Reclaiming All Hallows'?
[Note: Whenever I refer to the Church, I mean the regenerated followers of Jesus Christ, not some brick-and-mortar structure.]
The Church has allowed Satan, the ancient enemy of Creator God, to steal, or at least taint, many of our celebrations. The man Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who gave his all to follow the Savior, has morphed into a jolly, rotund, caricature we call Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny continues to try to usurp the position of the resurrected Savior. Children are taught erroneously that Thanksgiving was a time when the Pilgrims thanked the Indians for helping them to survive in the wilderness.
All Hallows' Eve also has suffered at the hands of the enemy, though not as much as the afore-mentioned, since it was never purely Christian and has clearly pagan origins. Most agrarian cultures celebrate significant events in the seasonal growing cycle: harvest time, solstices and equinoxes, and planting time, for example.
The origins of All Hallows' Eve--Hallowe'en (don't forget the apostrophe)--go back 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The word means "end of summer." Pumpkins, apples, and various gourds were a significant part of that event. The Celtic new year began on November 1.
By 43 A.D., the Romans had conquered the Celts, and within the following 400 years, had integrated their own pagan festivals into Samhain, including Feralia, occurring in late October. Feralia was a day to commemorate the dead.
"Christianity" spread through the Celtic lands by the 800s. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III established that November 1 would be All Hallows' Day. According to Roman Catholic belief, All Hallows' Day was when souls were released from Purgatory and allowed to wander the Earth for 48 hours. Apparently, Pope Gregory was attempting to supplant Samhain with a Christianized version. That was Pope Gregory's M.O. He often claimed pagan celebrations and buildings and imposed a "Christian" significance on them. For example, he claimed the Pantheon (which was dedicated by the Romans to "all gods") for a Christian purpose. His All Saints' Eve was celebrated much as Samhain had been, with bonfires, parades, and people wearing costumes of saints, angels, and devils.
Today, many people claim that Hallowe'en is an innocent harvest festival, but a quick trot through the costume section of the local Wal-Mart tells a different story. With a glance backward to Samhain, Feralia, and, yes, All Hallows' Eve, one can see that the culture of death lives and thrives in today's celebration. It amazes me that many Christian parents continue to celebrate this time of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and witches, labeling it "innocent fun." What is innocent about rubber masks that portray people who have been maimed, disfigured, frightened out of their minds, or murdered? Parents who encourage such "innocent fun" are opening the creaking door on the occult and nudging their wee ones over the threshold. Hallowe'en always has flirted with the macabre. May our All-wise God grant to those children the wisdom that their parents and grandparents lack.
Jesus says that He Is the Light of the World (John 8:12). As His followers, we are commissioned to reflect that light in today's dark world (Matthew 5:14).
As for Hallowe'en, we need not reclaim it; we never owned it.
The Church has allowed Satan, the ancient enemy of Creator God, to steal, or at least taint, many of our celebrations. The man Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who gave his all to follow the Savior, has morphed into a jolly, rotund, caricature we call Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny continues to try to usurp the position of the resurrected Savior. Children are taught erroneously that Thanksgiving was a time when the Pilgrims thanked the Indians for helping them to survive in the wilderness.
All Hallows' Eve also has suffered at the hands of the enemy, though not as much as the afore-mentioned, since it was never purely Christian and has clearly pagan origins. Most agrarian cultures celebrate significant events in the seasonal growing cycle: harvest time, solstices and equinoxes, and planting time, for example.
The origins of All Hallows' Eve--Hallowe'en (don't forget the apostrophe)--go back 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The word means "end of summer." Pumpkins, apples, and various gourds were a significant part of that event. The Celtic new year began on November 1.
By 43 A.D., the Romans had conquered the Celts, and within the following 400 years, had integrated their own pagan festivals into Samhain, including Feralia, occurring in late October. Feralia was a day to commemorate the dead.
"Christianity" spread through the Celtic lands by the 800s. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III established that November 1 would be All Hallows' Day. According to Roman Catholic belief, All Hallows' Day was when souls were released from Purgatory and allowed to wander the Earth for 48 hours. Apparently, Pope Gregory was attempting to supplant Samhain with a Christianized version. That was Pope Gregory's M.O. He often claimed pagan celebrations and buildings and imposed a "Christian" significance on them. For example, he claimed the Pantheon (which was dedicated by the Romans to "all gods") for a Christian purpose. His All Saints' Eve was celebrated much as Samhain had been, with bonfires, parades, and people wearing costumes of saints, angels, and devils.
Today, many people claim that Hallowe'en is an innocent harvest festival, but a quick trot through the costume section of the local Wal-Mart tells a different story. With a glance backward to Samhain, Feralia, and, yes, All Hallows' Eve, one can see that the culture of death lives and thrives in today's celebration. It amazes me that many Christian parents continue to celebrate this time of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and witches, labeling it "innocent fun." What is innocent about rubber masks that portray people who have been maimed, disfigured, frightened out of their minds, or murdered? Parents who encourage such "innocent fun" are opening the creaking door on the occult and nudging their wee ones over the threshold. Hallowe'en always has flirted with the macabre. May our All-wise God grant to those children the wisdom that their parents and grandparents lack.
Jesus says that He Is the Light of the World (John 8:12). As His followers, we are commissioned to reflect that light in today's dark world (Matthew 5:14).
As for Hallowe'en, we need not reclaim it; we never owned it.
Nice post. It is too bad that the emphasis is so often put in the wrong place. I have no problem with holidays, but the true meaning needs to get out with a message. All things are good when God is at the center of them. And that means acting in a manner that wouldn't make Him wonder what the heck we're doing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI, and my family, refuse to celebrate Halloween, no matter how innocently a party may seen. The church sponsored "masquerade" parties, which were meant to keep children from trick-o-treating, are something we will not attend because it is on Halloween. As a child, I behaved like a child and we celebrated Halloween. As I grew, and as I grew in the Lord, I have completely turned my back on anything remotely pagan. No eggs at Easter. No Santa at Christmas. My children are no worse for it and a whole lot better without it.
ReplyDeleteLinda ~ No one enjoys holidays more than I do. But I don't celebrate the festivals of other religions such and Islam's Ramadan or the Hindu Navaratri. Hallowe'en is a festival of another false religion.
ReplyDeleteNow, All Saints' Day is another matter. Though Protestants don't generally celebrate that one, I see no reason not to. Followers of Jesus Christ are saints, so why not celebrate His victory over sin on our behalves to put us in that position?
I absolutely revel in Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, St. Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and our patriotic holidays. I'm also trying to learn more about the Jewish festival calendar, as established by Yahweh.
So I'm obviously not opposed to holiday and holy days--only those that promote false gods.
Write on, sis!
Because of Christ,
Sharon
DM ~ That's the way God worked in my life. Early on, the church I attended went all out for Hallowe'en. I recall one year when we even had a "haunted basement" and the pastor, dressed as a ghoul, was in a coffin. He'd jump up and scare the kids. When I learned the truth about Hallowe'en (and, come on, it's not that much of a secret...I mean, really), I decorated my SS classroom for autumn, not H. It took a long for others to see what H. is all about, oddly enough. There was a lot of rebellion. "It's all in fun," I heard. "You're trying to spoil everyone's fun." My favorite was, "It's just an innocent holiday party."
ReplyDeleteIt's the occult! Nothing innocent or fun about that.
Happy harvest season and a blessed autumn to all!
Write on!
Because of Christ,
Sharon
Sharon, this is brilliant writing and research. I have read Halloween essays before, but in my thirty years saved, this is by far the best. You should submit it to some publications. Bravo.
ReplyDeleteKathleen,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Perhaps I can find a publication interested in printing it for next year. I know they work long in advance. I never would have thought of that.
:-)
Write on!
Because of Christ,
Sharon