Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, October 31, 3017

If Halloween has some Christian roots, is it much different from Easter or Christmas? Let’s look. 

Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. 

It has been commercialized to include trees and lights and eggnog and Rudolph and —yes — Santa Claus.

Santa originated from a bishop or monk (depending on whom you read) in the fourth century from what is now Turkey. Some say he and his carriage were blended over the years with the Germanic god, Woden, and with other pagan midwinter customs. So Santa is based predominantly on myth and tradition and, at least in my mind, is not Christian. 

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead as depicted in the New Testament. In our country it typically marks the beginning of Spring and of rebirth in general. And it, too, has been commercialized to include the Easter bunny and Easter egg hunts.  So where did those traditions originate?

What do you know about rabbits? They multiply. In fact the animal attributed to the fertility goddess, Eostre, was the rabbit. And eggs, of course, represent fertility. Somehow after the 13th century the two melded together, especially in Europe. So when German immigrants came to the United States in the 1700s, they brought their Easter bunny with them who placed eggs, candies, and gifts in little nests the children made. Over time the nests changed into baskets and chocolate became the most popular candy. Based on this information, I think it’s safe to say the big white rabbit is not Christian either. 

So is Halloween much different from Christmas and Easter? Here’s my conclusion. 

Halloween is pagan. Period. 

Christmas is Christian. 

Easter is Christian. 

Each has elements that are based on myth and tradition and not on Scripture but Halloween is not based on Scripture at all. 

Does that mean that Christians shouldn’t incorporate these traditions into their families’ lives? I will say that our children grew up Trick-or-Treating, anticipating a visit from the Jolly Old Fat Man, and hunting Easter eggs to put in their baskets. Maybe I’m a bad parent. Or maybe I chose to fight other battles and to take advantage of every opportunity to celebrate life with my babies. 

Lord, today is a really fun day for a lot of people. We recognize, however, that it has its sinister components. Help us to be careful and safe. And thank you for the fact that Jesus is the victor over evil in our lives.