So, Who’s Afraid of the Dark?
by Halloween is considered to be a scary time of the year, traditionally. But the historic roots of this highly commercialized holiday date back 2000 years to Celtic paganism. Halloween is considered to be a “dark” holiday, embracing occultic imagery. But how does this highly anticipated holiday reflect the very core of fear many try to keep hidden? And how does it relate to what the Bible teaches about the dark and fear?
As early as September thoughts of one of the most celebrated holidays throughout the world – Halloween fills the mind of many. This is a holiday in which its historical origin of around 2000 years ago is a black as sin and as dark as hell.
Samhain, the Celtic New Year was celebrated each year on October 31. The Celts believed that on this day each year, the dead would rise from their graves to wander the land in search of earthly souls to possess. If these dead corpses weren’t enough to worry about, their were also witches, black cats, goblins and werewolves prowling about in search of some unwary human to possess or attack (as with black cats and werewolves).
Samhain was also considered the best time of the year for divination concerning marriage, luck, health and death.
Many who read this will find the ancient Samhain rites amusing. They will see it as a joke in the same way other superstitions are laughed about. And, this bit of historic trivia might be dismissed with such lightheartedness if it weren’t for a most unsettling fact contained in Merriam-Webster’s Colligate Encyclopedia: “Halloween/Samhain” pg. 713
“It (Halloween) is still associated with evil spirits and the supernatural.”
Modern Traditions
Two modern traditions often included with Halloween celebrations; dressing in costumes and building bonfires had its origin with the ancient Samhain festival. The Druids (holy men) of the Celtic community would build bonfires to dispel evil spirits. Towns people would dress in costumes to help confuse the corpses, witches, goblins, black cats and werewolves so they would not attack or attempt to possess them.
Trick or Treat Origins
The tradition of trick or treat has several accounts for its origin.
Halloween was once a Christian holiday providing an opportunity for the more fortunate of the community to do good for the poor and needy. Hundreds of years ago Halloween was known as Hallow-Even or Holy Evening by the Christians. It was a holiday that was greatly anticipated by both adults and children as it provided the opportunity for them to extend kindness and comfort to the needy.
Christian women would bake small cakes; sometimes with nuts or fruits in them, to be handed out to the poor when they came to visit that evening. Children were bustled off to bed with as much ease as any child would be on Christmas Eve! A candle was placed in the window to show the needy there would be a cake and good cheer if they knocked on the door.
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