Halloween can be a Troubling Holiday.

Many of us carry fond memories of Halloween from when we were children. Halloweens of long ago, back when we were growing up. Many of us remember it as innocent fun—a special day just for children.

I remember dressing up in silly costumes and going door to door begging for candy. When I was little, I carried a small decorated bag. When I got a little older, I began to carry a pillowcase—the better to carry my loot home. My favorite house to visit was on my block, a few houses down and across the street. A little old lady lived there, and every Halloween she gave out homemade popcorn balls—mmmm, mmmm, good!

Halloween can be a troubling holiday.

That was another time…before parents even thought to bring their children’s candy to the police station to be x-rayed…before it became common practice to throw away anything not in a sterile sealed commercial wrapper.

On the other hand, even more ominous than concerns for safety, many of us are growing more and more aware of the pagan origins of the holiday and the pagan, and even satanic, activities associated with Halloween.

In some places I have lived, it has been common practice for people who owned outdoor cats to bring them inside in October, especially if they were black cats. Experience showed that as Halloween approached, unwatched pets would begin to disappear, and it wasn’t just due to childish pranks.

As I thought about Halloween this year, I was struck with the thought that I ought to further my search and find out what Wicca, the official religion of witchcraft, has to say about Halloween. Perhaps they viewed the day as a simple fun and innocent neighborhood activity?

Halloween is Real

“Shock” is the only word to describe what I found. Halloween is a real, sacred day for those who follow Wicca. In fact, it is one of two high and holy days for them. The Celtic belief of spirits being released is current, along with the worship of Samhain (the lord of death) – both are promoted as something to embrace on that day. There is no question in my mind that to those who believe and follow the practices of witchcraft, Halloween represents an opportunity to embrace the evil, devilish, dark side of the spiritual world.

So after discovering this, what is a reasonable conclusion? As Christians you and I are placed in this world to be a light in a world of darkness. There is no lasting benefit to ignore a holiday that exists around us, but it also does harm to celebrate Halloween as it has originated and grown over the centuries.

My suggestion?

Christians should be teaching their children (age appropriately) that:

1. There is a spiritual world filled with goodness from God and evil from Satan (Eph. 2:1-10);
2. Life with Christ has power over darkness (I John 4:4); and
3. Those who celebrate Halloween either are unaware of its roots, or are intentionally promoting a world where evil is lauded and viewed as an ultimate power.

To counter the evil influence of Halloween, we need to join together and celebrate the reality of the heroic efforts of Christian saints over the evil in their day. Many leaders in the past, and present,  have fulfilled the mandate of destroying the works of the devil through their sacrificial commitment to Christ and His Kingdom.

Don’t Hide in the Face of Evil

So, rather than “hiding” in the face of evil, we should unabashedly and boldly create an alternative that is positive and uplifting. An Alternative that celebrates good over evil and the triumph of God over Satan. We need to provide an environment that also makes room for heaps of fun while using the day as a “teachable moment” to celebrate God’s protection, provision and purpose for our lives.

Now go and be light in this world of darkness!

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Eduardo Quintana is also featured as an author on Lightworkers Media