Question: Dear Pastor Craig, isn’t Halloween a pagan celebration? Why do churches have stuff for kids on Halloween night? Thank you for answering my question. – Bea

Answer: Dear Bea, Yes… The beginnings of what we know today as Halloween can be traced to pagan celebrations. Some 2000 years ago the Celtic people who lived on the British Isles, celebrated their new year on November 1st. They believed that the worlds of the living and the dead somehow “crossed” on the night of October 31st. Various pagan traditions then arose associated with communicating and interacting with the supposed “spirits of the dead.” The Jack O Lantern was originally a hollowed out turnip with a carved face on it for the purpose of driving away these evil spirits!

By the 800s, Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1st All Saints’ Day, as a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church sanctioned holiday. (I will deal with this idea in just a minute…)

So, Halloween does indeed have pagan, non-Christian beginnings. Many today think that ghosts, and witches and the devil are all harmless fun.  But they are not. There is a real, anti- God spiritual world that exists and I cannot minimize the danger of becoming involved in it. The evil associated with the Devil and his demons always does great harm to any who become involved with them. Jesus told us in Luke 16:26 that the dead cannot come and associate with, or speak to the living. Therefore, those “spirits” that claim to be the dead are nothing more than demonic entities, sent to deceive those who will listen to them. The Bible declares that Satan is real, and his activities are always to… “Kill, steal and destroy.”

As a result of seeing innocent children give their attention towards ghosts, witches and goblins, many churches today offer an alternative to kids in the form of “Harvest festivals,” or Family Fun nights.  At these celebrations, children can play games, collect candy, have fun and not focus on the pagan traditions associated with Halloween. The activities that many Churches have on Halloween night are simply an alternative for families and children encouraging them to avoid participating in activities that promote, or trivialize demonic activity.

Parents are wise to avoid activities that desensitize kids to the dangers of a real demonic spiritual realm. I would encourage parents to find a reputable Church in their area that is offering a Halloween alternative party for children and participate in fun that centers on wholesome activity and the truth of Scripture.

Blessings! – Pastor Craig