A little history lesson on Halloween for the Christians who believe it’s a Pagan holiday

A little history lesson on Halloween for the Christians who believe it’s a Pagan holiday
Djmc King Cassanova

So since I can’t help myself… Lets have a little history lesson on Halloween for the Christians who believe it’s a Pagan holiday reserved for witches and devil worshippers (not saying any names to avoid the impending embarrassment that is surely heading your way)

Oh, and for those who think this Athiest can’t possible know anything about religion lets just add this little tidbit: I was raised Catholic, have read the bible all the way through many times, have done extensive research and am well versed on many religions, (and yes this does include Wiccan). I am not one to tell anyone they are wrong for their religious views, unless of course they are wrong based on fact and plain common sense. So, lets have a history lesson, shall we? I think we all could use one.

Halloween falls on the eve of the Christian holy days of All Hallow’s Day and All Saints Day. the days are collectively known as Hallowmas. Like many other major “holidays” in Christianity, celebrations begin the night before. This includes All Hallow’s which is where Halloween got its name from: Hallow’s Eve.

Hallowmas is used to honor the saints and to pray for recently departed souls who haven’t reached Heaven yet. It was customary for people, known as criers, to dress in black and ring a bell to call on Christians to remember departed souls. The custom of trick or treating came from the Christian custom of “souling”. Children would go door to door collecting “soul cakes” as means of praying for souls stuck in purgatory. During Hallowmas, Churches that were too poor to have displayed relics of saints allowed parishioners to dress up as martyred Saints as a way to honor them.

In many countries of Europe, Christians believe that once a year the souls return for a party known as the “danse macabre” which is actually depicted in decor on the walls of many churches and cemeteries. This is where the custom of modern day costume parties originates.

Halloween was (and still is) celebrated to honor the Saints and the souls of the deceased. In many countries children dress as departed Saints and other biblical figures.

Yes there are some Christians (nonconformist protestants in particular) who at one point believed that the spirits who returned were evil since they believed in predestination therefore redefining Hallow’s Eve without purgatory. Their homes and barns were blessed to protect themselves from evil spirits and the witches that were thought to accompany them.

My history lesson on “witches” and Wiccan religion will have to be another time. That being said, as with anything in life, things can be twisted to reflect your own personal beliefs or changed completely. Excellent example would be the Swastika which, up until Hitler got his hands on it, represented life and good luck. Hallowmas didn’t have a negative connotation until the Protestants tweaked it to coincide with their own beliefs.

Halloween was and still is a Christian holiday.

That concludes our history lesson. Be sure to hand out the big candy bars to the pagan children running the streets worshipping the devil.