Intro: When Israel was preparing to enter the Promised Land, they were warned to avoid becoming like the people they would encounter there. God had a different standard for them to live by. He expected them to be separate, holy and dedicated to Him and Him alone. God knew that if Israel tolerated the practices of the pagans they came into contact with, they would be drawn away from Him and weakened spiritually. There is no difference today! God still expects you and me to be separate from this world and the activities that it embraces. If you and I adopt everything the world does, then there is no difference between us and them! God’s standard is one of seperation and holiness. Tomorrow night, in this community, and across our country, children will dress up as witches, warlock, ghosts, devils, demon, pirates, skeletons and mass murderers (Freddy Krueger, Jason). There will be haunted houses, where you can be chased by a werewolf, threatened by an axe murderer, see the mutilated body of a murder victim (fake, thankfully!). Around every community you will find jack-o-lanterns, skeletons, black cats, ghosts, witches and other strange creatures decorating houses and lawns. There will be parties where people will play with Ouija Boards, Tarot Cards and hold seances. There will be bobbing for apples and bonfires. Of course, I am referring to Halloween. A night of childish fun and games. A harmless brush with the darkness of evil. A child’s holiday. This is how it is portrayed! This is how it is accepted by millions of people, including many, many Christians. Tonight, I am not going to attempt to tell you what to believe or what to do, I am simply going to give you some facts concerning Halloween. Where it came from and what God’s Word has to say about it. Then, when you have the facts, you can allow God’s Spirit to make up your mind as to what you need to do in regard to Halloween. Let’s consider this thought tonight: Halloween: Silly holiday, or Satanic holy day?
I. THE ORIGIN OF HALLOWEEN
A. The practices that make up Halloween are older than Christianity. The very same rituals that are practiced today in America were practiced in Europe and Brittian over 2,500 years ago. Halloween was not always allowed in the United States In fact, our Pilgrim forefathers well knew of Halloween’s occultic roots. In fact they banned celebrating Halloween in America. Halloween was not celebrated in this country until 1845. At that time multiplied thousands of Irish emigrants flooded into New York because of the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-46. They brought with them the old Druid holiday of Halloween. Gradually celebrating this day spread throughout the rest of the country.
B. This day was a day when the Celtic peoples observed the end of summer by offering sacrifices to their god Samhain. He was the Lord of death and evil spirits. This holy day marked the beginning of the Celtic new year. This day was called – The Vigil of Sowein! Samhain was depicted as a ghostly skeleton holding a sickle. He later became known as the Grim Reaper!
C. The Celts considered November 1st as being the day of death because the leaves were falling, it was getting darker sooner and temperatures were dropping. They believed Muck Olla, their sun god, was loosing strength because Samhain, lord of death was overpowering him. Further, they believed that on October 31st Samhain assembled the spirits of all who had died during the previous year. They had been confined to inhabit animals’ bodies for the past year as punishment for their evil deeds. On the eve of the feast of Samhain, October 31st, they were allowed to return to their former homes to visit the living. Supposedly to protect these people, Druid priests led the people in diabolical worship ceremonies in which horses, cats, black sheep, oxen, human beings and other offerings were rounded up, stuffed into wicker cages and burned to death. This was done to appease Samhain and keep the spirits from harming them.
D. Druids – Occult practitioners. Witches of a sort. In fact, modern witchcraft is based on Druidism and druid ritual. These Druids held two great fire festivals every year. One on May 1 and the other on Oct. 31. These ceremonies took place either in a grove of oak trees or in a Druid Stone Circle. The most famous of these circles that are left is found in Stonehenge, England. These circles were used as focal points of Druid ritual worship which involved human sacrifice. This is proven by the more than 350 burial mounds found within a 3 mile radius of Stonehenge, containing the remains of countless human sacrifices.
II. THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME HALLOWEEN
A. Originally this day was called the Vigil of Samhain, or Sowein.
B. It’s new name came from an attempt by the Roman Catholic Church, in 800 AD, to Christianize the pagan holiday of Sowein. The Pope changed All Saints Day from May 1st to Nov. 1st. The new day was called All Hallow’s Day and it soon became the custom of the people to refer to the night before as All Saints Day Hallowe’en. It was soon shortened to simply Hallowe’en. Instead of embracing and placing the correct Christian emphasis on this day, the Celtic peoples continued to practice their age old rituals. The Roman church succeeded in Christianizing Christmas and Easter, but failed miserably in attempting to change Halloween.
III. THE ORIGIN OF COSTUMES
A. How did the practice of wearing costumes at Halloween develop? The early origin of costumes is repulsive. On the evening of October 31st, the Druids, who were the occultic priests and teachers of the Celts, ordered the people to put out their hearth fires. The Druids built a huge new year’s bonfire of oak branches, which they considered sacred. They burned animals, crops and human beings as sacrifices to their sun god Muck Olla and Samhain, their god of death. During this diabolical ceremony the PEOPLE WORE COSTUMES made of animal heads and skins. They then practiced divination, looked for omens in the struggle of the victims sacrificed in the fires, jumped over the flames or dashed through them, danced and sang. All of this was done to frighten the evil spirits away.
B. According to Man, Myth & Magic, volume 1, page 68, “The guisers went from house to house, singing and dancing. Their bloodcurdling masks and grotesque costumes may have been meant to keep evil at bay, or more likely, were visible representations of the ghosts and goblins that lurked in the night…”
C. In the 11th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 12, page 8578 it states, “It was the Druids belief that on the eve of this festival (November 1st, Celtic New Year) Saman, lord of death, called together the wicked souls (Spirits) that within the past twelve months had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals.” Saman would then send these evil spirits to attack people on the eve before the November 1st celebration. The only way these people could escape was by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. (See Christianity Today, October 22, 1982, p.32).
D. Considering the origin of the practice of dressing up as ghosts and ghouls, what is the correct Christian response to this practice? “…cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12).
IV. THE ORIGIN OF TRICK OR TREAT
A. Trick or treating served 3 main purposes in the beginning:
1. It was used by those who had forgotten to dress up or could not fool the demons by dressing in animal skins or other disguises, there was a way to exorcise them. You were to set out a TREAT of food and fruit, and provide the wandering spirit with shelter for the night. If the demon was satisfied with your TREAT, it was believed that they would not TRICK you by casting an evil spell on you causing havoc.
2. It was used by the Druids to collect offerings to Samhain (Satan!!) Irene Park, a former witch writes, “…the Druids in Ireland would go through the neighborhoods and countryside on the eve of October 31st to collect offerings to Satan. They would carry lanterns, bags of money, and canes with very sharp points on the ends (currently known as leprechaun staffs, good luck horns, or fairies’ wands). At each house, they would demand a specific amount. If the household would not or could not give the offering (penance or treat), the Druid would use the cane to castrate the male human or one of their prize animals.” (From; Seven High Pagan Masses and Halloween by Irene A. Park; page 1)
3. In later years James Napier says, in his book, Holidays of Legend, Irish farmers went house to house begging for food for their ancient gods. Good luck was promised to all who donated but threats were made against those who would not give.
B. There is certainly nothing in the origin of this practice that glorifies the Lord. In fact, it is plainly and blatantly Satanic. Therefore, it is to be shunned by all Christians! (Ill. 1 Thes. 5:22)
V. THE ORIGIN OF THE JACK-O-LANTERN
A. What is the purpose of a Jack-o-lantern? The World Book Encyclopedia, 1977 edition, volume 9, page 24-26 says, “The apparently harmless lighted pumpkin face of `Jack-O-Lantern’ is an ancient symbol of a damned soul.”
B. According to an article by Dr. John MacArthur, Jr. according to folklore “Jack-O-Lanterns were named for a man called Jack, who could not enter heaven or hell. As a result, he was doomed to wander in darkness with his lantern until judgment day.”With this in mind, people began to hollow out pumpkins and turnips, placing candles inside to scare evil spirits from their houses.
C. There was another purpose for Jack-O-Lanterns according to author Owen Rachleff. “The candlelit pumpkin or skull… served as a beacon for the sabbat and as a signal to mark those farms and homes that were sympathetic to the Satanists and thus deserving of mercy when the terror of the night (Halloween) began.” (The Occult Conceit; page 190).
D. Again, no clear headed Christian can think of any reason why this practice glorifies God or is a witness for Jesus!
VI. THE BLACK CAT
A. What would Halloween be without a black cat? What is their significance? In the 1959 edition of World Book Encyclopedia, under Halloween it was noted that Druid priests believed that cats were once human beings but were reincarnated as punishment for evil deeds. Because of this they held cats sacred and involved them in their idol worship of October 31st and November 1st. Druids believed “the cat was sacred and…that cats had once been changed (from being human & reincarnated) into that form as punishment for evil deeds.” (The American Book of Days, by George Douglas)
B. Superstitious Christians picked up the pagan beliefs. “Even after Christianity spread to Europe…oxen were sacrificed on October 31st…and in medieval Europe, black cats [were] chosen as victims in the belief that they were witches in disguise [and] were burned on that day (Halloween).” (The American Book of Days, third edition by Hatch)
C. It is plain to see that cats, particularly BLACK CATS were thought to represent EVIL. Further, they were a symbol of REINCARNATION. I have an article in my file which says The Humane Society will not release black cats around Halloween for fear that they will be mistreated or sacrificed.
D. There is nothing wrong with owning a black cat! It was never a human and it isn’t a witch. But, when we make it a superstition and we connect it with the dark side of spiritually, then it becomes a sin!
VII. THE ORIGIN OF BOBBING FOR APPLES
A. Surely this must be just harmless fun! Right? Here’s where it came from: In A.D. 43 the Roman Empire was in solid control of the Celtic people. As a result of this control the idol worshipping Romans introduced another ceremony honoring their false gods to the already demoniacal Druid New Year’s celebration. It was in honor of their goddess of fruit trees. They would try to grasp fruit, floating in water, without the use of their hands. This is the origin of BOBBING FOR APPLES according to the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Associated Press quote, October 16, 1977.
VIII. WITCHES
A. Another vital part of the Halloween tradition. Whether she has a pointed hat and rides a broomstick, or she is young and beautiful, she is the most enduring part of all the Halloween traditions. Are witches just “harmless fun”?
B. Witches are mentioned in the Bible:
1. Saul contacted the Witch of Endor concerning information – 1 Samuel 28. She attempted to contact the prophet Samuel who was dead.
2. In Acts 8, Simon the Sorcerer, is nothing more than a Warlock.
3. In Exodus 22:18, God pronounces a death sentence upon witches and commands Israel to execute it.
C. When the Bible refers to witches, it refers to people who are involved in any form of the occult. (Occult = Secret or hidden knowledge or practices.)
D. There are three main areas of occult practice. Anyone involved with any of these, by definition, is a witch!
1. Divination – Seeking to know the past, present of future by astrology, horoscopes, channeling, tarot cards, etc. This can include animal or even human sacrifice.
2. Sorcery or Magic(k) – Seeking to control of manipulate reality for one’s own purposes. This can include sacrifice also.
3. Spiritism – Seeking to communicate with the dead or other entities through a medium. (i.e. A channeler, Ouija Boards,Seances, etc.)
E. In light of this sparse information, it is plain to see that the Lord doesn’t intend for His people to be involved with witches or witchcraft. (By the way, witches refuse to be called Satan worshippers. They worship a horned god named Lucifer.) God has forbidden it to you and me – Lev. 19:26; Jer. 10:2.
IX. DRACULA
A. Would any parent here allow their son or daughter to dress up as John Wayne Gacy? Ted Bundy? Or any other mass murderer? NO! Yet millions will let their children dress up like Dracula. But, you say, “Dracula is a fictitious character.” In truth, he was very real and very evil.
B. Here’s the truth about the man named Vlad the Count of Dracul, who was known as Vlad the Impaler or if you like Dracula. Dracula was a real person. He was maniac monster, the Hitler of his day. During his six year rule it was estimated by a reliable source that Dracula massacred 100,000 men, women and children. And how did he impose death? Let me quote Pope Pius II who tells how he killed 40,000 of his political foes shortly before 1462. “He killed some of them by breaking them under the wheels of carts; others, stripped of their clothes, were skinned alive up to their entrails; others places on stakes, or roasted on red hot coals placed under them; others punctured with stakes piercing their head, their navel, breast, and what is even unworthy of relating, their buttocks and the middle of their entrails, and, emerging from their mouths…” No one was excluded, not even babies. Dracula decapitated,cut noses, ears, privates and limbs. On one occasion he even nailed the turbans on the heads of some Turks because they refused to remove them in his presence. On one occasion he saw a man poorly dressed walking by his home. He called the man into his presence and said “Your wife is assuredly of the kind who remains idle. How is it possible, that your shirt does not cover the calf of your leg? She is not worthy of living in my realm. May she perish!” The man protested, saying that he was satisfied with her. Dracula said, “You will be more satisfied with another, since you are a decent and hardworking man.” His wife was fetched and immediately impaled on a stake. In the meantime the new wife was introduced and carefully shown what happens to a lazy wife. The document says “Consequently the new wife worked so hard she had not time to eat.” Let me relate one last atrocity of this warped, demonic inspired madman. Dracula devised a plan to rid society of the burden of all the countries beggars, sick, old, lame and poor. He invited them all to a feast. Little did they know that it would become a house of horror for them. He fed them well and got them drunk and then made his personal appearance and asked them…”Do you want to be without cares, lacking nothing in this world?” Naturally they all said yes! Dracula then ordered the palace boarded up and set on fire. No one escaped. Dracula was a demon possessed madman. I do not want my child associated in any way with such a degenerate reprobate, do you?
C. What do you think now? No Christian, under any circumstances, should have anything to do with dressing up like a demon possessed maniac! (Ill. 2 Cor. 6:14-17!)
X. THE HARM IN HALLOWEEN
A. It Emphasizes Violence and Death – (Ill. Fourth grade class asked what they would most like to do for Halloween. 80 % of those 9 years said they would like to kill somebody!) We can’t blame it all on Halloween. Movies and Television have to bear their fair share of blame. Notice this: Consider for a moment the “Nightmare on Elm Street”, “Halloween”, and “Friday the 13th” film series. They are popular viewing fare at Halloween parties. Who or what inspires these “actors” (I use the term loosely)? Robert Englund who plays mass murderer Freddy Krueger in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series says he draws his inspiration from the late Ted Bundy, who raped and murdered more than 28 women. Englund told Slaughterhouse magazine, “I just read an article on Ted Bundy, so a lot of my imagery is based on him.” Guess what the most popular book series is among children under the age of 16? “Goosebumps” A collection of books emphasizing horror stories. Considering that the Lord Jesus stands for Light, Life, Peace and Joy, it is pretty obvious that these philosophies are worlds apart!
B. It Emphasizes Horror and Fear – This is incompatible with the Word of God – 2Tim. 1:7
C. Halloween Emphasizes the Occult – It is an enticement to people to dabble in the occult. This is forbidden by the Lord! God’s desire is that we go deeper in Him and not His adversary. Christian people have no business participating in this pagan holiday.
Conc: From this information, and there is much, much more that could be said, it is plain to see that Halloween is a holiday that honors false gods, demons and even the Devil himself. I am sure that the Lord is not pleased when His people participate in a pagan holiday that honors Satan. In fact, there is nothing anyone can point at in all the Halloween rituals that can be called Christian. It is incompatible with a consecrated walk and it is an abomination before the Lord! Now, every one here must make up their own mind concerning where they stand in regard to Halloween. What you do is entirely up to you, but as for me and my house, we will follow the Lord!
