Why

Submitted September 24, 2004

Why "Politically Incorrect"

Christians Do Not Celebrate Halloween!

By Matushka Barbara Bruce

Canadian children have settled nicely back into school routine. Fall is in the air. Supermarket end-displays are stocked with snack foods, juicy apples, and sundry case-lot sales. Tucked in beside these "back to school" goodies are also, the inevitable Halloween candies.

Yes, they're back already! Canadian Thanksgiving is a month away, and already commercialism for Halloween has hit the fan and shelves. It's all about money, and it's all about party-time.

People will soon contemplate what costume they will wear to school or work on Halloween. The media, the schools, and community organizations will soon promote, and capitalize upon this shin dig... Albeit some for charity and good causes.

Of course, the majority of people truly and honestly feel this is only harmless fun. It's cute, to dress up, be silly, and score free candy. People enjoy participating in something vaguely "naughty," we thrill to thumb our noses at the occult. Come on! It's just for fun! That stuff CAN'T be for real anyway!"

For politically incorrect Christians, it is impossible to participate in Halloween. What IS "our problem"? Well, "only" the simple issue of our faith in God, and avoidance of participating in a pagan festival.

Early Christians were martyred for avoiding pagan rituals. They chose not participate, not to "fit in" even for "show." They were true to themselves, and to God. They sacrificed their lives for Truth. Now, as contemporary Christians we betray our faith in order to "be cool" to be like everyone else. We are afraid to look petty, silly, or heaven forbid, different!

Halloween, AKA "Happy Sanheim's" roots are ancient and from pre-Christian times among the Celtic peoples and western Europeans. The pagans, at the end of summer, had a harvest celebration, and foretold the New Year's future. The observation of the circle of life, reborn from death, fell upon the "new year" eve of October 31 into the day of November 1. The pagan deity Sanheim, is still honoured at this festival, during this cusp of "time between time".

Type the name "Sanheim" into an Internet search engine, and you will receive various avenues on how to celebrate. It's real, it's thriving and it is a sacred time for pagans to remember their ancestors on this night. It is a time of "blessings" upon all who participate.

From the pagan New Year evolved the "sacred bon fires," "trick or treating" (literally offering food or receiving curses from some displeased dead). The carrying home of the "sacred light" from bon fires in hollowed out vegetables like squashes, or pumpkins... all in honour of the god Sanheim.

The early Christian Celtic Church, attempted to counteract this pagan festival by establishing the Feast Day of All Saints upon the same day of Sanheim. (in the Orthodox East, the Feast of All Saints is still celebrated on the Sunday following Pentecost as it was originally).

Christians attend Vigil Service in the evening and in the morning is a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The word Halloween means "All Hallow's Evening," or the eve commemorating all who are hallowed, or all who are Saints, both known and unknown... Our "Christian Ancestors" as it were!

Now, on Halloween, desecrations and mockeries are aimed specifically against Christian practices and beliefs. This is not by any "specific" group, but the excuse for and focus of vandalism is high upon this night. Secular ghoulish costumes have evolved ridiculing Christian reverence for holy relics. At work, people (for fun) dress up as priests or "naughty prostitute nuns."

It doesn't matter if your child is costumed as an angel, or an innocent flower. A Christian should not participate in a pagan festival. Yes, it IS uncomfortable to face this fact, when most people think we should "chill" and stop "splitting hairs". Well, the fact is- we as Christians, ARE different. Please note, that "different" in no way implies "better." Just... "different.

As a Christian parent we need to be creative in helping our child understand the facts. It helps to meet early with our child's school teacher to explain our situation. "Most of the time" teachers will accommodate our child's non-participation in a positive way.

When our daughter was born, 21 years ago, near Halloween, the police received a "tip" that a baby was going to be kidnapped from the hospital nursery, and used in a ceremonial ritual of some sort, by a non-specific group. Whether this was a hoax or reality, the general hospital was on high alert and tightly secured for many days. It was frightening, and it was REAL. Victoria, BC is well known for a large occult-type following.

Society's spiritual apathy ignores the origins of secular customs. It is not important anymore. Anything "goes." Society dictates that something is WRONG with "us" as Christians, when we choose NOT to participate in a pagan celebration.

Someone once angrily said to me, "You are depriving your children! Isn't everyone the same? People just choose a different name and different "way" to worship their Higher Power or god/goddess!"

No, we are not the same, and I choose to remain a "politically incorrect" Orthodox Christian, and not participate in a pagan festival.



Volume 6 Number 39 - Tuesday, September 28th, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY