For most of us, Halloween is a fun holiday. Kids and adults dress in costumes to party and go ‘trick-or-treating for goodies. But the story behind Halloween is very different.
The history of Halloween and Christianity goes all the way back to the Middle Ages. The roots of trick-or-treating can, for example, be traced
back to a medieval Christian tradition, in which the poor would go to wealthy homes on Hallowtide — the eve of All Saints’ Day — and offer prayers in exchange for food and beer.
During the Iron Age (About 750 BC to about AD 45), the Celtic people (living in Ireland, Scotland, the U.K., and other parts of Northern Europe) celebrated Samhain — which means summer’s end. The celebration was also the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, which coincided with their new year.
Naturally, in later years, the Catholic Church reframed the Samhain celebration:
It was May 13 in the year 609 that Pope Boniface IV declared a celebration called All Saints’ Day, also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas in Middle English; the day before it was thus known as All-hallows’ Eve. The festival was a day to honor Christian martyrs and saints.
From that time, the holiday gradually changed into what we know today.
Over the years, many of the church groups I was involved with frowned upon Halloween. They felt it was the devil’s holiday. Of course, I no longer believe that discourse. As a New Thought practitioner, I know something is evil only if you believe it is! There is nothing wrong with a holiday, dressing in costumes or going trick-or-treating that can be misconstrued as from the devil.
It is sad to see groups labeling one harmless activity or another as wrong. After all, in the case of Halloween, it was officially proclaimed the eve of a holy day by the most influential religions of the day.
Isn’t it interesting how ideas and thoughts can become so twisted?
Go out with your family and friends this weekend and have fun!