The True Meaning of Halloween

How did “Halloween” begin? Was it just some innocent fun imported to Japan from the U.S.A.? Where did the custom of dressing up as ghosts, witches, pirates, etc. and parading around the streets, standing at the doorsteps of people’s houses saying “Trick or treat” in order to receive sweets and other snacks come from? Read on to find the surprising answer.

The history of Halloween is based on Druidism in the ancient British Isles. According to Druidism, evil spirits come into the world on the night of October 31st. The Druids worshipped evil spirits and practiced the terrible custom of sacrificing humans to evil spirits. They stood on the doorsteps of people’s houses throughout the city and threatened, “If you do not make an offering to the evil spirits, death will come to you.” To prevent evil spirits from playing tricks on them, people in the city dressed up as ghosts, devils, etc., cut out the insides of pumpkins, carved eyes, a mouth and nose to make scary faces, and placed candles inside.

In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III, a Catholic, tried to change the pagan customs of Druidism into a “Christian” holiday by making November 1st the “Feast of All Saints” (All Saints Day). This holiday, which blends Druidic and Catholic customs, has become the modern-day Halloween.

Not only is it an old Druidic custom of worshipping evil spirits, but Halloween today is the most important day of “Satanism.” Unfortunately, Hollywood productions have trivialized the dangerous evils of magic, fortune-telling, and the occult and turned them into entertainment. Halloween emphasizes darkness, ghosts, demons, witches, skeletons, fear, and death. But consider the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:16-19)

If you are a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ, consider these verses as well.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (Romans 13:12)

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (I John 1:7)