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Should I Celebrate Halloween; If I'm a Christian?  email this discussion to a friend?

myLot reputation of 84/100. TazRes (382)   ranked 6,435 out of 32,962 in life 3 years ago

Hi MyLotters!I'm a christian, and I don't celebrate Halloween - I just wondered how some of you felt about it."Let everyone who names the name" Paul said, avoid iniquity. Is Halloween a celebration of iniquity?The Word evokes a number of responses. Every year as October rolls around, there are those who look forward to it with excitement and those that cringe and wish it weren't there. Some argue violently against it, some yawn because they've heard it all before, may just look the other way and go ahead with it. Some view it as an abomination, while many others view it as a harmless tradition. what is Halloween, or samhain? What does it represent? And, what should the christian think about it, if any?

 

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sulsisels (948) response was accepted on 10/24/2009.
denotes best response, click it to go to the best response.
tags:  halloween, celebrate, christian, christian holidays, christianity
 
1. myLot reputation of 92/100. dlr297 (2879)   ranked 6,853 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

I have always thought of Halloween as a harmless tradition. It was just a fun day for the kids when they were young. I have not celebrated or taken part in it for some years now.

What does being a christian have to do with having some fun on Halloween


myLot reputation of 91/100. lotterylover (7450)   ranked 754 out of 32,962 in life  3 years ago

Even though my mother was a Christian she still drug my girls out for Halloween. My wife also used to treat or treat even though her parents were CHristians. When she got older she read how Halloween came about and all the bad things that actually take place on Halloween eve. THat was enough for her so she quit taking the girls out unless they really wanted to go which when they got to 5th grade they gave it up anyway. Now, we might give out some candy but if it comes on Friday night we just turn out the lights and don't take part. We don't decorate or spend any other money for the occasion except for one bag of candy or something healthy. Like so many pagan holidays and customs the original meaning has disappeared such is the case of Christmas, Easter, wedding bands, steeples, and even the cross which actually stood for the T in Tammuz before it became a symbol for the cross. Does it become harmless because of the change in meaning. I can't really answer that but the knowledge of how the HOlidays came about has taken on a lesser celebration.


myLot reputation of 98/100. agv0419 (2934)   ranked 2,813 out of 32,962 in life  3 years ago

Halloween here is recently celebrated because back then we never heard of that. We don't know what is trick or treat and Jack O'lantern is. Some celebrated the Halloween and they are making costume for this occasion. Here in the Philippines Halloween is not important Nov. 1 and Nov.2 are the most important to us because we commerate our death love ones.

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2. myLot reputation of 95/100. rmorefield (896)   ranked 2,886 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

I personally don't see anything wrong with Halloween. It has its roots in not only Celtic religion but in Christianity also. Many of "our" holidays are like that. Easter was once known as Passover. The term "Easter" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre. It is celebrated during the Spring Equinox. In ancient times, the egg (Easter egg) was used in celebrations to symbolize the rebirth of nature. The tradition of Easter baskets has its root in Catholicism, where the ingredients for Easter dinner were put into a basket and taken to Mass in order to be blessed. The date for us to celebrate Christmas was chosen by the Catholic Church because of its closeness to the winter solstice. It was a traditional time of celebration for many ancient cultures, pagan included. Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, which was held in late December. The Christmas tree is an adaptation of a pagan ritual during the Winter Solstice of tree worship. Now, before you get mad and start bashing me, let me tell you that I am Southern Baptist. I celebrate all of these holidays. My church is just as involved with Halloween as it is for Christmas. What I am trying to say is, celebrating a holiday is a personal choice. All of our holidays have some origins in the ancient pagan holidays. Before someone berates a day because of what they think it represents, they need to get all of the facts about everything.

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3. myLot reputation of 80/100. trinale (739)   ranked 7,242 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

Read the articles:

"Where did Halloween come from? Can a Christian celebrate it?"
http://tinyurl.com/ol4j5e

and

Should Christians participate in Halloween?
http://tinyurl.com/5am6cm
(This one provides relevant scriptures that address your questions.)

Hope it helps.

Cheers,
Stan


myLot reputation of 84/100. TazRes (382)   ranked 6,435 out of 32,962 in life  3 years ago

Thanks, I like the second one best.

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4. myLot reputation of 90/100. revellanotvanella (1957)   ranked 1,408 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

Christianity always put a guilty conscience over my head was my personal experience, God outside of organized religion was more comforting. ("I'm for the seperation of church and hate" was my bumper sticker). This is no personal criticism toward you and I think everyone should be free to practice whatever they so choose. But I think Halloween should be fun. Im going to be a Whoopee Cushion this year while my two daughters--one is a High School Musical cheerleader and the other one her
Ariel costume. Last year I noticed that no parents really dressed up so I thought it would give the kids and parents something to laugh at and this year there will be plenty because our bookstore, the mall AND Main street is having Halloween trick or treating! Im not a big fan of the adult costumes really because it lacks originality for me so I hope to see someone else dressed up as baked potato (my other favorites) a dog walking around as a hot-dog and it will be a hit for me, lol. I have a friend who is a Christian and she says her church is having a costume party at her church.


myLot reputation of 90/100. revellanotvanella (1957)   ranked 1,408 out of 32,962 in life  3 years ago

Im sorry, my mom told me they have a Harvest Festival at her church.


myLot reputation of 96/100. sulsisels (948)   ranked 6,343 out of 32,962 in life  3 years ago

yes and the harvest festival in the old days was the beginning of the Celtic New Year at which time they thanked the Sun God for the harvest.

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5. myLot reputation of 96/100. sulsisels (948)   ranked 6,343 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

Hi TazRes
For those that don't see what it has to do with being a Christian, than maybe this explanation will help them to see just that.
Halloween began with the Celtics who lived in England,Scotland,Ireland and /wales. It was also the beginning of the New year, giving thanks to the Sun God for the harvest. The phrase "Trick or Treat" might be explained like this...Pagen belief is that one night of the year souls of the dead return to their original homes to be sheltered and fed. If food and shelter was not provided, these evil spirits would cast spells and cause havoc towards those failing to oblige. Scarifices were offered on this night to the dead spirits because it was believed they visited their earthly dwellings and former friends. Belief among all nations was that the death of good souls were taken by good spirits to paradise but the souls of wicked men were left to wonder the space between the earth and the moon. These wondering spirits were in the habit of haunting the living. But there were means by which ghosts might be exorcised, to exorcise, to free yourself from their evil sway, one would have to set out food and provide shelter for them during the night. If they were satisfied, they would leave in peace, if not they would cast a spell on you.
Today, satanism and witchcraft (both of which is untolerated by the church),covens this is the day Satan hinmself comes to "fellowship" with his followers. Many changes have occured over the centuries, but one thing still remains the same, the practice of giving an offering. Its all done in fun but what is the real meaning? Probably the same as in the old days..Hence, trick or treat..
I know its long but hope it helps. J

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6. myLot reputation of 93/100. irene3184 (668)   ranked 10,169 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

Halloween (or Hallowe’en ... but also known as Samhain, Summer’s End, All Hallow’s Eve, Witches Night, Lamswool, and Snap-Apple), is a holiday that's celebrated annually.Halloween (or Hallowe’en ... but also known as Samhain, Summer’s End, All Hallow’s Eve, Witches Night, Lamswool, and Snap-Apple), is a holiday that's celebrated annually. It is really up to you to celebrate but it is been a part of our tradition to celebrate Halloween.

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7. myLot reputation of 92/100. Hazelrose (1673)   ranked 7,874 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

Hi TazRes,No,sorry to say but i am not a catholic and we're not celebrating halloween because it is not written in the bible.Good Luck!

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8. myLot reputation of 97/100. daliaj (4043)   ranked 348 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

I don't know why Christians won't celebrate Halloween. Is there something like that? Which is the religion related to Halloween. I believe Halloween is a day of fun and entertainment. It is fun to derss up in various costumes. It is a day of for kids.

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9. myLot reputation of 65/100. carrillo_zeny (465)   ranked 13,043 out of 32,962 in life   3 years ago

theres nothing wrong if you are a christian and you celebrate haloween. its for everybody's celebration. its like new year and christmas.

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10. myLot reputation of 47/100. NoirAngelique (356)   3 years ago

However this holiday started is kind of irrelevant now, because it's origins are not what it is now. And what it is, is you get dressed up and go out trick or treating (which is great fun!) or go to a party (also great fun!). I think we inject negative meaning into something that has become harmless fun by digging out every aspect we don't care for and hanging that tag on it. If we're going to evoke past meanings, why not go with celebration of the harvest or All Saint's Day Eve?

To me, celebrating Halloween is no different than celebrating Easter or Christmas, which also have pagan roots. The early church sought to dilute the meaning of pagan holidays and thereby appease pagans forced into the church by assigning a Christian holiday to those dates, so we end up with some pagan customs such as decorating a tree or hiding decorated eggs. Even bobbing for apples has pagan roots. For me, if I stopped celebrating Halloween based on what it was hundreds of years ago, I would also have to stop celebrating Christmas and Easter, too. I think it's what's in your heart that counts to God. If evil lurks there, He will know it and if it doesn't, He'll know that, too. I seriously doubt if anyone is going to Hell because they went trick or treating as a child or took their own children trick or treating. ;)

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