万圣节的庆典夹杂了世界各地的民俗。历史学家一致认为，万圣节的起源可以追溯到古代德鲁伊的传统节日。“德鲁伊” 特指早期居于法国北部、英国及爱尔兰地区的凯尔特人中，受过良好教育且担任祭司的群体。每年的10月31日正是凯尔特人的“萨温节”（Samhin)，他们会敬拜“死亡领主”（The Lord of Death），还用活人献祭。凯尔特人相信在这一天，人界与冥界的界限会变得模糊，死去的鬼魂、恶灵和巫女会重游人间。
Halloween which falls on October 31, is a joyous festival on which people dress up as goblins and demons and attend costume parties. Children dressed in costumes go door to door asking the owner of the house with the question, “Trick or treat?” If no treat was given, the children would perform a mischievous deed on the owner or on the property belonging to the owner.
However, is Halloween as innocent a tradition as it seems? A probe into the history of this widely-favoured festival would see that it originates from an ancient pagan festival for the dead.
1. Halloween was officially designated by the Roman Catholic Church
Halloween refers to the night before the “All Saints Day”, a Catholic festival. Halloween is also referred to as All Hallows or Hallowmas and was celebrated on November 1 as was designated by Pope Gregory IV (827-844) in A.D. 835. The festival was put in place to commemorate the departed faithful souls which they believed that have not been purified to reach heaven. The Catholics believe that there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in the state of grace who died and are either being purified in purgatory or are in heaven.1) The word “Halloween” came from “All Hallow’s Eve,” which means the day before the All Saints Day, which later became Halloween. “Hallows” is defined as “saints” and “mas” is defined as “Mass.”2) Without a doubt, there are no records in the Bible about celebrating this day.
2. Halloween developed from the day of the “Lord of Death”
The customs of Halloween is a culmination of various folk customs around the world. Historians came to a consensus that Halloween developed from the special day celebrated by the ancient Druids who were educated and were the priestly class of the Celtic people who resided in northern France, United Kingdom and Ireland. These Celts worshiped a god known as “The Lord of Death” or “The Dead” on the summer festival Samhain on October 31, where human sacrifices were offered. They believed that on this night, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred and that ghosts, evil spirits and witches returned to earth and roamed the earth.
3. Halloween costumes were introduced to entertain the dead
Since the Celts thought these evil spirits might play tricks on the living, they dressed in grotesque masks and costumes typically consisting of animal heads and skins, danced around the bonfires, pretending to be pursued by evil spirits. They offered food to the ghosts so that they would feel entertained and welcomed and at home. If food were not provided, they believed these evil spirits would cast spells on them.
4. Halloween traditions today
During the second half of the 19th century, the new immigrants; the Irish who went through the potato famine of 1846 popularised the Halloween celebration as a national celebration. This is how the trick-or-treat tradition appeared when the Americans began dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door asking for food or money. The round-shaped sweet bread called soul cakes which were given out to commemorate the dead souls was “encouraged” by the Catholic church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food for the dead spirits. Halloween lanterns were originally carved out of turnips which then changed to pumpkins during the modern times since they were easier to carve. The Jack O’Lantern’s tale was about a young smith who made a pact with the devil. In the late 1800s, Halloween became a holiday for parties, games, foods, festive costumes and the scariness or the horror of Halloween faded away. 1)3)4)5)6)
5. Halloween is a commercialised pagan festival
Statistically, Americans spend around 2.5 to 3 billion dollars every year, which is the second largest amount after Christmas.
Halloween is basically a feast believing that dead spirits can return to the earth and give us good or bad luck. However, the Bible explains that if a person dies, his spirit returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7) and waits for judgment.
Revelation 20:11-13 Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. … and each person was judged according to what they had done…”
Luke 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’”
Through Revelation Chapter 20 and Jesus’ parable about the rich man and Lazarus, after a person dies, we can understand that there is a great chasm fixed between heaven and hell. The person who dies will be judged according to what he has done on this earth.
Offering food to the dead through the Halloween festival and wishing for blessings to eliminate bad luck is an unfounded and non-biblical way to perceive the spiritual world. Biblically, most sacrifices; which are mostly done with food and not in accordance to God’s instruction, in Halloween, or any other special ceremony are all offered to demons; the devil and not to God.
1 Corinthians 10:20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.
We must watch out for false prophets and the false churches following pagan festivals such as Halloween, and we must be cautious about participating in these festivals that worships other gods.
Matthew 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
A man is destined to die once, and after that he must face judgment. A person is destined to go to heaven or hell based on their actions while living on this earth. One may also be subjected to judgement if they were misled into practicing pagan customs like Halloween without knowing.
Matthew 15:14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
We should ensure that we are not being deluded by the devil, and steer clear of such pagan rites and rituals by being aware of the origin of such festivals. We should not pursue the customs of men but rather the truth of God which is the new covenant which promises the salvation of our souls.
2) “Everything After Z by Dictionary.Com.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, dictionary.reference.com/features/halloween.html. ↪
3) History.com Staff. “History of Halloween.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween. ↪
4) The Facts on Halloween - Harvest House. www.bing.com/cr?IG=5C6674F8707E4CE889B89F234403967A&CID=2875188A1ABB61AE201513BE1BBD607C&rd=1&h=0dXD7q3b-GVboq8rlOvHyqP1VlCeaHQ3wFNIuJS-NVA&v=1&r=https%3a%2f%2fwww.harvesthousepublishers.com%2fbooks%2ffacts-on-halloween-9780736922197%2f&p=DevEx,5067.1.
5) History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/halloween. ↪
6) Santino, Jack. “Selected Halloween & Día de Muertos Resources at the Library.” Selected Halloween & Da de Muertos Resources at the Library of Congresss | The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/folklife/halloween.html. ↪
31 Comments
noeleden8014 on Jan 04, 2017 at 11:05 am ❤️
We need to follow god in a correct way. Thanks to God!
This article clearly explains the origin of Halloween, which even many Christians are unaware of. My Christian friend ever invited me to a Hollwenn party held in his church.. I too used to think that it is a Christian tradition to celebrate Hollween. After I came to Church of God, I realised that Halloween has nothing to do with God or Christianity. I hope more people will come to learn the background of Halloween.
Wow !! So Shocking !! Didn’t know that Halloween is a pagan Festival. Satan is using all kind of evil scheme to block people to go to Heaven . Glad that I am able to know this truth and not participate in Satan evil scheme …
Just few days ago, my colleague asked me what is the meaning of Halloween. I know it’s not the teachings of God but somehow I couldn’t explain it to her. Thanks to Church of God for showing us the origin of Halloween. I really hope that more people will get to know this and study the word of God in world mission society church of God. 🙂
It is important to understand the origin of Halloween and not to celebrate this festival which God did not appoint for us. We should keep God’s law stated in the Bible for the salvation of our souls😃
Actually at first i didn’t know that halloween is actually origin from the catholic and from the pagan festival..even more shocking it is related to the dead and evil spirits. even though now many people like to celebrate this day and dress up to scare others etc. But how creepy and scary spiritually; definitely a feast that is not pleasing to God and not from God.
Me, too. I have never imagined this halloween from the catholic church actually originated from pagan festival and it is related to the dead! It scares me!
Thanks to God for allowing me to know this hidden truth behind Halloween. Like Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, Easter and many other festivals that people celebrate nowadays are actually from paganism and not the will of God. Bible already clearly showed to us in 1 Corithians 10:20, “the sacrifices of pagans are to the demons”, so let us not become participants with demons, rather let us participate in God’s feasts, sabbath, passover etc and receive heavenly blessing from ture God.
I didn’t know Halloween is the day originated from pagan festival to please the dead! This is a good explanation of its origin and from what God thinks! I will follow God words not to keep this day!
This is truly a creepy festival… Not only the festival makes you creep out but also it’s completely against the teachings of God in the Bible. Thank you for making this so clear for us! Else we would have been deceived & celebrate something that is not good in the eyes of God. God bless you!!!
Wow… this is shocking, I thought it just another fun day dressing up with my niece and nephew, never image it was a day related to the dead? Now Halloween does remind me of Chinese people who remember thier dead on lunar 7th month. Giving out candy like 7th month putting out the candy by the street along the road for those lonely ghost who have forgotten. Now Halloween will never look the same to me. But thanks for digging out the origin. It did shocked me, a Catholic church adopted it …. thanks to Church of God.
Wow. I didn’t know Halloween was actually a pagan festival, and the origin of trick or treating was to give food to the dead, I nearly worshipped the devil!
This is quite informative and is a timely reminder for this season. I thank God for allowing me to read this during this time so I may realize all the more I should stand my ground to do what is right with God, even if many people may not feel the same way. Thanks for sharing this! 🙂
I always wonder why most Christians celebrate Halloween when its not written in the bible. Now I know that its was introduced by the Catholicism. Now I know its origins, I give thanks to God for this article.
Thank you very much for the explanation about Halloween it’s very clear this is a festival to please demons and evil spirits. Seems to be very innocent but the back have a dark side.
oh mine! Halloween is such a sacry day but why are people from different religion or race still celebrating it? I, myself, cannot see the reason to keep this day!
We need to follow god in a correct way.
Thanks to God!
thanks to father and mother to recover the new covenant for saving us.
I just knew Halloween is a fun party with gost clothes and funny make-up. I learned something new through this artcle.
Many people think Halloween is just festival. Like habits but if they know the origin.well..it’s not funny anymore.
Thanks for the article!! Now I know that Halloween is entertaining the dead. Hope everyone will know about this truth!
It’s great for me to know what the Halloween is. We should discern what is evil from what is good in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.
It is very shocking how people still celebrate Halloween without knowing that this is a pagan festival. ☹️
Thanks for this article let me know about origin of Halloween 😱
Thanks to World Mission Society Church of God for showing us 5 facts about Halloween. I really hope that more people will get to know this!!
Thanks Church of God for this article! 💡
This article clearly explains the origin of Halloween, which even many Christians are unaware of. My Christian friend ever invited me to a Hollwenn party held in his church.. I too used to think that it is a Christian tradition to celebrate Hollween. After I came to Church of God, I realised that Halloween has nothing to do with God or Christianity. I hope more people will come to learn the background of Halloween.
Wow !! So Shocking !! Didn’t know that Halloween is a pagan Festival. Satan is using all kind of evil scheme to block people to go to Heaven . Glad that I am able to know this truth and not participate in Satan evil scheme …
Just few days ago, my colleague asked me what is the meaning of Halloween. I know it’s not the teachings of God but somehow I couldn’t explain it to her. Thanks to Church of God for showing us the origin of Halloween. I really hope that more people will get to know this and study the word of God in world mission society church of God. 🙂
What seems like a fun occasion actually has a sinister origin. Guess I’ll never look at Halloween the same, ever again.
It is important to understand the origin of Halloween and not to celebrate this festival which God did not appoint for us. We should keep God’s law stated in the Bible for the salvation of our souls😃
Actually at first i didn’t know that halloween is actually origin from the catholic and from the pagan festival..even more shocking it is related to the dead and evil spirits. even though now many people like to celebrate this day and dress up to scare others etc. But how creepy and scary spiritually; definitely a feast that is not pleasing to God and not from God.
Me, too. I have never imagined this halloween from the catholic church actually originated from pagan festival and it is related to the dead! It scares me!
Thanks to God for allowing me to know this hidden truth behind Halloween. Like Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, Easter and many other festivals that people celebrate nowadays are actually from paganism and not the will of God. Bible already clearly showed to us in 1 Corithians 10:20, “the sacrifices of pagans are to the demons”, so let us not become participants with demons, rather let us participate in God’s feasts, sabbath, passover etc and receive heavenly blessing from ture God.
We can exactly know what is true or false through this article.
Why would someone celebrate something so freaky! That .gif says everything!
So shocking! Thanks for this article!
I didn’t know Halloween is the day originated from pagan festival to please the dead! This is a good explanation of its origin and from what God thinks! I will follow God words not to keep this day!
like 👍🏼
This is truly a creepy festival… Not only the festival makes you creep out but also it’s completely against the teachings of God in the Bible.
Thank you for making this so clear for us! Else we would have been deceived & celebrate something that is not good in the eyes of God.
God bless you!!!
Wow… this is shocking, I thought it just another fun day dressing up with my niece and nephew, never image it was a day related to the dead? Now Halloween does remind me of Chinese people who remember thier dead on lunar 7th month. Giving out candy like 7th month putting out the candy by the street along the road for those lonely ghost who have forgotten. Now Halloween will never look the same to me. But thanks for digging out the origin. It did shocked me, a Catholic church adopted it …. thanks to Church of God.
Wow. I didn’t know Halloween was actually a pagan festival, and the origin of trick or treating was to give food to the dead, I nearly worshipped the devil!
This is quite informative and is a timely reminder for this season. I thank God for allowing me to read this during this time so I may realize all the more I should stand my ground to do what is right with God, even if many people may not feel the same way. Thanks for sharing this! 🙂
I always wonder why most Christians celebrate Halloween when its not written in the bible. Now I know that its was introduced by the Catholicism. Now I know its origins, I give thanks to God for this article.
Thank you very much for the explanation about Halloween it’s very clear this is a festival to please demons and evil spirits. Seems to be very innocent but the back have a dark side.
I didn’t know that Halloween is a pagan festival! Thanks WMSCOG for this article.
oh mine! Halloween is such a sacry day but why are people from different religion or race still celebrating it? I, myself, cannot see the reason to keep this day!