What's the big deal about "Halloween"?

Every year I find that I am confronted with the question, "What's the big deal about Halloween?".  It was never a subject I wanted to write about because it brought back parts of my past I that I would love to keep buried.  And though God in His mercy saved me and forgave me my past, it still brings chills every time I think about it. 

I used to play around with the "spirit" world, a lot.  I know most people have participated in a séances or something like it.  But, sometimes it would consume me.  I would spend my days in school hiding my homemade weegie board on my lap as I would communicate with whatever was out there.  (Now that I'm saved I understand that they are not souls of the dead roaming the earth, but satans devils [demons].  For when a person dies, they either go to heaven or hell, there is no in-between or purgatory. For a saved person ....to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  2 Cor. 5:8.  For a lost person....the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments. Luke 16:22b-23a).

I used to love Halloween.  I used to get involved in every part that I could.  A friend of mine knew some satanist, and knew that they would be out and about praying evil and hurt over every house that had a carved pumpkin outside their homes.  I remember asking my mom not to put pumpkins out to keep them from praying over our home. 

It's not my past personal attachment to the celebration, but the truth of what Halloween stands for.  Every part of Halloween, from trick or treating to carving pumpkins, to dressing up all have there start from Celtic pagan practices to ward off "bad spirits".  Even Catholicism took part by children dressing up as a saint or spirit and go house to house asking for "soul cakes"

Our "American" version of Halloween originated the Celtics in Northwestern Europe and was adapted by Catholic traditions and immigrants' customs.  On Oct 31 to Nov. 1 there was a harvest celebration called Samhain in which the Gaels celebrated the end of harvest and all the animals were brought in and slaughtered to provide food for the winter months.  During this time, they believed that the walls between our world and the afterlife was made thin and penetrable.  Therefore allowing "spirits" to more easily travel back and forth. So they would also dress up in all white and blacken their faces to "trick" the evil spirits. And bon fires were lit to provide protection and cleansing against those spirits.  They also would carve turnips to do the same thing.  The turnips were also supposed to keep the fairies from settling in their homes.  When this tradition came to American in 1840's, they couldn't find many turnips so they started to carve pumpkins instead.

Combine that with the Catholic holidays of "All Souls' Day", "All Hallows Eve", and "All Saints Day".  Some other "protestant" religions also practice this tradition, but may very some and on other days.  These "holidays" revolved around the belief in purgatory, where ones soul is basically on hold so that they can become holy enough to finally go into heaven.  Also on these holidays, bells would ring for those in purgatory to bring them comfort during their cleaning process.  The children and the poor would go from house to house singing and collecting soul cakes and in return promise to pray for the souls of the family and friends who gave the cakes.  This was called "souling". They would also do this dressed as angels, demons, or saints.  Sounds a little bit like "trick or treating" to me. 

As a born again Christian, the celebrating of Halloween in anyway contradicts what the Bible says.  In my life, the Bible is a Holy book written by God. He inspired (moved) men to write it. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  2 Peter 1:21

This information is given to explain to all those who question why we don't involve ourselves in anyway with traditions that's celebrate darkness and evil.  Below I have listed some of the verses of scripture that support why we do not celebrate Halloween.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  Eph. 5:11

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 1 Cor. 10:21

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isa. 5:20

Below is a couple of verses showing God disdain for the things that are celebrated during Halloween.

When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.  Deut. 18:9-12

A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them. Lev. 20:27

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Ex. 22:18

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, [even] against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking [counsel] of [one that had] a familiar spirit, to enquire [of it]; 1 Cor. 10:13

Neither give place to the devil. Eph. 4:27

 

God, according to scripture, does not want us to celebrate or even partake in the abominable traditions other cultures and nations.  Not to give place to the devil, but to live according to His Word.  To walk in the light as He is in he light.  That is why we do not celebrate Halloween.