Hallowe’en
from Christianity.org:
The word Hallowe’en does not come in the Bible (in fact, it wasn’t invented until the 18th century). It means ‘the holy evening’. It has long been celebrated as the first of three days on which to remember those who have died, especially Christians whom we have loved and admired, but who are now dead.
Lovingly to honour those who have died is a wonderful thing for Christians to do. However, as in so much else in life, human nature has led people to look behind the Christian celebration and find a dark background. Shops have also found a way to make money out of it. So a once-treasured festival has become one with a controversial edge.
With a few exceptions, Christian churches recognise 1 November as All Saints’ Day. It is a joyful day which celebrates the fact that there is life after human death. It is a day for recognising the Christian hope that we will be reunited in Heaven with those we have loved. Because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the living and the dead are not parted from each other forever.
Many countries have 1 November as a national holiday. In Mexico the Day of the Dead is a colourful day of parties and remembrance. Many other countries also follow that tradition, but not the UK. Instead, many Christians in the UK use church services on the nearest Sunday as occasions for joyful hymns and prayers because of the their confidence that death is not the end.
The following day, 2 November, is called All Souls’ Day. In the Roman Catholic Church, this day is marked out as one on which to pray that the souls of people who have died will rest in peace. Orthodox churches have several such days during the year. Protestant and Pentecostal churches tend to pray for living people, but not for those who have died.
So Hallowe’en on 31 October has historically been an evening of preparation for these Christian festivals. There have been superstitions that the souls of dead people visit their old homes seeking hospitality. However, there is no trace of this in Christianity. The superstitions may have come from pre-Christian times (possibly a pagan festival called Samhain).
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