Halloween or Holy Win

Although the observance of this national holiday happens every 31st of October, this year, and the previous ones, it has been slowly declining in its popularity and does not merit full attention, especially amongst the young generation. I am in Southern California, and I notice that even the outdoor, front yards, and parking areas in residential locations and various business locations have fewer decorations that depict the spirit of the occasion. Maybe stores and malls continue to adapt an ambiance of the season, however only for business purposes and an added flavor.

Tracing back, its origin, this tradition dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when the populace would use bonfires and wear costumes to ward off spiritual entities like ghosts. The Celts lived 2,000 years ago, in the area, now called Ireland. Come to Pope Gregory III who declared November 1 as a time to honor all saints. All Saints Day side by side with the observance of Samhain incorporated some elements of its traditions with the Church. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve later became Halloween. Eventually, the secular activities paved the way to trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, donning fancy and colorful costumes, and parties to create a festive mood amongst families and neighbors.

The festival marks the end of summer, and the harvest is about to begin which usually shifts from warm, dry, sometimes windy climate to dark, winter, and gloomy milieu which is oftentimes is associated with morbid human death and dark shadows. For the Celts who believed that on this night before the new year (as practiced that falls on Nov. 1), there’s an unveiling of a boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead that is enigmatic and blurred, and said to be the Samhain, the return of the dead to earthly realm in the appearance of a ghost. In addition, their ghostly presence would disturb the crops and cause havoc and devastation.

Thus, the Celtic priests called the Druids would make predictions about the future. They seemed to act as comforters or prophets whom people sought for advice and refuge during the long and dark winter times. The Druids initiated the building of huge sacred bonfires where people gathered to burn their damaged crops and animals as concrete sacrifices to the Celtic gods. During this time, the Celts wore costumes commonly using figures like animal heads and skins and pronounced peoples’ fortunes. The fire, which was extinguished, and used that evening, was re-lit the next day to warm them during the coming winter.

The Celtic territory was conquered by the Roman Empire in the year 43 A.D. The conquest survived for 400 years, and the Celtic lands were ruled by foreign invaders. Two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. First was Feralia, the last day of October when the Romans commemorated the death passage, and the second was the day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The apple as a symbol of Pomona fused this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of bobbing for apples that are observed or played on Halloween.

The Genesis of All Saint’s Day and All Souls’ Day

Pope Boniface IV on May 13, 609 A.D., dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was introduced in Europe and other churches. This feast evolved encompassing all the saints during the time of Pope Gregory III who moved the observance from May 13 to November 1. Towards the 9th century, Christianity influenced the Celtic lands. The proliferation of the Christian traditions supplanted older Celtic rites. As a result, in 1000 A.D., the Church made November 2 – All Souls’ Day, to honor the dead. Suffice to say, the Church does not intentionally disregard or try to remove the secular elements of the Celtic festival of the dead or originally practiced, but only to purify them in a manner that the historical value and relevance will not in any way conflict with the truest Christian tradition in honoring the saints and commemorating the day of the departed members of the Church.

Why Holy Win?

Whatever might have inspired the Celts to create an annual festival that incorporated the human needs and attributes to be consoled and to remember the dead not to mention the use of earthly elements: fire, crops, animal parts, seasons, the belief in spiritual entities like ghosts, and guidance from priests or spiritual leaders, the observances of October 31, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, find meaning in our Christian journey of faith and appreciation of what our saints who were recorded or officially declared, the living, and future and our respect towards the sanctity of life and death which could embody the longing or yearning of everyone here present.

First, during Halloween, we can win others for Jesus who is the Light of the world. The bonfire could be a symbol of warmth of human affection, to gather in a common festival to be able to pray, wish, celebrate, and honor the dead. Jesus provides the warmth to our tiredness, the search for meaning and peace, the link between the mundane and the divine. Second, the earthly produce- the crops, they are symbols of offerings which we have toiled and lifted as a sacrifice to atone for our misgivings and sins. The treats the children enjoy are not only given away, even we share the goods, simple as chocolates or goodies to the children’s delight and parents as well, but we also share a common humanity – there’s should be sharing, and time to be generous. It does not cost as much. Using animal parts, remind us of our mortality and fragility. The secular or worldly costumes and their accessories could be depicting morbidity, darkness or evil in essence or character, sensationally gory, hideous, or terrifying, we look up to the holy figures of the saints instead as the opposite – by striving to live holy lives of saints that we love, to imitate them as they imitated Christ, by wearing garments of purity and holiness.

The festival (Halloween) this year or the years to come may change, but the Church traditions are forever and for our lifetime. We do not have the fancy ornaments, embellishments, trimmings, and decorations to unite ourselves to the event, but we could still relive the essence of our long-cherished traditions during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day by living truly as followers of Christ, being a good neighbor, generous to others, being ready to provide warmth to others who are sick, tired, lonely, afraid, and searching for truth and hope. We do not have Celtic priests as guides for abundance and prosperity or interpreters of the signs of the times, yet we have the Holy Saints even living saints to inspire and encourage us. When we proceed to summer to winter- it reminds us of our faith which is a daily endeavor, in or out of season, we value and believe with faith that our life is still worth living and when we remember the dead this All Souls’ Day, we reflect that life is brief and we look forward to reuniting with our loved ones someday in our eternal homeland. To win others for Christ is after all the best way to celebrate Halloween every year.