The name of the holiday, Hallow e’en (Hallow Evening) appears in print as Halloween

The Truth About Halloween

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Is Halloween celebrated where you live? In the United States and Canada, 

Halloween is widely known and celebrated every year on October 31. Halloween 

customs, though, can be found in many other parts of the globe. In some places 

holidays are celebrated that, although named differently, share similar themes: 

contact with the spirit world involving the spirits of the dead, fairies, witches, and 

even the devil and demon angels.—See the box  “Celebrations Like Halloween 

Worldwide.”

PERSONALLY, you may not believe in supernatural spirits. You 

might simply view taking part in Halloween and similar celebrations as a way to have fun and teach your 

children to explore their imagination. Many people, though, regard these celebrations as harmful for the 

following reasons:

“Halloween,” explains theEncyclopedia of American Folklore, “is integrally related to the prospect of 

contact with spiritual forces, many of which threaten 

1.  or frighten.” (See the box “Halloween Time Line.”) Likewise, many celebrations like Halloween 
   
   
   have pagan origins and are deeply rooted in ancestor worship. Even today, people around the 
   
   
   world use these days to make contact with supposed spirits of the dead.

1. Although Halloween has been viewed mainly as an American holiday, each year people in more 
   
   
   and more countries have been adopting it. Many newcomers to the celebration, however, are 
   
   
   unaware of the pagan origins of Halloween symbols, decorations, and customs, most of which are 
   
   
   related to supernatural beings and occult forces.—See the box  “Where Did It Come From?”
   
   
   
   
   1. Thousands of Wiccans, who follow ancient Celtic rituals, still call Halloween by the ancient 
      
      
      name Samhain and consider it to be the most sacred night of the year. “Christians ‘don’t 
      
      
      realize it, but they’re celebrating our holiday with us. . . . We like it,’” stated the newspaper 
      
      
      USA Today when quoting a professed witch.
      
      
      
      
      Celebrations like Halloween are in conflict with Bible teachings. The Bible warns: “There 
      
      
      must never be anyone among you who . . . practices divination, who is soothsayer, augur 
      
      
      or sorcerer, who uses charms, consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead.”
      
      
      —Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, The Jerusalem Bible; see alsoLeviticus 19:31; Galatians 5:19-
      
      
      21.
      
      
      In view of the foregoing, it is wise for you to know about the dark origins of Halloween and 
      
      
      similar celebrations. Having this fuller understanding may move you to join many others 
      
      
      who do not participate in these holidays.
      
      
      “Christians ‘don’t realize it, but they’re celebrating our holiday with us. . . . We like it.’”—The newspaper USA Today, quoting a professed witch
      
      

      CELEBRATIONS LIKE HALLOWEEN WORLDWIDE

      
      
      Halloween has generally been regarded as an American holiday. Yet this celebration has 
      
      
      become popular in many parts of the world. Additionally, there are other festivities that are 
      
      
      like Halloween in that they celebrate the existence and activity of spirit creatures. Shown 
      
      
      here are some of the popular holidays like Halloween around the globe.
      • North America - Day of the Dead
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        South America - Kawsasqanchis
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        Europe - Day of the Dead and variations of Halloween
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        Africa - Dance of the Hooded Egunguns
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        Asia - Bon Festival
   
   
   
   

   1. WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

      
      

      The Origin of Some Halloween Customs and Symbols

      
      
      VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, WITCHES, ZOMBIES: These creatures have long been 
      
      
      associated with the evil spirit world.
      
      
      CANDY: The ancient Celts tried to appease wicked spirits with sweets. The church later 
      
      
      encouraged celebrants to go from house to house on All Hallows’ Eve, asking for food in 
      
      
      return for a prayer for the dead. This custom eventually became Halloween’s trick or treat.
      
      
      COSTUMES: The Celts wore frightening masks so that evil spirits would mistakenly think 
      
      
      the wearers were spirits and would leave them alone. The church gradually amalgamated 
      
      
      pagan customs with the feasts of All Souls and All Saints. Later, celebrants went from 
      
      
      house to house wearing costumes of saints, angels, and devils.
      
      
      PUMPKINS: Carved, candlelit turnips were displayed to repel evil spirits. To some, the 
      
      
      candle in the turnip represented a soul trapped in purgatory. Later, carved pumpkins were 
      
      
      more commonly used.
      
      
      
      

      HALLOWEEN TIME LINE

      
      

      FIFTH CENTURY B.C.E.

      
      

      The Celts observe the festival of Samhain at the end of October, when they believe ghosts 

      
      

      and demons roam the earth more so than at other times.

      
      

      FIRST CENTURY C.E.

      
      

      The Romans conquer the Celts and adopt the spiritistic rituals of Samhain.

      
      

      SEVENTH CENTURY C.E.

      
      

      Pope Boniface IV is said to have established the annual celebration of All Saints’ Day to 

      
      

      
      

      honor martyrs. *

      
      

      ELEVENTH CENTURY C.E.

      
      

      The second of November is designated as All Souls’ Day to commemorate the dead. 

      
      

      Observances surrounding All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are collectively called 

      
      

      Hallowtide.

      
      

      EIGHTEENTH CENTURY C.E.

      
      

      The name of the holiday, Hallowe’en (Hallow Evening) appears in print as Halloween.

      
      

      NINETEENTH CENTURY C.E.

      
      

      Thousands of people who move from Ireland to the United States bring with them 

      
      

      Halloween customs that, in time, combined with similar customs of emigrants from Britain 

      
      

      and Germany, as well as Africa and other parts of the world.

      
      

      TWENTIETH CENTURY C.E.

      
      

      Halloween becomes a popular nationwide holiday in the United States.

      
      

      TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY C.E.

      
      

      Commercial interest in Halloween grows into a worldwide multibillion-dollar industry.

      
      

      
      

      http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201309/truth-about-halloween/