween, then, can be a cultural moment to acknowledge our human limits and even the inevitability of death—not to be morbid, but to gain a sense of perspective, gratitude, and humility. In reflecting on our mortality, we can also embrace our hope in the resurrection, for as Christians, death is not the end. Halloween can be a time to remind ourselves that we believe in a God who conquers death.
Then there’s the aspect of good and evil. Through costumes and stories, Halloween often dramatizes the struggle between light and dark, good and evil. This can be a teachable moment: we know that our faith calls us to live in the light and to love one another. Ephesians 5:8 encourages us, saying, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Halloween can serve as a playful reminder of this, showing us that although we may be surrounded by symbols of darkness, we are called to walk in the light, girded with all the armour of God, as the letter to the Ephesians goes on.
Instead of seeing Halloween as something inherently “bad” or to be avoided, I suggest that Christians might see it as a chance to participate in community, to practice hospitality, and to celebrate creativity. When we open our doors to trick-or-treaters, we create moments of kindness and welcome. When we decorate or join in costume-play, we join in the cultural expression of playfulness and imagination.
And, as we reflect on the themes of Halloween, we can also seek to educate others gently. We can explain that while we may dress as “scary” characters, we do not celebrate or promote darkness. Instead, we can embrace Halloween as a time to remember that God’s love shines even in the darkest places, that our faith calls us to kindness and compassion, and that, ultimately, we have nothing to fear.
Perhaps you’re wondering how to celebrate Halloween in a way that’s both fun and mindful? Well, here are a few suggestions:
1. Engage with Gratitude: Use Halloween as a moment to reflect on the saints and loved ones who have passed on. Consider lighting a candle or saying a prayer of thanks for those who have come before you.
2. Practice Generosity: When giving out treats or participating in community events, use it as a chance to practice generosity. Halloween is a wonderful time to model kindness in our neighbourhoods.
3. Offer Positive Alternatives: If some traditional Halloween imagery doesn’t feel comfortable, consider offering alternative symbols. Pumpkins, harvest themes, and costumes of positive role models are just a few ways to keep Halloween fun and uplifting.
4. Hold onto Hope: Remind yourself and others that, even as we face symbols of death, fear, and darkness, our faith is one of hope and love. Jesus himself reminded us in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
In conclusion, then, Halloween need not be a source of worry for Christians. Instead, it can be a chance to embrace our faith’s themes of light, life, and hope. We can remember that our God is with us in all things, even in times of fear, and that we are called to reflect that light to others. By choosing to engage thoughtfully and generously, we can make Halloween a time of welcome, reflection, and joyful connection in our community. Which is why I’m 100 per cent behind our charity shop manager – even if she is my wife!
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