This post last updated on July 5th, 2023
Christians and Halloween cross paths every October. Some people jump in with both feet, while others lock the door and turn their lights off. So, how should Christians respond to Halloween?
Driving around any American city during the weeks leading up to Halloween can be a very interesting thing. You’ll see innocent cartoon characters dressed as pumpkins and witches, giant painted spiders in huge synthetic webs, and trash bag ghosts dancing around trees.
And you will usually find that one house, you know the one, transformed into hellish displays of demonic horror. Except “that one house” is becoming more and more common. Finding the simple lawn-turned-graveyard is becoming more and more difficult. Morbid scenes from some of the most perverse horror films have long replaced Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin (affiliate link).
And sometimes these days it’s an entire neighborhood make-over into Hollywood horror movie scenes.
Naturally, that bothers some people, while others are completely and disturbingly entertained by it. Meanwhile, your children are expected to walk through this mess and ask for free candy, while the remaining 364 days in the year you probably discourage evil, shield their eyes from horror, and teach them to never, ever take candy from a stranger. Are you good with this?
Have you ever wondered, where does Halloween really come from and how should Christians respond to it?
Earliest Traditions of Halloween
Halloween finds it’s earliest origins in 2 ancient Roman festivals: the holiday feast of Pomona, and the Roman festival Parentalia, or “ancient days.”
Parentalia was a 9 day feast honoring ancestors with the intent of appeasing the restless spirits of the dead. Parentalia formally took place in February, but it was observed at the individual family level throughout the year.
Pomona was the Roman goddess of orchards and fruit trees and so the holiday included nuts and apples. Later, Celtic celebrations and our own Halloween traditions of apple cider and bobbing for apples originate from this ancient Roman day.
Ancient lore also says that Pomona shut herself in an orchard and refused to allow men inside, so Vertumnus, the Roman god of seasons, disguised himself to gain access to the orchard so he could see Pomona.
Modern Halloween Roots
Typically though, our modern Halloween finds its roots among the Gaelic nations as the holiday Samhain (pronounced saw-win). Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of Autumn.
Because the Romans had conquered many of the Celtic people groups by 43 A.D., most people believe that elements of the Roman holiday of Pomona were combined with the Celtic Samhain festival.
According to Gaelic tradition, Samhain was a time for the Aos Si (ees-shee), or faerie spirits of former gods and the spirits of the dead. During Samhain, these spirits would occupy the countryside looking for a human body to inhabit.
Which brings us to…
Divination and the Origin of Trick or Treat
People would leave offerings of food, drink, or crops to the Aos Si and would set an empty place at the dinner table. This was for the expected visitation of dead relatives that once lived in their homes while they were alive.
Following this meal, people would have a full night of festivities with games and bonfires. This is when they would use divination to try to interpret one’s future and apply cleansing and protective powers over their lives.
Spiritual Warfare for Every Christian by Dean Sherman (YWAM) is one of the most instructive, eye-opening, and easy to understand books I’ve ever read on the unseen realm and spiritual warfare. I do not want any Christian to be unaware of the spiritual reality of the world we live in and strongly recommend this book to all Christians. (affiliate link)
Halloween Costumes
The practice of dressing up in disguise and going from house to house asking for food began around the 16th century among the Celtic people.
The disguised people would recite poems or sing songs in exchange for food. Their costumes were to trick others into thinking they were the Aos Si who had come to receive their offering in exchange for good luck.
Christian Origins of Halloween
Ironically, Christianity has been crossing paths with Halloween in it’s various forms for centuries. There’s a ton of people who can’t agree whether All Hallows Evening began as a Christianized version of Samhain, or if it was completely separate from the beginning.
What we do know is that modern-day Halloween has a lot in common with it’s predecessors. Costumes, trick-or-treating, bonfires, pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, and horror attractions to name a few.
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
You would think we would find an easy, clear-cut answer to this question. It’s common for believers to wrestle with it, and it does get a bit confusing when so many Christians and churches play along with Halloween.
So is that a complete green light for the Christian to celebrate this holiday? You’ll have to make that decision for yourself, but consider all of the ingredients before you do. Learn from people who have experienced the other side of things, like Chelsea who knew witchcraft from a very young age.
No matter how much we try to commercialize, force innocence, or make light of the holiday, Halloween has its origins firmly rooted in the occult. Halloween continues to carry an intense satanic tradition of divination, death, and pagan gods.
For the Christian, these things are off limits. The Bible teaches that we are to “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Trying to answer the question should Christians celebrate Halloween is difficult. Some say we should totally abstain from Halloween, lock our doors and keep our lights off. Others say Christians should counter the evil of the holiday by hosting the best get-togethers in town.
Halloween is not a fun joke…it’s a mass celebration of demon worship. I won’t put one foot in the demonic realm and one foot in Christ. That’s not how it works!
Chelsea, former witch, United Kingdom
It becomes a matter of the heart and a question of motives, and you have to answer that for yourself.
Christians and Halloween
It’s perfectly normal if you’re saddened or even disgusted by the blatantly evil displays of Halloween.
As I stated, no one can tell you what choice to make. However, for the Christian, according to Scripture, we should not participate in anything evil, in any form. That includes Halloween.
Maybe it’s not the right choice to isolate ourselves from the unbelieving world on a holiday when we have such an opportunity to be the salt and the light that we are called to be. We cannot, however, condone any form of evil. We must be set apart for God’s good purpose.
The difficulty is being fair to modern society and understanding that most people have no clue about the pagan origins behind Halloween. Although, the evil is front and center, absolutely undeniable.
Therefore, we cannot give an easy pass on the evil of the holiday, for the Christian. You and I both know full well that evil is celebrated on Halloween, and all year long by the entertainment industry. Ignorance of the facts about Halloween can’t change the truth, and your personal responsibility is to learn, understand, and apply the truth of God.
Many churches and Christians have adopted ways to celebrate Halloween and they call it outreach. While I believe the intent and the motive is usually right, the result is often condoning by participation, and that can lead to compromise.
I don’t disagree that Halloween could be an opportunity for outreach, but is it the best way to represent Christ on an evil holiday? I’m all in on outreach, believe me. Reaching the lost with the good news of our God who loves them is my life’s work. But so is shepherding the flock of Jesus.
I’m wondering if Halloween isn’t a better opportunity to disciple followers of Jesus with inreach rather than dressing our church in costumes and participating with the unbelieving world. That’s not meant to ditch an opportunity for outreach, it’s a suggestion to live a sanctified life, being set apart from the darkness that creeps into our lives and our church.
Personally, I despise everything about Halloween. Realistically though, we’re in a world that is blind to the truth and makes light of evil.
How do we navigate that? Scripture is clear and should be our guide…
Abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
What are your thoughts? Do you celebrate Halloween, and why or why not?
This post was originally published in October 2015, and updated September 13, 2022.
Great post. Much appreciated and will be linking to it in my own post I am scheduling for tomorrow. I personally participate in Halloween, but can’t say I celebrate it. Ignoring it casts me as being judgmental to a culture I am commanded to engage and for whom I am to share the Gospel.
Hi Chad, thank you for sharing! You said it perfectly: “I personally participate in Halloween, but can’t say I celebrate it.” There is an enormous difference in meeting people where they’re at and in celebrating where our culture is. I appreciate your thoughts and the clarity you bring!
😀
We also participate by giving away candy at our door. I enjoy the children and seeing the fun costumes. As the evening goes by, though, some of the older kids start to show up in ghoulish costumes and that’s when we close the door and turn out the lights.
Your right that the day isn’t to be taken lightly but I also recognize that most children and their parents don’t know about the ancient connection to paganism. Rather than appear judgmental, I can reach out to them and still keep lines I’m unwilling to cross. When I’ve been asked if this is hypocritical, I’ve explained that I recognize the innocence with which most people approach halloween but when the evening focuses on evil images, I choose to step away. I’ve not experienced any negative reaction to that explanation.
Sherry, that’s a really balanced approach. Admittedly, I tend to focus on the negative of Halloween but I’m overcoming that by, like you, realizing the importance of engaging culture where it’s at!
Both my husband and I were brought up in homes that didn’t celebrate Halloween, and we don’t participate either. For us, the ghoulish decor and apparent festivity over death (which is a result of sin) holds no attraction. Perhaps if the holiday was merely full of Jack-O-Lanterns, cute kid’s costumes, and candy we’d have a different opinion, but with all the witches and skulls and ghosts it’s rather hard to ignore the pagan origins of the day.
I can also tolerate the lighter side of Halloween but the blatant evil and demonic yard displays are really bothering me. I think it’s important to meet people where they are at, but not to expose ourselves to utter darkness. There is a balance to engaging culture.
I agree with those who do not get involved at all in this pagan holiday. Behind the scenes of what looks fun and innocent are true occult rituals all gaining power from your innocent children participating in their holy (evil) day. Just like the wisest human king of Israel, Solomon warns in Proverbs… if we compromise, we teach our children that is okay to compromise. When it comes to sin, the Bible says it may seem fun and great at first, but the end therein is death. What are you going to do when your teens decide it is okay to compromise? What happens when a life changing decision will keep you or your family from damnation by taking a Mark on your forehead or hand? Will you say, “It’s just modern tech & we need it to eat?” Choose THIS day who you will serve!!! God is preparing you now to make the right choices for Him. Pass or fail are the only options. What demons are you allowing to infiltrate your family? Doesn’t the Bible say that Satan prowls around seeking who he can kill and destroy. This admonition was not for the unsaved only!!! If we walk above this mess, why do we want to sink and walk IN it? There is a wide easy road with the world and a narrow uncompromising road with Jesus. Choose your path. God is giving you the choice. My prayers are with you.
I love Halloween …. BUT I celebrate it MY way. For me it’s a time to wear a costume, the more dramatic the better. I love the children dressed as fairies, or clowns or super heroes. For me, it seems not participating because of the evil behind it, is actually giving more power to it than thumbing my nose at it and having a good time. Our church is located downtown Yakima, in an area known as the hole. We have a party at the church, with costumes, games, and candy. It keeps the neighboring children safe. I’m not saying I don’t understand the choice to boycott the holiday. Those led to stay clear, should.
Thanks for this great, post, covering a topic we should be discussing.
Deb, thank you for your thoughts! It’s definitely an internal debate I have with myself every year and really, just because I don’t like Halloween doesn’t mean it’s a good time to play the isolationist and disengage when there’s a side to Halloween that gives us as believers access to meet our culture where they’re at. I think that is an opportunity to be salt and light, but at the same time knowing the “why” behind the holiday gives us better insight. At the same time, I don’t think it’s ok to simply blindly engage. Kind of an “ignorance of the law isn’t an excuse” idea going on as well. I appreciate your thoughts, thank you for your comments!
Thank you for this! It totally is a pagan holiday, but I do think it is personal choice. I think God loves that I have fun, and I have to think about would God approve of my costume.
I think your approach is better than some of those whom I personally know. Part of my debate in Halloween is the Christians I know who go all out and embrace the darker, demonic side of things by having the macabre costumes and decor. I simply can’t understand someone claiming to follow Christ yet displaying the evil side of Halloween. Thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts!
Some really thought provoking comments here and I enjoyed reading some of the history that I was not familiar with. Most Halloweens will find me saying to my husband that I don’t want to hand out candy at the door but then as the time grows closer we always end up buying candy. Just because the little children can be very cute and we certainly don’t mind blessing them with a smile. I think when they are little and with their moms and dads it is good to greet them cheerily instead of being shut away in a darkened house. ..We are the light and want people to see our love.
I have to agree, Jeannie. The more I think about it, the more I realize it’s more important to put my feelings on the shelf and to just be available to those around me. Shutting my door and keeping my light off would accomplish nothing. Thank you for reading and for your thoughts on this!
I have to say I have done a full reversal of Halloween. I used to be a Christian who fully participated in this pagan holiday and after doing much research regarding it, have stopped participating in it all together. Halloween is a pagan holiday. It has nothing to do with Christ but has everything to do with the satanic occult. Children/animals go missing more this time of year than any other time except Easter (another pagan holiday, not resurrection day), the occult is practiced, divination, calling the dead, dressing like the dead and more. If you dig a bit deeper you will find that the celtics dressed up like the dead so the evil spirits would think that they were one of them, they also put food, nuts and so forth out to appease the evil spirits too. The scripture tells us to “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.” Deu. 18: 9-12
God was adamant about the Israelites not to take up the pagan practices and if they did, they suffered terribly for it. To me, the bible is very clear about Halloween, as it represents evil and we are to abstain from it. The problem with our Christian culture today is that we practice the very pagan things that the world does, we do not stand out nor take a stand against the pagan holidays and therefore blend in with our unsaved neighbors. The puritans and quakers refused to participate in the celebration of Christmas because nowhere in the bible did the apostles celebrate it so neither did they. I have removed Santa’s from my christmas displays and have started to add Christ centered nativities on my tree as well as throughout the house. As Satan continues to take a stronger foothold on christians and our neighbors, I feel we must take a stronger stand against his evil and shine a brighter light for Christ. Thanks for sharing this article. God bless.
God said ‘let the little children come’. Do we punish them for the acts of the parents? Good post Cathy and all true. It is difficult to find middle ground in this. God punished for the sins of the fathers. I’m not so sure that’s our job too. What do you think Gene?
Well, the ‘let the children come’ teaching is directed at those who tried to keep children from Jesus. I find it impossible to apply that text to deciding whether or not someone’s kids participate in a worldly occasion that brings zero glory to God and in no way points the children to the cross.
However, you’re right, Mike. Middle ground is most difficult to find on this subject. The holiday itself is cut and dry: it’s satanic and it’s evil, no doubt about it. On the other hand, I don’t think Christians should hide behind one another at a time when evil is in celebration mode.
It’s an opportunity to be an example, and an opportunity for diligent, earnest prayer against evil and for the lost. Also a great chance to offer alternatives that do not bring in parts of the holiday, like maybe a community movie night or a worship concert with the best snacks in the neighborhood.
Agreed that it certainly is not our job to visit punishment on anyone for the sins of another, like their fathers, but it is absolutely our responsibility to “train up a child in the way they should go.” That definitely includes teaching them to identify evil and pagan practices and to not walk in the way of the world.
By the way, this is interesting. A former satanist talks about Halloween and it’s pretty eye opening: https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2017/october/former-satanist-warns-christians-about-celebrating-halloween.
I agree with those who do not get involved at all in this pagan holiday. Behind the scenes of what looks fun and innocent are true occult rituals all gaining power from your innocent children participating in their holy (evil) day. Just like the wisest human king of Israel, Solomon warns in Proverbs… if we compromise, we teach our children that is okay to compromise. When it comes to sin, the Bible says it may seem fun and great at first, but the end therein is death. What are you going to do when your teens decide it is okay to compromise? What happens when a life changing decision will keep you or your family from damnation by taking a Mark on your forehead or hand? Will you say, “It’s just modern tech & we need it to eat?” Choose THIS day who you will serve!!! God is preparing you now to make the right choices for Him. Pass or fail are the only options. What demons are you allowing to infiltrate your family? Doesn’t the Bible say that Satan prowls around seeking who he can kill and destroy. This admonition was not for the unsaved only!!! If we walk above this mess, why do we want to sink and walk IN it? There is a wide easy road with the world and a narrow uncompromising road with Jesus. Choose your path. God is giving you the choice. My prayers are with you.
Point well made, Sister in Christ. It’s never, ever ok to compromise God’s word and he says to “abstain from all kinds of evil.” Halloween has the cute, innocent toddler and young children costumes, but with each passing year I’m beginning to wonder, isn’t that a compromise on the evils of Halloween?
As a child, I’m not sure I ever remember participating in Halloween whatsoever. I was asked why not a few times in school but don’t remember the answer I gave as that was a while ago. To this day, I know Christians that do participate either a little bit or fully and I don’t agree with that whatsoever. I like how someone said we are not to compromise with the world in anyway. Furthermore I could go to the verse about “not being conformed with the ways of this world”. I have hear Joyce meyer preach on not comprising with the world in any situation. Also would you do it if Jesus was standing with ? So in short, in my heart, I do not think a Christian participating in Halloween is right. The devil makes the smallest things look innocent and sweet just like he did with the apple in the garden and that is when he attacks.
Hey Caleb, I’ve gone back and forth on this mainly because of the fun alternative things I see many churches offering for Halloween. But the more I learn about the nature and the meaning of Halloween, the more I tend to agree with you: Halloween is not to be celebrated by the follower of Jesus Christ.
Do not be deceived! Put on the mind of CHRIST! What does a PAGAN Holiday have to do with GOD and CHRIST! We are to stand for the truth. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the [b]Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. (Ephesians 5:8-13) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.(Romans 12:1-2) Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4) How can we sit here and justify oh I dress up innocently it’s ok because I don’t decorate my home in evil, yet the very day is a PAGAN Holiday. Every story in the Old Testament ended in destruction for those that compromised the WORD OF GOD for PAGAN traditions! The devil wants to steal, kill and destroy by deceiving! Follow the SHEPARD HEAR HIS VOICE! Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO CLAIM JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR LIVE FOR HIM! IF WE HAVE DIED WITH CHRIST THEN WE HAVE NO EMOTIONS, IDEAS OR AFFILIATION TO THIS WORLD BUT TO DO THE WILL OF GOD!
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. GALATIANS 2:20
I am not a fan of Halloween either. We purposefully decorate for fall, leaving out anything related to Halloween. However, we did allow our kids to trick-or-treat when they were younger. Although we don’t really “celebrate”, we do see it as an opportunity to reach out to the community with the love of Christ, so some years we participate in the trunk-or-treat that is held in the parking lot of our church building. This is a great article that calls for some deep consideration. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Nicole, thanks for your comments! I actually really enjoy the colors and decorations for the Fall season and the changing of seasons are good times of reflection.
We also allowed our kids trick or treating when they were young and we wrestled with it with unsettled feelings every year. I think I’d take a stronger stance on it if I could do it again, one of those “if I knew then what I know now” situations. This year I think I’ll relax at home and listen to, I don’t know, maybe some guitar-laden Kutless worship music! 😀
During my childhood, our churches didn’t participate in Halloween. What concerns me now is when churches have the trunk or treats, we are not separating ourselves from the world. This to me is a conflicting message to all those passing on the highway who may have interest in becoming a Christian. I enjoy the cute costumes and giving out candy at home.
Right, the sending of messages conflicting to God’s word is a serious issue, not just around Halloween but around other things as well. But I’m curious, if it’s conflicting to the passers by for the church to participate in Halloween, would it then be conflicting to the neighbors you may be a witness for to participate from home?
I don’t celebrate Halloween. Never did and was taught it was wrong for Christians. Though my husband did when he was a kid, he agrees that it isn’t something our kids should participate in. Usually it’s not a problem. We have a fall party at our church every year (hayride, kid’s baking contest, campfire, giant slide, etc).
However this year our neighborhood wants to do trick or treating. I feel really torn. Most of the neighbors planning it are Christians. They have asked that no one dresses in scary costumes or has scary decorations. They want to keep it safe and family friendly. I appreciate that, but I still hesitate to join in. Like you, I feel Christians should stay away from participating all together. I’ve explained my reasons to my kids, but part of me feels guilty or like a “party pooper”. Any advice?
Hi Amber,
I actually know exactly how that feels. For years, we debated and went back and forth with our kids because we didn’t want to see them left out, and that typically involved the Halloween activities at our church at that time.
Looking back, I can say that I wished I were not so back and forth on the matter and in fact, that I would have challenged our church in a healthy manner about the Halloween involvement.
Also looking back, I would have taken more time teaching our daughters about the importance of “abstaining from all evil” and “light having no fellowship with darkness.” That’s what I would do differently, and I don’t know if that helps, but for what it’s worth, had I led my young family better then it just might have helped my adult daughters in other areas they were challenged in by peer pressure and society.
I hope that helps in some way!
I came across your post since I was trying to find out a creative way to respond to “Happy Halloween” wishes. Thank you for bringing this topic and address it.
To me, it clear and simple. Don’t celebrate it. Trying to justify it and path yourself in the back for something that’s intrinsically evil. Like Rabbi Shaul would say “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?
Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
2 Corinthians 6:14
At this point, I already thought my kids that this is evil. That we don’t celebrate death or engage with pagan customs. We stopped celebrating christmas, for it too is a roman/pagan holiday. We went back to celebrate the moadim (appointed times) of God instructed in Leviticus 23, Shabbat and the heads of the month as instructed by Him.
Once you truly follow Him, you understand that you need to leave traditions, customs and believes behind. You can’t turn back, otherwise, we are not better than the wife of Lot.
Yes, people are going to call you weird, or out of touch, or whatever adjetive makes them feel better… and I say “we can’t love sin over righteousness”, “we can’t love traditions over the Word of God”.
Shoshana, you hit many points of truth in your comment! So many Christians want God to fit their own image and many have lost sight of what it means that He is a holy God. It’s much easier to accept a tolerant Jesus that doesn’t involve judgement, yet He speaks of separating goats from sheep and wheat from chaff, and how narrow that gate to eternal life is while the road to destruction is wide and easy.
As for Halloween, it is displeasing to the Lord because it’s evil, pure and simple. You said it best, “we can’t love traditions over the Word of God.” (Mark 7:1-13)