Halloween originates from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was a celebration marking the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead, or the Otherworld, became blurred during this time of year, allowing spirits to roam the earth. People made offerings of food and drink to appease the spirits. They also wore costumes made from animal skins to avoid being harmed or kidnapped by evil spirits.
Halloween was brought to America in the 1850s by Scottish and Irish immigrants. As more of these people arrived, the holiday began to gain popularity among Americans, who were drawn to the traditions of mischief and storytelling. By the 20th century, Halloween’s Celtic roots were all but forgotten, with it becoming a widespread holiday. Its new purpose was to entertain small children with frivolous fun. However, for many Christians, Halloween is off limits due to its pagan roots. Some of our Andrews students don’t feel the same way.
When I spoke to Ian Mosquera (junior, religion), he seemed unfazed by Halloween, before and after I mentioned its history. Although he feels he has outgrown it, Ian sees the spooky season as a fun time, and he still enjoys a good horror movie. “A lot of it is just cliche. I think it’s fun, and the idea isn’t harmful. If I see someone trick-or-treating, I don't think something negative. I just think of costumes and candy. It’s an excuse to dress up and have fun.”
Abby Delaroca (freshman, biochemistry) thinks it is important to have an “untainted view” of Halloween and its origins. However, this hasn’t changed her positive views of the ancient holiday. Abby sees Halloween as a time for “creativity and celebration” and has fond memories of trick-or-treating with her family as a small child. She has no personal convictions about Halloween and doesn’t find it to be immoral in any way. “When it’s done the proper way, it can be a wholesome activity where young children can get some candy and dress up as their favorite characters.”
Halloween has changed significantly since its birth, and so have people’s opinions of it. Nowadays, only 13 percent of pastors actively discourage their congregation from partaking in Halloween festivities. Nevertheless, some Christians still view Halloween as a celebration of evil. Noah Fitzpatric (freshman, graphic design) never has, and never will celebrate Halloween. He believes that people who celebrate should “do what they want to do.” Yet he feels that the holiday goes against his religion. “It’s the devil’s day,” he said. Whether you celebrate or not, it’s hard to deny Halloween’s controversial roots. Even so, many Christians believe that the holiday can be reformed into a night of clean family fun.
When Jay Flash (junior, marketing) was a child, she and her family participated in trunk-or-treating, an activity where children gather in church parking lots and collect goodies from the trunks of cars. This activity has been around since the 1990s, and allows kids to have the joy of a Halloween experience, without parents having to be concerned about them being harmed. Abby also mentioned that trunk-or-treating can be an opportunity to raise money for various charities.
It’s your choice whether to celebrate Halloween or not. If you feel compelled by God to avoid it, follow your convictions. If not, then trick or treat to your heart's content. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what your peers think of your choices. The most important thing is that you listen to what the Lord puts in your heart.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.