Halloween

The Battle Between Spirits and Saints

It has long been said that Halloween began rooted in ancient Celtic culture. The festival known as Samhain was celebrated by the Celts marking the end of the harvest and beginning the darker half of the year. It is believed that during this festival, the Celts held ceremonies to honor and commune with spirits. They wore masks so the spirits wouldn’t recognize them and follow them home as part of the celebration. The truth behind that story is the Celts did have a ceremony every fall to say goodbye to summer and to welcome the fall harvest of food. During the ceremony they placed candles on headstones and offered prayers asking the spirits still lingering in the physical realm to move on to the spirit realm.

However, Christians in the western world often take credit for Halloween, as it coincides with ‘All Hallows’ Eve on October 31st. November 1st is All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day and November 2nd is All Souls’ Day. Christianity claims Halloween originates from them.

So how do we go from Halloween being a christian Holy Day of holiness and saints to being scared out of our minds and dressed in outfits with masks begging for candy? The ancient Celts dressed up during Samhain because they believed spirits and fairies roamed the earth that night. They wore costumes often made of animal skins, to disguise themselves and avoid being recognized or harmed by these spirits. Some even dressed up as spirits to blend in, or as a way to honor their ancestors. Over time, these disguises evolved into costumes we wear today!

As christianity spread, the church established All Hallows’ Eve on October 31st as a night of preparation for All Saints’ Day. Over time, some of the old Celtic traditions blended with Christian customs. People began dressing as saints, angels, and devils in parades and pageants. When Irish and Scottish emigrants brought their Halloween customs to America, these traditions evolved. The disguises became more playful and the practice of leaving offerings for spirits transformed into children going door-to-door for treats. Halloween’s roots undeniably began with the Celts and their festival of Samhain. While the Christians adapted and layered their own holy days over it, the core practices and timing came from the Celts. 

While the Celts originated the festival with Samhain, Christians played a role by formalizing October 31st as All Hallows’ Eve. They added their own religious elements, focusing on honoring Saints and the faithful departed on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. This blending of traditions created a holiday that carried forward elements of both cultures, but the roots of Halloween remain firmly planted in the ancient Celtic festival.

The Christian church saw the Celtic festival as an opportunity to connect with the people. By setting their own holy days on similar dates, they offered a familiar framework that could gradually guide people into Christianity. What was once a night of honoring ancestors and protecting against spirits became a time to remember Saints and pray for souls. In doing so, the Church could convert more people by adapting, rather than erasing, the customs they already held dear. During the time of adaptation Christianity took on ancient Celtic rituals, reframing them so that people believed prayers could move spirits on and ward off evil. This helped shift the focus from fearing the spirit realm to trusting in the power of the church.

Do you think Halloween would feel different today if the church hadn’t transformed the ancient Celtic rituals? How might we celebrate it now?