
31 Oct, 2024 Halloween is more Christian than you’d think
Halloween is more Christian than you’d think
The key point here is that there is a Christian story behind Halloween for God’s people to discover again – TO TELL IT – because Halloween is genuinely the celebration of the Saints who brought the LIGHT which dispelled that DARKNESS!
Here is some background to our current scenario in Aotearoa – New Zealand.
- This festival is being revived for commercial reasons.
- But we are not powerless. If we act, we can shape the way it develops within our culture. This can be an opportunity, bringing light in contrast to the ‘dark messenger’ it will otherwise be at the hands of those seeking profit.
The below summary of the history of Halloween is written with thanks to history.com, Wikipedia and the skimming of various topical articles via google.
The festival of Samhain – its beginning point
Halloween’s earliest roots are in the ancient Celtic (English/Irish) festival of Samhain – which is a Gaelic word pronounced “SAH-win”.
- This was a pagan religious celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer.
- This included lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off ghosts.
- As a pagan festival, it also included various animal sacrifices – likely including human ones at times – as was customary to the fearful practices of the primitive pagan religious practices of many of our ancestors. Crops were also amongst the things sacrificed. They believed evil spirits roamed and controlled the world – including both the fruitfulness of crops in summer and their preservation for eating through the dark of winter.
- It is well known that the Celts built an effigy of a man with wood – locking people inside who were then burnt as offerings to the god of death. To join two pieces of information together – this occurred during Samhain.
- Interestingly, it is said to have been the arrival of the Romans in 55 BC that signalled the start of the end of Druid culture in the UK. Julius Caesar had commented about the ancient Brits that in times of danger, “unless the life of a man be offered, the mind of immortal gods will not favour them.”
(See footnotes). I.e. human sacrifice was common amongst them. The indication is that the practice then faded – later being fully eradicated with the coming of Christianity.
- At times it was a 3 day festival, while at others it might cover the full month of November.
Why ward off ghosts?
Winter was the dark part of the year and also a risky season. Living in an agricultural season, and with no welfare state, you needed your stored crops to last the winter. Food supplies could be damaged, stolen or rot. They needed to have appeased the evil spirits who might harm them. Hence the sacrifices to appease the gods – including crops, animals and humans.
It was also assumed evil spirits came out at this time between the harvest and winter. This was the time during which the spirits might even walk on earth. So Druid priests would take the opportunity to try to connect with the evil spirits, to discern their intentions for the winter and to know the future. Masks were a part of the ‘dehumanising’ of a person, inviting the spirits to inhabit them, to gain from their strength or knowledge.
But LIGHT then came to their culture, dispelling this darkness, superstition and fear.
The beginning of Halloween
The gospel came to the Celts likely in the first Century. It was a part of then Roman Empire. The earliest stories of its spread have not survived, however by around AD 200 Tertullian wrote the Adversus Judaeos, in which he included Britain in a list of places reached by Christianity. Around the same time, the Greek theologian Origen also wrote that Christianity had reached Britain. Soon after, around AD 249 to 259, under the Emperors Decius and Valerian, the persecution of Christians intensified. Aaron and Julius were two Romano-British martyrs who may have been martyred at this time. (See footnote).
Saint Patrick’s work in Ireland dates to approx. the 5th Century. The gospel had earlier come to England – and there is small indications that practices like human sacrificing had been decreasing since the Romans arrived. As the gospel was embraced, fearful superstitions and violent associated practices were put aside. This repeated the same patterns that have followed everywhere Christianity has spread.
The festival therefore lost its meaning – but not its existence. It’s exactly like how the festival of Christmas continues as a time for families to gather amongst non-Christians in our society. Even without a belief in its superstitions, Samhain was a part of the calendar and culture.
Pope Gregory 3rd (AD 690-741) therefore established All-Hallows day. This is also known as ‘All Saints Day’. It was dated to 1st November to give new meaning to the darker Samhain – celebrating the Saints of history who had dispelled the darkness rather than the emissaries of darkness themselves! The festival took on new meaning.
The night before (31st October) became known as ‘All Hallows Eve’ – from which we get the name ‘Halloween’.
And it remained for about 1100 years.
The ‘scary’ dynamic of the festival prior to Halloween revived
The Puritans who travelled and founded America as a nation had no interest in Halloween. However, something happened in Ireland that changed this in America.
In the mid-1900s there was a Potato famine in Ireland from 1845 until 1852. At the point of starvation, many Irish sold their possessions and boarded ships to emigrate to America. Arriving in the port cities, those cities became a cultural melting pot within which traditions changed and were developed. As they sought to re-define who they now were Samhain came – though named Halloween. ‘Halloween’ bonfires were changed in to jack-o-lanterns (faces in pumpkins). ‘Trick or treating’ – where children went home to home asking for lollies, started.
(‘Trick or treating’ has a possible but unconfirmed origin in a cultural practice in which the poor would go door to door to pray for the souls of a family’s dead in exchange for food to eat).
By early 20th Century, Halloween was a feature of American culture – endorsed and promoted principally by the businesses who created the myriad of costumes and other extras involved. It has become one of the most profitable holidays on the calendar.
Halloween – irrelevant to NZ – until the opportunity of profits was seen
Here in NZ, Halloween has had nothing to do with us – other than as ‘All Saints Day’ for traditional denominations who celebrated the occasion.
But then our businesses realised that it could be turned into an opportunity. Halloween has been promoted primarily due to commercial interests. There is no governmental purpose in it. There is no cultural or religious purpose. It’s about money!
The challenge is that cultural perspectives are shaped by what people see and hear. With only about 10 years of commercial promotion, the ‘spooky’ side of Halloween is already taking root as a cultural phenomenon.
This reminds us as Christians of how easily public culture can be augmented. We are not powerless if we are united in common sensible action – and this is a GOOD pursuit if it is in accordance with our nation’s history and historic Christian values.
How might we as Christians now respond?
A Christian response
While we obviously don’t want to promote skeletons, death and demons – by telling the stories of our history the opportunity is there to say WHY Christianity was BETTER.
- Light dispels darkness. Fear was replaced with confidence, good sleep and hope.
- (The fear of even death itself was overcome, while a way of escape from generations of violent and fear-inducing practices and superstitions was found) .
- CULTURALLY – a basis for believing in the value of the individual was found – from which our cultural ideas on ‘human rights’ came – while governments then began embracing the idea of the ‘limitation of government powers’ – because if God exists, governments exist to serve the people (not the other way around)
- CULTURALLY – a basis for believing in the equality of all people was found – from which the poor were lifted, the economy changed, government systems reformed, slavery ended and the women’s movement started.
- CULTURALLY – education for all then followed – empowering the free will of the average citizen, intentionally including the freedom of religion.
- CULTURALLY – a culture of charity came from this
- CULTURALLY – our entire healthcare system, and related values, came from this.
- CULTURALLY – while its a more involved discussion – our economic systems inclusive of the ending of widespread corruption came from this (producing unequalled wealth for the average person compared to anything prior) , as also the technological age, and then also the scientific age.
- CULTURALLY – the exact same changes and benefits that came to the Celts and Irish also came to the Germans Goths, and the Nordic peoples, and the Tongans, Fijians, Samoans, Solomon Islanders, to Vanuatu – and many more. Stories of remarkable transformation from each of these locations (from ‘pagan fear’ to a religious belief that inspires love, light, hope and life) could also be told.
- >>> These are the stories to tell – while affirming that BOTH the stories of darkness and also of light are true to our history.
No good will come from grumping about the public celebration of darkness. ‘Condemning’ it will look judgemental. Humbly admitting the ancient dark history, while then also explaining benefits we now genuinely enjoy because of the work and hope of those who transformed our societies… is authentic and interesting.
Good can come from providing an alternative to this celebration of darkness – tapping into a legitimate 1400 year-old tradition – through which we begin to tell these amazing stories of positive societal transformation from which we have all benefitted!
“Light Parties”
This is a way we can engage within the public square, connecting widely, while giving parents a POSITIVE alternative to the scary side of Halloween – which many will appreciate!
For a similar idea, someone told me of a ‘Saints and Angels Party’ their church in England once ran.
Themed around something like superheroes – with the a request for ‘no scary costumes please’ – the focus of Halloween in our nation could be significantly shifted toward a celebrating of those who pursue good (like superman) rather than bringing attention or even glory to evil.
Whakatane: One of the most impressive Light Parties I heard about in NZ a decade ago was in Whakatane. Churches combined, with maybe 5000 from the community attending. They took a couple of years off recently – but re-started this year (2024).
Tauranga: The church I attend (C3 City Church) in Tauranga also runs a light party. We have between 2000 and 3000 attending. It’s easily promoted via the local Primary school, community notices and a local letterbox drop. Our church purchases lollies, and various games are then run – with lollies as prizes. A stage programme then runs for maybe 20mins near the end of the approx. 3 hour programme. There is ‘best dressed’ and other silly upfront games. Sausages and drinks are available for sale.

A connection point: Our church leverages the occasion to invite young Mums to Mainly Music, to highlight family / marriage / parenting courses in the church, to promote our church-based scouts group and more. A brief stage programme involves up front games and a lolly scramble – providing a platform for extending awareness and invitations regarding these things. A flyer is also given to all adults as they leave near the end of the evening.
Reputation: When first living in Tauranga, I heard positive things said about our church from various places in the community. Efforts like this, which served without a ‘preaching agenda’, had established a very positive reputation for the church – while attendance at other church programmes would yield a clear Christian message, to note this. It is wise and good to have ‘bridging programmes’, through which connections can be made. It is loving and good to promote support for families, marriages and parenting also!
What Christian message could be communicated?
While creativity is needed, the above history needs telling.
‘Halloween’ is the celebration of the eve of All Hallows Day – because our Celtic ancestors decided that worshipping the good God who is over all was better than the superstitions that had bound them in fearful practices and beliefs for centuries prior. Their lives were transformed for the better – and so they celebrated the Saints who had dispelled the darkness rather than the darkness itself. (Stories related to some of the above-mentioned areas of significant change could then be told.)
This is an interesting and true story from our cultural ancestors!
In summary:
Let’s be aware that this is only growing here in NZ because of commercialism.
Our nation’s leaders have abdicated many of their responsibilities in guarding the culture and values of our nation. They have pursued ‘secularism’ as-if a religiously-neutral position were possible – when it isn’t. Anti-Christian prejudice has taken root in their hearts such that most of our leaders no longer even know the significant stories of our cultural past! They are not going to lead, guard or shape our nation’s values back toward where they came from.
Because of the ‘love of money’, the money-lovers will continue to feed this glorification of darkness.
But we who are of the LIGHT can celebrate a 1400 year-old tradition, telling the stories of our history!
Halloween (All Hallows Day Eve) celebrates the saints who brought the light that dispelled the darkness, superstitions and culture of fear that preceded it.
There is a story to know and tell,
community connections to make
and a national worldview to influence!
End notes:
- To note it again, credits for information go to history.com, Wikipedia and the skimming of various topical articles via google – here is a summary of the history of Halloween.
- The violent practices associated with Samhain went further than I noted above.
- A simple reference to Julius Caesars comment on the Celts human sacrificing can be found in this article HERE
- Regarding Christianity’s spread in England, find a useful timeline HERE
- As a storyteller, were I on a platform, one approach could be to note the significant benefits the Christian faith brought to the Irish in the time of Saint Patrick to validate the benefits of the faith – which gives reason to why the occasion might have been seeking a new meaning within their culture. The ways of war and fearful superstition were replaced by peace between people and also in their hearts. This was a wide-reaching societal transformation (human value, equality, prosperity, charity, education, healthcare, etc.), exactly as has likewise happened for many hundreds of other peoples – including our own NZ Māori in the 1830s and 40s. As was said of the Germanic Goths in the 400s, ‘the plunderers became peacemakers’. The same stories can be told by the Tongans, Fijians, Samoans, Solomon Islanders and those from Vanuatu. Those in NZ who come from these various Islands could each tell their own story.
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Other blogs by Dave Mann on this general topic
View full list (including previews) HERE or topical list below from newest to oldest.
- 2024 – WARNING: Christians still being silenced in THEIR OWN Christmas events
- 2024 – Is it wise to tell stories of grief?
- 2024 – Applauding a new national gospel effort
- 2024 – Amidst bicultural tension – we stay on the journey
- 2024 – The Unity Goal we overlooked (The Article to end all articles)
- 2024 – The LID of our unity is in what we can SEE
- 2024 – To further unity there is a needed context
- 2024 – SLT Leadership statement – Nest areas we intend to innovate within
- 2024 – Attitudes that sustain unity
- 2024 – How is the strength of unity to be measured?
- 2024 – Application from the Bible Society’s new data
- 2023 – A unity reflection: What if we were more strategic in our PRAYER
- 2023 – Roy Crowne – A voice for unity – Unity finding its voice in the CITY
- 2023 – Fresh vision for local Church unity
- 2023 – Invercargill’s Community Service Day – a unity story
- 2023 – Family relationships – an under-utilised gateway
- 2023 – The election is over – so WHAT NOW? (A specific strategic proposal)
- 2023 – For a united Church – there are leaders we cannot see
- 2023 – “Mistaken” – An offensive comical parable? Why?
- 2023 – “Mistaken” – A comical parable about unity
- 2023 – Four characteristics of leaders who take city-wide unity from talk to action
- 2023 – The quiet before the storm (Perspectives that shape how we lead)
- 2023 – STORY: How Gisborne churches united to serve their flood-affected region
- 2023 – STORY: NZ churches can shine when it counts (Napier flood report)
- 2023 – To think differently in times of crisis – like during the floods (How to ‘let our light shine’)
- 2022 – One Church? FIVE factors that enable pastors’ groups to turn theory into practice
- 2022 – A SWOT Analysis of the NZ Church in relation to its outreach
- 2022 – Four national goals that can be easy ‘wins’ together
- 2022 – A vocabulary we can agree on (This one is a particularly important FOUNDATION if coherent national discussions on unity are to one day take place)
- 2022 – Principles for managing necessary agenda in pastors’ groups
- 2022 – Introducing ‘HeLP Project’ (for pastors’ groups) – the what and the why
- 2022 – Key pulpit themes in view of the global reset (Finding direction in changing times)
- 2020 – It’s time to take responsibility to educate our own children and youth again (On united direction and strategy – for city change)
- 2020 – Kingdom minded – It’s more radical than many think
- 2020 – STORY – The Auckland delivery
- 2020 – STORY – Miracle delivery where pastors declined (raises an intriguing question about boundaries)
- 2020 – A need for new media platforms – not more voices (How do we address the increasingly left-leaning and also anti-faith bias of public media?)
- 2020 – A vision for national Church unity (What might REALISTICALLY be within our reach to achiEve – if we merely thought differently?)
- 2019 – ‘In One Spirit’ – The purpose of the book (Written at the time of the book launch and press release)
- 2019 ‘In One Spirit’ – full book FREE online
- 2019 – United we stand (A blog just prior to the release of the above book, ‘In One Spirit’)
- 2017 – Pastors’ groups – a home visitation idea (best suiting smaller towns)
- 2017 – The call to influence culture (It’s about the way we think)
DAVE MANN. Dave is a networker and creative communicator with a vision to see an understanding of the Christian faith continuing and also being valued in the public square in Aotearoa-New Zealand. He has innovated numerous conversational resources for churches, and has coordinated various national nationwide multimedia Easter efforts purposed to open up conversations between church and non-church people about the Christian faith and its significance to our nation’s history and values. Dave is the Producer of the ‘Chronicles of Paki’ illustrated NZ history series created for educational purposes, and the author of various other books and booklets including “Because we care”, “That Leaders might last”, “The Elephant in the Room”, “In One Spirit” and “The Art of Storytelling – and of becoming an intriguing person”. Married to Heather, they have four boys and reside in Tauranga, New Zealand.