Question : I recently spoke to a friend who is Christian and says she does not participate in Halloween. Is it wrong for Catholics to take part in Halloween Celebrations? ------- Confused mother.
Catholics Celebrate the Feast of All Saints on November 1st and All Souls on November 2nd. The word “Hallowe'en” is the proper term for the Vigil of All Saints Day. In The British Isles it was called All Hallows Eve. Halloween in and of itself had two origins. The first being in good ol’ Celtic Ireland. Halloween was the Celtic feast associated with the Celtic New Year. Human sacrifices and blood rituals were often performed. Many Celtics believed that at this time of year those who died in their sins and according to Celtic Belief were trapped in the bodies of animals could be freed by sacrifices to the lord of death. The belief in the wandering of spirits, demons and witches on this night was also a Celtic Belief. The other origin of Halloween was in the Catholic Church. On All Saints and Souls Day a Solemnity was established to commemorate the dead and to remind us of the need to pray for the souls in purgatory. Halloween in more recent years has lost all touch with its original Catholic meaning. In Catholic tradition Halloween (All Hallows Eve, All Souls, All Saints) was a time for us to reflect on the reality that one day we are going to die and meet our Judge. In Catholic and Jewish Tradition there has been the belief in Purgatory or Limbo. This is why we commemorate All Souls Day. It is a time when the whole Church celebrates the Sacred Mass and prays for those souls which may not have entered into the kingdom of Heaven yet. It is also a day which calls us to reflect on our sanctification and purification. We are reminded by the Saints of their martyrdom and self sacrifice, an example which we are to follow.
The modern Celebration of Halloween is closely associated to its pagan Irish origin. In recent years Halloween has gone from a fun event for children dressing up in playful costumes to darker and more sinister times. Television stations feature horror movies focusing usually on a creature who finds various ways to torment and murder its victims. It’s hardly a peaceful and love inspiring contrast between the Christian Celebration of Martyrdom and Salvation. Today you will find Halloween costumes in our local stores depicting darker images and many often resemble witches and images associated with witchcraft. Before I go on any further (because I can already hear some of the comments people will be making) I must distinguish between a playful Halloween and a satanic Halloween. While it is true that Halloween is just a day for children to dress up in costumes and collect as much candy as they can, (which I am not opposed to), there seems to be a growing fascination in both the costume designers and those who dress up in them to be lured towards costumes such as witches, blood covered faces, monsters, ghosts or demons, and even the devil. As Catholic should we allow our Children to dress in such a manner? There is nothing fun, rewarding or self-edifying about such costumes! On the contrary it sends the message that imitating evil creatures and their behaviors is acceptable and to be encouraged. This contradicts the very purpose of the Catholic Celebration of Halloween which is to be freed by Christ’s saving love from evil and demonic oppression, through the cross and resurrection. If a Child wishes to dress up for Halloween there is nothing wrong with doing so. As a Christian a parents is given the responsibility and accountability to ensure that their children do not try and imitate that which is evil or satanic. Mother Angelica must have been concerned with this as well. A number of years back on her show she had the Children come in their Halloween costumes. All the Children dressed up as Saints, nuns, priests, and bible characters. They had a blast (so did Mother Angelica trying to guess who they were). Halloween should be fun for your child and encourage them in their faith.
If someone chooses not to partake in Halloween because they feel there is too much focus on dark themes, then they have every right to do so. On the other hand Halloween festivities should be aligned with our Catholic Faith. Catholic children should be taught the true meaning behind Halloween, that it is a time to pray for the dead and reflect upon our death and salvation. Catholic Teachers and Schools also have a moral duty and obligation to ensure the same. For the Priests and Religious Halloween allows the opportunity to Catechize Children on the above mentioned aspects of the Faith. (Personally I would even like to see the Priests out with the Children encouraging them to dress in Christian themed Costumes.)
Halloween is suppose to be fun! It can also be a time to build our faith. Why not use the opportunity to do both? Build our faith, celebrate our saint and martyrs by imitating them in the Costumes we choose to allow our Children to wear, and at the end of the day pray and reflect upon the coming two feast days; All Saints Day and All Souls Day! God Bless!
