The IOL Blog October 09

An All- Powerful-God …even on Halloween

I have heard so many Christians say that they avoid any aspect of Halloween. Does this  disconnect us from the satanic spirit on this date? There are parties as an alternative for children and those of us who just love be be “haunted house scared crazy”. What is the right thing for you?  I personally think the Holy Spirit should be your guide.

Researching Halloween, I found that in 835, Pope Gregory IV changed the celebration for all the martyrs and later all saints from May 13 to November 1; a day to celebrate the faithful departed. The night before October 31 became known as All Hallow’s Eve or “holy evening.” In association with the Christian Church, the date was celebrated as the ‘Eve of the Feast of All Saints”. 

However for those who follow Wicca (a religious practice involving nature-worship and witchcraft), Halloween is an authentic sacred day. It is one of the two high and holy days for them. The Celtic belief of spirits being released, the worship of Samhain’s the lord of death are celebrated on that day. Therefore for these people, Halloween represents an opportunity to grip the darkest side of satan’s world.

Many of the customs associate with Halloween derived from ancient Irish celebrations of groups of farmers canvasing  door-to-door collecting food and materials for a village feast and bonfire with the promised prosperity to those who gave and threats of bad luck to those you did not. However when the Irish Catholic immigrants came to the United States in the 1800s, the custom of trick-or-treating came with them and the Romans added making centerpieces out of apples and nuts for Pomona, the Roman goddess of the orchards and bobbed for apples and drank cider.

The carved pumpkin that is placed on the porch for Halloween also came from the Irish tradition but it began with a turnip. The turnips were hollowed out and lighted candles placed inside to scare off the evil spirits. When the Irish came to America they used the pumpkin as a larger substitute for the turnip and carve pumpkins instead of turnips for Halloween was born.

I am not making light of satan’s power and being mindful of the importance of October 31 to his followers but I believe in an All- Powerful-God who has dominion over satan and his believers so instead of becoming filled with fear, thus giving even more validation to the darkest side of what he (satan) represents, I choose to use the day as a day to celebrate victory in having seen the light that God provides to those who wish to see truth.

There are many churches and organizations that will have parties for children providing treats and entertainment as an alternative, I applaud them wholeheartedly that they have decided not to hide as if they know not a “Powerful God”!

- Velma J Perry