What Does it Mean When a Christian Recognizes Halloween?

Eph. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather [a]expose them.

Do Christians recognize Halloween? 

Halloween, originally called "Samhain" (pronounced "Sow-win") in Gaelic was traditionally the night that the year would enter its darker ages (start of Fall, winter, etc.). The night before, All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, used to be the night thought that the veil between the spiritual and earthly realms was thinned, and the deceased ancestors would walk around and put curses or play tricks on anyone who did not appease them--by leaving food outside their door for them.  

In researching for this post, I came across some interesting stuff, like the history of the tradition, how it affected (and was later influenced by the Christian church,) and how controversial it is, especially in Christian circles. 

Anton La Vey, the founder of the Church of Satan, is quoted saying how much he loves this very day where for once-a-year children and adults alike are encouraged to worship Satan. 

That might be taking it a little far, you might be thinking. And I thought that as well. But are we? 

I say yes because Satan worshipers don't need one day to celebrate the devil, just as believers in Christ don't worship on just one day.

Like holidays, it has become a commercialized event with consumers spending BILLIONS of dollars on decor, costumes, and candy. 

Costume stores open up and rent abandoned store fronts just to make some money for these two months.

Here is a list of related holidays: 

Day of the Dead (Mexico) Dia de los Meurtos Nov. 1 (children) & 2 (adults) 

19th century All Saint's Day (also called "Hallowmas" Nov. 2nd (Christian - Saints are celebrated)

All Soul's Day Nov. 2nd (also Christian) pay homage to the faithful departed.

And then October 31st is also Reformation Day - The day that when in 1517, Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the The All-Saint's Church in Wittenberg, on All Saint's Day.  What an affront!?

History of Halloween / Paganism

How did "Trick or Treat" start?

When the idea of Trick or treating began the tradition of "souling" was in place... this meant if a treat was given the child would promise to say a prayer for the treat giver's deceased loved one, to get them to heaven.  If no treat was given to the child, the child would create mischief, (or curse the family) as a consequence. 

Thus, the motive was most of all to prevent children from doing mischief. It worked! 

Today, generally it's the same thing. But, in the 40s and 50s the idea of trick or treating -- children dressing up and going from house to house -- really took off. Children were given treats, LOTS of treats. (And stayed out of trouble!)    

How we used to celebrate it 

My mom and I were speaking about this recently. We lost my brother sadly, earlier this year. His birthday? October 31st. A "Halloween/ Reformation Day" birthday. (Nobody in my family recognized Reformation Day.) I'm making his favorite cake, cupcakes: yellow cake with chocolate frosting. When my brother was younger, our artist dad (also now deceased) would hold Halloween/birthday parties in our unfinished basement and invite the WHOLE neighborhood. 

When you walk with the Lord, He blesses you. He is a personal God.  Oct. 30th, I escaped an abusive relationship, Oct. 29th, God brought us to our church family. I was often crushed and depressed and drowning in memory (and PTSD) the last 2 days of October, and God coordinated His grace when it was His time, the day before. He is so good at making good out of what is meant for evil, and He is personal even with his own dates. 

Now, each October 31st, our family plans to always commemorate my only earthly brother.

I never knew this, did you? 

Haunted Houses called "Hell Houses" are used by the church to depict horrific life and death scenarios with the goal of scaring you into Salvation!  I encourage you to read up more on these if you're interested. 

In the bible's book of Deuteronomy, God condemns and asks us to avoid charmers, (to unite with power/magical property), soothsaying: seeking input through other gods, consulting Mediums, Witchcraft, (blanket term for tapping into demonic power) ones who conjure spells (supernatural) interpreting signs, sorcerers, necromancers, wizards. (These are examples of seeking power for ourselves, but from a place outside of ourselves BUT also outside of God).

The devil and his demons have power.

God gives people power to do good things to HIS glory. 

In (add Bible verse attribution), after Samuel died, former king Saul consulted the witch of Endor to conjure Samuel's spirit, and Samuel did in fact appear, and got very upset. he told Saul that he'd be put to death because he went outside of God. Ultimately, he sought power outside of God. As prophesied, Saul did soon die because he sought ways outside of God.

Something to leave you with: 

The definition of occult is something that is hidden in plain sight, not easily discernible, and unbiblical. 

At the very least the tradition of Halloween exposes our children to typically evil things:  vampires, witches, wizards, ghosts, zombies, etc. regardless of your child dressing as a cute puppy or dinosaur. 

And I know that Hollywood has done a great job of desensitizing them as well, sometimes, and terrorizing them at others, there is only one way to know for sure if a spirit is evil, and that's to test it with the Holy Spirit's power. 

Consider 1John 4:1-3:

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess [a]that Jesus [b]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

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References: 

Rethinking Halloween through 7 Scary Stories of the Bible - Halloween (crosswalk.com)

Samhain - Celtic Origins, Rituals & Halloween | HISTORY

For further reading: What the Bible says about Samhain (bibletools.org)