Halloween History and the Bible
Bodie Hodge
When
did this holiday begin and why? How should Christians view this day in general?
To understand these questions further, we need to go back to the roots of
Halloween.
In the
United States (and other countries), Halloween has become one of the most
popular unofficial holidays. On the up side, retail sales boost the economy
around this holiday.
On the
down side, the holiday has become a time of increased crime in many places
(especially arson and other acts of violence) on Halloween night as well as the
night before. Even the author’s house was robbed one Halloween by forced entry.
So, although the retail industry loves Halloween, many police officers and
insurance companies dread it! Of course, there is also a tremendous amount of
occult activity associated with this holiday.
Kids
and even many adults love getting dressed up for Halloween. And they love the
candy, of course. It’s just innocent fun, isn’t it—or is it? But let’s think
carefully and biblically about the history, nature, and impact of the holiday.
When
did this holiday begin and why? Was it of pagan origins or is there something
more behind Halloween history? How should Christians view this day in general?
To understand these questions further, we need to go back to the roots of
Halloween.