Happy Halloween!

Many Christians struggle to decide how (or if) to celebrate Halloween. After all, it is a holiday that seems to emphasize darkness, superstition, and fear. But did you know that Halloween is distinctly Christian in origin? You can learn more on our our Halloween History pages or in our Halloween Articles.

The name Halloween is a blending of the words All Hallows’ and Even or E’en (referring to the evening before All Holies’ Day, or All Saints’ Day, which is November 1). The term hallow means “holy” – you may recall reciting it in the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9).

		For a wealth of information about the history and symbols of Halloween, check out this helpful 14-page pamphlet from Rose Publishing on Amazon.com.

All Saints’ Day is a time to celebrate the lives of holy men and women who have died. For the Christian, “death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54); it is nothing to fear. Though our bodies die, our spirit dwells with Christ (Philippians 1:21) until He returns to earth to make all things new (2 Peter 3:13) and clothe us with new glorious bodies (Philippians 3:20-21).

But for those who have not put their faith in Christ, death is terrifying; it is marked by darkness and fear (as evidenced by the traditions, symbols and costumes associated with Halloween). What a perfect opportunity to contrast the Christian and the non-Christian views of death and to share the hope that believers have in Christ!

My prayer is that the resources on this site will encourage you to remember the magnificent thing that Christ did for us when he saved us from the terror of death and granted us “citizenship in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Whether you are looking to build meaningful traditions with your family, learn more about the history of Halloween and its symbols, or find creative ideas for cooking and crafting, I hope you will be inspired here to celebrate Halloween in a God-honoring way.

If you have any questions that are not answered on this site, or if you have suggestions for ways to improve content, please contact us.

May your celebrations be fun and meaningful!

Sincerely,

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