It’s mid-September as I’m writing this blog. Here in the Dallas-Fort Worth North Texas region, that’s still summer. That’s still hot summer! Therefore, it always comes as a surprise each year, as I’m wandering around the supermarket, to see the Halloween displays being rolled out. Often it starts with pallets of candy being moved to the front. Then the dark and sinister looking creatures make their appearances.

I made a conscious decision to stop celebrating Halloween many years ago. The reactions from neighbors, family and coworkers were varied. Some were curious while others were dismissive and annoyed. I have mostly abandoned using the “because it’s pagan” explanation. I have often noticed when people hear that reason, they get that distant look in their eyes that says, “who cares if it’s pagan? We don’t worship false gods. We just want to have fun. And what some ancient pagan Druids did centuries ago has no meaning to my life.”

I pondered that response. Deuteronomy 12 does contain a clear and unmistakable commandment to not copy pagan religious customs even in the worship of the true God. (vs.29-32) So, the argument that we can Christianize pagan customs simply doesn’t hold up to the biblical instruction. But is there something more relevant and applicable to the modern Christian that would see the whole observance as offensive from a modern perspective?

Then it hit me as so obvious and clear that I’m surprised I didn’t think of it sooner. Simply put, Halloween is a celebration of death. And to prove the point, I challenge the reader to drive through any neighborhood of your choice this Halloween season. Take a moment to carefully look at each decoration scheme. What is the one thing you’ll find in common at every yard display? That one thing is death. Tombstones, skeletons, and corpses are the typical common denominator in every Halloween display.

Ancient paganism might not be relevant to the modern person. But ask yourself, is death relevant to the modern person? The idea that we have an annual celebration themed on death is beyond absurd. Wouldn’t it be more exciting, inspiring and uplifting to have a holiday cycle that celebrates eternal life as the central theme?

If you’d like to learn more about such a system of festival celebrations, drawn from the Bible, request the free study guide entitled “Holidays or Holy Days: Does it Matter Which Days We Observe?” available on the United Church of God website.

By Lynn Leiby

Oct 7th, 2024