Since the eighth century Christians have celebrated All Saints' Day
on November 1 to celebrate the known and unknown "Christian Saints".
Saints is not an emphasis on those the Catholic Church has canonized but instead an emphasis on triumphant, genuine followers of Jesus Christ - living here on earth or in Heaven - yes, those joyful members of the "cloud of witnesses" who boldly proclaim Jesus as Lord -
including you and me!
Almost as old as the celebration of All Saints' Day is the tradition
associated with All Hallow's Eve. ("Hallows" mean "saints," both mean
"holy ones," as in "Hallowed be thy name." "Eve" means the evening
before.) So, Halloween means "the evening before All Holy Ones' Day."
Today we call that festival Halloween (Hallow's Eve) and we have many
fun secular ways of recognizing it in addition to religious ways.
However, it's important to remember that its celebration has a long,
positive history in the Church.
What sort of history is that? Like many of the liturgical festivals
(Christmas and Easter included), All Saints' Day and All Hallow's Eve
have some connection to pagan festivals. People of many races and
cultures have remembered their dead and have had superstitions about
death itself. Christians remembered death itself on All Hallow's Eve
and celebrated Christ's victory over death. During the Middle Ages,
Christians would gather in Churches for worship and they would remember
the saints' victories over evil. Likewise they would put on little
displays showing Jesus' victory of Satan, often using unusual masks and
costumes to act out the story.
Thus, the festivities on All Hallow's Eve were the Christian's way of
laughing at death and evil, something we can do in certain hope of
Christ's victory over the powers of darkness.
Today, however, many churches focus on the evil associated with the day rather than Christ's triumph OVER evil. They heap condemnation on the families who allow their kids to enjoy costumes & candy. Instead of teaching a positive approach to this day - we attempt to deny it exists... what's next Christmas (because of Santa, blinking lights and pine trees) or Easter (because of eggs, bunnies and peeps)?? IF today is evil, it's the churches fault - since it started with us - so, I say we redeem it rather than rebuke it! And, while we're at it, let's teach our kids about the "Saints/Heroes" of our Faith on November 1st.
We can join previous generations of Christians who viewed All Hallow's Eve not as a glorification of evil, but
as a chance to affirm eternal life in the face of the death of our
mortal bodies. Just as Easter is a celebration of Jesus' victory over
death and evil, so is Halloween!
One of the things I've always loved about Halloween is that there is no other day where all of my neighbor's open their doors and allow us a glimpse into their homes & lives. In fact, they smile at us and give us candy just for stopping by! I love walking with my kids and talking with all of the other kids - I love teaching my kids to laugh at the things that scare people and how Jesus overcame death & fear! I love opportunities to be with my community and neighbors - to be a light on what others call a 'dark night'. I LOVE CANDY!
At our house, we'll have the BEST candy bars on the block, plus a cool invitation to our awesome Kid's Minsitry! We'll smile and enjoy all the outfits - even the "icky ones" and we'll declare to our neighborhood that Jesus defeated death by living LOUD and LOVING lives!! It's a fun day...
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
~ Chilly