First of, I want to apologize to you for my delay in responding to comments. I am terribly sorry. I don’t like responding to new comments when I have old ones that I have not responded to. I literally do first-come-first-serve when it comes to replying comments. But I will get to them, I promise.
Now, on to Halloween. I have been living in America for 13 years now, and I am still yet to celebrate Halloween. When I first came (I was in high school then), I believed it was absolutely demonic. Why else would someone decide to dress as the devil and go outside at night? It was demonic, and there was no changing my mind.
Now that I’m older, I’m torn. I still don’t celebrate Halloween, and I still have absolutely no intention of celebrating it (for now). I have read many things about the history of Halloween, and the most memorable one is the one that claims that Halloween was created for people to protect themselves from the roaming spirits of the dead. It was believed that on October 31st, the realm of the living and the realm of the dead would overlap, and that roaming spirits of the dead would all come out and would torture any living soul they found. In order not to die, the living people would dress like the spirits, in order to camouflage and not get killed. It is for this reason that Halloween costumes and decors are usually scary. I remember reading this in a black and orange pamphlet that my aunt – who, by the way, used to attend Deeper Life Church (you know what that means already) – gave to me.
I don’t know how true this story is, but if it is true, then I have to ask myself, do I want to take part in a celebration of the living dead? No. Do I want my children to take part in the celebration of the living dead? No. And then I have to wonder, even if this was what Halloween was all about back then, is that what it’s still about today? Halloween, just like Christmas, has been commercialized. These days, it seems to be more about the costumes and candy than anything else. It seems harmless. Or maybe that’s what the devil wants us to think. Yes, I have a conspiracy theory against the devil. Nothing good comes from him, and this part is not a conspiracy theory.
The other Halloween history is that November 1st was marked as All Hallows Day (All Saints’ Day), which was a day to celebrate our dearly departed saints. The night before – the eve – was Hallow’s Day, which became Halloween. The word, Halloween, is of Christian background, and literally translates to ‘Holy Evening.’ Now that I think about it, don’t we celebrate All Saints’ Day in the Catholic church?
So, is Halloween Christian? Or is it Pagan? I still don’t know. As my friends and I get older, more and more we have these conversations – not about us, but about our born and unborn children: would we let them participate in Halloween? Would I let my children go out trick or treating? Would I let my children buy costumes (not the scary ones)? I honestly do not know.
What I know for sure right now is that I, Vera Ezimora, would absolutely love to attend a costume party – but not a Halloween party. I do not care to see scary people dressed as zombies and vampires. This is of no interest to me or my peace. But a costume party that is not related to Halloween, I will do that. What I also know for sure right now is that too many things in life are becoming grey and blurry, to the point that it’s difficult telling if it’s good or if it’s bad.
I’m curious about you. Do you (or would you) let your children participate in Halloween celebrations?
I understand what you mean, but in that same light christmas is also a pagan celebration that was some how turned into the celebration of the birth of Christ. I tell you, you will not have the heart to deny your kids the joy of trick or treating. For the kids its all about the amount of sugar they can consume that day..lol.
So right on the Christmas pagan correlation too. A lot of people don’t realize this or know the history of the trees, lights etc. Has nothing to do with Christ.
Kiky, I can understand the difficulty in saying no to your kids. Children are innocent, and we all know they’re always all about the sugar. I was going to include in the post that Christmas, too, started out as a pagan holiday, but I forgot.
My church in Atlanta has a Hallelujah Party, in place of Halloween. So people still get to dress up (usually as Biblical figures)
Oh, nice! That’s a really good idea. So what if you wanna dress up as something other than a biblical figure … like Superman or something?
You are so right about things in life becoming too gray and blurry. My neighbor’s kids were telling me about this Halloween party they are going to this Thursday. In the spirit of making conversation, I asked one of the girls what she plans to dress up as and she said a witch. I said to her, a witch is bad oh, she replied with a laugh “witches are super cool”. I said no they are not. She said yes they are. I cannot be dragging witch matter with a small girl on the street na so I said enjoy your party.
My church also has a Harvest Celebration where people get to dress up and there is a bonfire and stuff like that. It makes the kids happy.
Manny, hahaha, I can imagine dragging the issue of being a witch a small girl. You’ll never win that fight. Media (television) has helped a lot in making these otherwise demonic creatures look super cool. With shows and movies like True Blood, Grimm (which I watch religiously), Twilight, Teen Wolf, Charmed, etc … who will convince the children that witches, vampires, etc are actually not cool?
I no follow them do abeg and I don’t think it is Christian. don’t need to dress up in some funny outfit to ward off evil, at the mention of the powerful Name ‘Jesus’ every halloween spirit shall bow…….!!!!!!lol
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Okay, this comment just had me in stitches. At the mention of the powerful name of Jesus ….. Loooool! Spoken like a true Nigerian. No wahala. Carry go. Norrin do you.
I have yet to get into Halloween, even to say the holiday spirit. I’m for good times and family but don’t expect me to exchange gifts for Christmas or give out Valentine cards, or go for service on Easter Sunday ( bunnies don’t lay eggs and what does fertility have to do with Jesus). Unfortunately there really not one pure “Christian” holiday, as said the lines are getting blurry and grey. I just choose not to be bothered with holidays.
Ere, I cannot blame you at all. Things that used to be pagan are now Christian, and things that used to be Christian are now commercial. I don’t know where we’re going with this. And I still don’t understand the bunnies and eggs bit either. Oyibo people sef, their wahala is too much.
Totally and completely and awesomely and wholeheartedly against halloween.
Halloween is a celebration of evil… i haven’t read the history and i dont care to, not important to me. (if you have already concluded that i am ignorant(Vera)… you are on your own)
The pictures, characters, season and essence of halloween depicts evil.
I infact believe that halloween is a demonic celebration.
i have made up my mind on this based on the images and the vibe of halloween… Just something negative about it. doesnt go well with my spirit at all.
why do people have to dress up as eviil spirits, witches, ghosts to say the least?
yea, i know people the whole custom-dress-up part of it is so so cute… but i se it as a way to leur the innocent to partake of this evil celebration (yeap. i said it).
We (more like THEy, ‘cos i no join o… lol) have found a way to funki-fy and make this hoiday kool to the kids.
its all about candy and just dressing up…. ermm, no it aint, there is more…way more to halloween.
…and you cannot technically compare hlloween to christmas –
Christmas is celebrating Jesus… my Jesus, my Lord.
I am Christain, i believe in Christ, hence christmas, i believe in the birth of Jesus and i believe in its celebration….. so i totally celebrate and LOVE everything christmas.
i am not a halloweenist (is that even a word?), I dont believe in halloween, I dont believe in halloween and I dont celebrate it. My choice, my right ( I hope more people make this choice)
if you are not christain and dont believe in christ, then you have the right NOT to celebrate christmas.
whether it started as a pagan thingie or not ehn? i couldnt be bothered. I celebrate it for one simple reason – JESUS
The commercialization of our holidays is all money driven… so be wise.
I remember that one year i racked up thousands on my credit card because i was ‘holiday shopping”… NEVER AGAIN.
… even the 8yrs old in the house knows better. she asks questions and we answer as honestly as we can (well, except for my mum ‘cos i can hear my mum say, Ireti i rebuke halloween ijn… lol)
I think im done here… but NO halloween, NO halloween, NO halloween.
ignore the many errors… was too hyped 😉
Girl, I am too tired to respond to everything you wrote there. And why do you have to call me out as people who have concluded you’re ignorant? Is that what I told you? Respect yourself oh!
New to this site, but in my humble opinion, as a kingdom child what has things of these world got to do with us? Not written anywhere we should celebrate Christmas, for me, every day am awake is Christmas cus Christ is born in me n resurrected in my actions. We should seek to be more like Jesus. Smiles
Halloween to me is a no go zone. It’s as simple as that, why dress up in something that so awful, if it was good why don’t they celebrate it often. Beside na dress they pursue witches, n demons? If na so Africa will be 0% witchcraft na. Because our masquerades have the best I can think of!!!
Mba. Not a chance. Even if I celebrate it secretly my mother’s spirit will come and do deliverance for me in my dream. That’s how much she hates it and now we hate it as well. Not that there ever was a reason to like Halloween, lol 😛
Hahahaha at your mother’s spirit. Well, we wouldn’t want that now, would we?
I choose not to participate in any holiday that so obviously celebrated evil. The kid’s ministry in my church has a themed dress up party every year so the kid’s don’t feel left out. This also makes it easy for the parent’s when they have to say no to halloween 🙂
For the Christians, here’s a helpful link with a few reasons why its not a great idea to celebrate halloween. Hope this helps someone.
http://www.prophezine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=861:10-reasons-i-kissed-halloween-goodbye-&catid=41:top-headlines
I’m definitely going to read that link. Thank you very much, Kola. And I love the idea of giving children options, so they don’t feel left out.