THE TRUTH ABOUT HALLOWEEN

by Dorie

Halloween’s History

Celtic New Year

October 31 is the most important day in the satanic year. [It is known as the devil's birthday.] It marks the Celtic new year. It was the end of the growing season. It became a festival of death. On this day, the god of the Celtics was to have called up the spirits of the wicked dead who had died during the past year. At the same time, other evil spirits arose and went about the countryside harassing the people. On October 31, the Celtics expected to be harassed by ghosts, evil spirits and demons; and it was no fun and games to them. They would light bonfires to guide the spirits to their own town and to ward off evil spirits.

Divination has likely been a part of the festival since ancient times. At household festivities there were many rituals intended to divine the future of those gathered, especially with regard to death and marriage. Seasonal foods such as apples and nuts were often used in these rituals. Apples were peeled, the peel tossed over the shoulder, and its shape examined to see if it formed the first letter of the future spouse's name. Nuts were roasted on the hearth and their behavior interpreted – if the nuts stayed together, so would the couple. Egg whites were dropped in water, and the shapes foretold the number of future children.

DRUIDS

The Celtics had priests called druids. On October 31, the druids went from house to house demanding certain foods, and all those who refused were cursed. The people were tormented by means of magic. As they went, the druids carried large turnips which they had hollowed out and on which they had carved demon faces as charms. Each one was believed to contain the demon spirit that personally led or guided that priest: his little god. The Druids also performed horrifying human sacrifices and other vile rituals during Samhain (Halloween). 

The druids went from house to house demanding certain foods, and all those who refused were cursed (trick or treat)

Later, around the 5th century, as the Catholic Church developed and moved into the area, instead of adding a new day to celebrate, it took over the Samhain [Sah win]  celebration. Nov. 1st became “All Hallows Eve” where all the saints of the Catholic church were honored. A later custom developed where people would go door-to-door on Nov. 2, requesting small cakes in exchange for the promise of saying prayers for some of the dead relatives of each house. This arose out of the religious belief that the dead were in a state of limbo before they went to heaven or hell and that the prayers of the living could influence the outcome. This may have been the precursor to Trick-or-Treat. 

When the Druids were going house to house seeking food for Samhain, they would carry a large turnip that had been hollowed out. A face was usually carved on one side and a candle was placed inside to provide light as they walked from house to house. The Druids believed a SPIRIT inhabited the turnips and helped the Druids carry out their spells. The name of the SPIRIT eventually became JOCK.

When the practice came to America in the 18th and 19th centuries, turnips weren't that prominent, so the pumpkin was substituted. JOCK became Jack, who lives in the lantern or Jack-O-Lantern.

Along with these traditions, they brought the idea that the black cat was considered by some to be reincarnated spirits who had prophetic abilities.

In modern day Celtic Festival parents dress their children as monsters, vampires, devils, witches and ghosts and encourage them to approach total strangers to ask them for candy and other treats. 

Homeowners decorate their houses with images of black cats, ghosts, goblins and carved pumpkins and sometimes transform their yards into make-believe graveyards.  However, these are all part of evil pagan festival that we  as Christians should not take part in.

The Lord condemns occultism

Leviticus 19:31 ‘‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”

The Lord also commands us to avoid practices that pertain to evil spirits, God warned ancient Israel to avoid any kind of occult practices: 

"There shall not be found among you anyone who ... practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord" (Deuteronomy:18:10-12).

Leviticus 19:31 ‘‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”

The Lord also commands us to avoid practices that pertain to evil spirits, God warned ancient Israel to avoid any kind of occult practices: 

"There shall not be found among you anyone who ... practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 

For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord" (Deuteronomy:18:10-12).

Treat or Retreat?

Many Christians believe that participating in Halloween is a form of involvement in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness. However, many consider the modern-day Halloween activities of most to be harmless fun.

The bible clearly states that:

Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.  

Ephesians 5:7-12 (NLT)

As God’s warrior (2 Timothy 2:4)

We should not entangle ourselves with worldly affairs 

The Lord says “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 

I John 2:15-17

References

http://www.riseearth.com/2012/10/halloween-known-as-samhain-pagan-holiday.html

http://www.demonbuster.com/halloween.html

http://www.ucg.org/booklet/holidays-or-holy-days-does-it-matter-which-days-we-observe/halloween-celebration-evil/

http://christianity.about.com/od/holidaytips/i/biblehalloween.htm