Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
Every year, as October 31st rolls around, we start seeing pumpkins, costumes, and cavity-causing sugary candy everywhere. For many people, Halloween is just a fun night to hang out with friends and dress up in what would be called “cosplay” any other time of the year. But for many Christians, this holiday brings up a serious question. Should we celebrate Halloween at all?
Let’s jump in the “way-back-machine” and see where Halloween came from, then we can look at how to approach this holiday as followers of Christ.
The Origins of Halloween
The holiday is linked to an ancient Celtic festival called “Samhain.” The Celts believed that on this night, the spirits of the dead could return to the earth. Later, when Christianity spread through Europe, the Church created “All Saints’ Day” to be celebrated on November 1st as a day to honor faithful believers who had died. As a result the evening before “All Saints’ Day” came to be known as “All Hallows’ Eve,” which eventually was shortened to “Halloween.”
(There is currently a fair amount of additional information on the History Channel website if you want to dig a little deeper into the origins of the holiday: www.history.com/topics/halloween)
What It Means Today
Modern Halloween is mostly about fun times, costumes that range from cute to cringe-worthy, mountains of candy, and local community events for families. However, in certain circles some parts of the holiday still focus on darkness, fear, or evil. As Christians, the Bible reminds us to “have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11, NIV). That means we should be careful not to glorify evil or to make light of things that opposed God’s truth.
At the same time, Romans 12:21 reminds us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That verse helps us remember that we can use difficult situations, like confusing holidays, to shine God’s light.
Finding A Better Way
So… back to the original question. “Should Christians celebrate Halloween?” Unless a radical shift in the holiday calendar is made, the holiday is not going away any time soon. However, how you choose to participate depends on your heart and your intentions.
Some families avoid the holiday completely. Others use it as a way to connect with neighbors and share God’s love. Many church host “Fall Festivals” or “Trunk-or-Treat” events, offering safe, family-friendly alternatives to Halloween. These can be great opportunities to build relationships and show that faith and fun can go together in healthy ways.
Whatever you decide, do it prayerfully. Ask yourself:
• Does this honor God?
• Does it point others toward light instead of darkness?
• Am I being a good witness to my community?
If the answer to those questions is “yes,” then you are likely walking the right path.
Final Thoughts
Halloween doesn’t have to be a night of fear. For believers, it can be a night to bring hope. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Let’s take that seriously, especially on a night when the world might seem a little darker.
Photo by Mark Duffel on Unsplash