what ancient roman holiday was held to exorcise vampire-like ghosts of the dead?

Hell-o-ween: A Christian Perspective

Halloween - The name, by itself, stirs up feelings in the heed of the reader. The foremost of these thoughts would be of ghosts, goblins, Dracula, vampires, pranks, witches, malicious acts, evil, deviltry, horror-films, ouija boards, seances, and pull a fast one on-or-treating. Although Halloween has been observed in it's nowadays exercise and grade for a number of generations, the celebration (or holiday) of Halloween has roots that are anchored firmly in the aboriginal by.

Origins To better understand our modern observance of Halloween, it is necessary to know the history of this holiday and the elements of influence that take formed it. A number of diverse groups, traditions, holidays, festivals, celebrations, and superstitions cornerstone Halloween'due south history -- with the most prominent as follows... Celts/Druids - The evening of October 31st and the beginning of November were considered by the Celtics to be the transition from summer into the darkness of wintertime (-- symbolically: passing from the flavour of life to death). Celts inhabited what is at present France, Deutschland, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Celtic heathen priests were known as Druids. (Information pertaining to the Druids comes from Greek and Roman writings dating dorsum to at least 200 B.C.). At this fourth dimension of the year, the Druids celebrated their "Fire Festival" or "Fall Solstice". October 31st was historic by the Druids with human sacrifices and a festival honoring their (sun) god, Samhain (lord of the dead). The solar day following the "Feast of Samhain", November 1st, was celebrated as the beginning of a new year's day (Celtic New year). Information technology was on this day that the people renewed their home burn down from the altars of the Druidic Priests. According to the modern Satanic Bible, this was the night that the Druids believed the Lord of Expiry brought the souls of the evil dead to inhabit bodies of animals. (At least three variations of the name "Samhain" exist, including: Sanhain, Sawhain). By 43 A.D. (Alt. source 47 A.D.) Rome finally defeated the Druids in England and formally outlawed the human sacrifices -- only non the consummate celebration or holiday. Roman Empire/Catholicism - Pope Gregory (I) the Bully was the first to brand a proclamation apropos a church festival at the time of Halloween. He said of Oct 31st, "They are no longer to cede beasts to the devil, but they may kill them for nutrient to the praise of God, and requite thanks to the giver of all gifts for His bounty." (Obviously when homo sacrifices were officially banned the same ceremonies continued with animal victims). Pope Gregory 3 (731-741) moved the church festival of Oct 31st to November 1st and called it "All Hallows" or "All Saints Solar day". Even later, in 834 A.D., Pope Gregory 4 decreed that the twenty-four hours was to be a universal church building observance. (The best date we can observe equally to the first Roman/Cosmic "church" observance at the time of Halloween is 608 A.D., yet with Pope Gregory the Great making the aforementioned announcement, date unknown, information technology must accept been at least initiated a few years earlier - Pope Gregory's term was from 590-604.) We demand to note that the ancient Romans as well had a holiday on Oct 31st -- a festival honoring the goddess of the harvest, Pomona. With the defeat of the Druids, the aboriginal Roman celebration was in essence merged with the Celtic/Druidic holiday. The new holiday honored (or should I say, worshipped) the dead ("All Hallows Eve" or "The Feast of the Expressionless"), retaining elements of the heathen harvest festival. With the Roman empire and the church building effectively merged through the "conversion" of the Roman emperor Constantine, Roman and church building policy became universal. To solidify information technology'south concord on the public, the church tried to supercede the infidel holiday with a new "Christian" holiday. It appears the church tried hard. Not merely was November 1 called "All Saints Solar day" to accolade the saints (both canonized and unrecognized), just likewise they later added "All Souls' 24-hour interval" on November 2nd to honour the (more than recent) faithful departed. (It appears that for some time "All Saints" and "All Souls" days were, and still are, historic separately.) Replacing existing celebrations was felt necessary to gratify the populace who would accept been extremely riotous to lose one of their valued (pagan) feasts (and time off from work) had they merely abolished them outright. The practice of placing Christian celebrations on the date of other heathen holidays has influenced the modern dating of many other church holidays including Christmas and Easter. Fifty-fifty the word "holiday" is a historical wrinkle of the words "Holy Solar day". Unlike Christmas and Easter, Halloween's "Christian" holiday never actually overcame information technology's infidel counterpart in popularity or exercise. Halloween is the merely widely historic modern vacation that even so retains information technology's pagan connotation. Some of the superstitions of Halloween really are derived from the Catholic "All Saints Day"; which functionally merged Christian thought with pseudo pagan rites like worship of the dead. The traditional Halloween colors of orange and black come from the commemorative mass (called "Allhallowmas") that was held for the expressionless... The candles were made of un-bleached beeswax, which was orangish in color, and the formalism caskets were always draped in black. European/Due north American - Much tradition of the Druids and it's subsequent merger with Catholic superstition was brought to Due north America past Irish and Scottish immigrants. Even the name Halloween comes from the Scottish proper noun for their observance - "hallow 'een". In those and other European countries, the people lived in fear of the night of Oct 31. It was considered a night when evil spirits & goblins roamed the land (with special powers) and witches flew almost. The people believed it necessary to go out food offerings on their door steps to appease the evil spirits. This treat had to be left or y'all would exist tricked by the evil spirit. These "tricks" traditionally could include such nastiness equally your live stock dying, milk drying up -- or other suitable evil. This practice became the basis of our modern "fox or treat". As the text from a The Grizzwells cartoon (Oct. 29/93) so aptly portrays -- the modern pregnant of Halloween is still much the same... Back in Europe... Some people felt the food offering, by itself, was not enough to ward off the evil spirits. So bonfires were lit on hilltops to disperse the spirits (who thrive in darkness), others (especially in Republic of ireland) wore masks and costumes to scare them away (and/or to give the wearer special powers). Some of these dressed up "mummers" carried a "jack-o'-lantern" with a hideous confront carved in it to light their way and assist in helping to drive away the evil spirits. European All Souls Day observances may have contributed to Halloween practices also. In medieval times, English "soulers" (doing "Soul-caking") would walk the streets, singing and begging for alms. These they received in render for proverb actress prayers for the dead relatives of the almsgivers. With many similarities, the still various Halloween practices and beliefs of numerous European nations have blended together to influence and mode our modern observance. Satanists - All Hallows Eve, or Samhain, is considered i of the greatest of the Satanic holidays. Actually, most Satanists would consider only their ain altogether as a greater vacation (because the ultimate Satanic worship is that of self equally god or goddess.) As reflected by many Satanic books, most Satanists consider this festival to require a claret sacrifice (animate being or homo). Although very existent, the bulk of modern Satanists are self styled/dabblers who commonly function by themselves or in small covens. The "religious" type Satanists, as evidenced past Anton LaVey's Church of Satan in San Francisco, usually altitude themselves (at least publicly) from any participation in sacrifices, although other rituals may be performed -- and the Satanic holiday still honored. Witches/Wiccans/Pagans (Druids) - Witches, past and present, laurels Halloween as 1 of their special holidays. In that location are eight holidays on their calendar know as sabbats (4 are considered greater Sabbats; including Halloween). The kickoff yearly sabbat (or New year) on the witches calendar is Halloween; the beginning of death (Winter). In 1992, modern Canadian witch and fortune teller Leanne Haze stated that on Halloween she would "exist conjuring up the spirits of the dead...", adding that she would recall dead relatives considering "the veil between earth and the other world is thinnest during Samhain." Through many branches of feminism and environmentalism the Wiccan variety of witchcraft is receiving widespread promotion and publicity. In 1992 there were an estimated fifty,000 Canadians practicing the pagan Wiccan organized religion -- an increment of over 400% in the final decade. Across Northward America, around Halloween, programs hosted by practicing witches are presented to the general public (including kids), fifty-fifty at public libraries. More On Modern Twenty-four hours - For most of our guild, Halloween has become a fourth dimension when evil or malicious acts and full general lawlessness are expected to occur. Macabre and sinister themes, combined with the promotion of fear, best sum up all present popular practices. Statistics show that rapes, muggings, arson, vandalism, kids burned from costumes & jack o' lanterns, and vehicle - pedestrian collisions, all escalate at Halloween. Halloween becomes the one time each yr that people practice their very best to expect and be their very worst. Beyond private appearance, Halloween is now 2d merely to Christmas as the time when people spend slap-up sums of money, effort, and time, to decorate their homes - with many competing to make their yards look like scenes from horror films and sadistic graveyards. The pic industry has catered to this blood lust and intrigue with the supernatural, by producing many "Slasher" and occultic films. Examples include the titles and sequels of Halloween, Friday the 13th, Hellraiser, Exorcist and Nightmare on Elm Street. Some of these films are up to their 5th to 9th sequel... Horror sells. Halloween is when nearly of these films are released and according to the rental stores, when their viewing goes through the roof. Even the 1991 pic remake of the Addams Family, is popular "family" viewing, even though it includes many references to murder, necrophilia, and other equally bizarre practices. Combining horror with humour, every bit in the Addams Family unit, is Hollywood'south mode of getting younger viewers hooked on the supernatural and bloody themes found in the other darker films. The worst of these glorified mass murderers, like Jason, Michael Myers, Freddie Krueger, and any of Hellraisers' other demonic heroes, are the ones that many children and adults choose to dress up as. Even the and so-chosen "light hearted" costumes include such vulgar (pyromania promoting) entities as Beavis and Barrel-Head. In 1991, in Canada, a xiv year-sometime girl answering her door was slashed in the face by a knife wielding trick-or-treater dressed as a Ninja Turtle. Psychics and clairvoyants, along with occult, witchcraft, and star divination publishers, all claim a definite increase in business concern at this time of year - many challenge it to be their busiest time of the year. People that would take aught to practice with these themes the remainder of the year utilise the alibi of Halloween to participate "this one night." Devil'due south Night - Also known every bit "Mischief Dark", it is historic on the eve of Halloween (not Halloween night, just the night prior). Primarily a modern phenomena (not two decades old) common to North America, Devil'south Nighttime has become a night in some areas where the bulk of vandalism, primarily fires, take place. In ane Maine, Us, community there were 133 fires fix on Devil's Night 1992. Some communities have now established curfews for this night. Like the Catholic church extending All Saints 24-hour interval to include an extra twenty-four hours, All Souls Twenty-four hours, it appears that Devil'due south Night has spontaneously been generated to extend Halloween'south deviltry an extra day.

Other Halloween Traditions & Superstitions Black Cats - Black cats, are considered by witches and Satanists to be an fauna in which a "familiar (demon) spirit (helper)" can alive. Ancient tradition holds that along with using broomsticks for flying (levitation), that on Halloween, the spirit in the black cat could transform it into a black horse every bit another means of transportation. Another tradition, in medieval Europe, held that black cats were witches in disguise. Often the cats were burned on Halloween - even later on other sacrifices has been outlawed. Local SPCA'due south even so warn owners to keep their pets (specially cats) inside on Halloween due to abnormal numbers that go missing. Jack-O'-Lantern - The traditional European "jack-o'-lantern" was usually a large turnip or beet - at present our Northward American pumpkin. The best known legend (Irish gaelic) apropos the "jack-o'-lantern" says it was named after a notorious man - Jack - who was well known for his insobriety. Jack entered into a pact with the devil, which Jack subsequently broke by tricking him. In due time the man died and was turned abroad from sky. Due to his trickery, the devil also turned him away from hell. Every bit Jack started to leave, consigned to wander the globe as a spirit forever, the devil threw him a live coal from the fires of hell; which Jack is said to have placed in a carved out turnip to lite his way. This myth helps perpetuate many mod spiritual misconceptions. Foremost is the belief that the devil rules over hell equally God rules over heaven, and that Satan has some say into who will become there. Luke 12:5, and many other passages, make it articulate that God alone judges and casts into hell. Many other modernistic horrors, utilized specially at Halloween, were derived from real individuals whose lives were associated with evil... Dracula - Like many legends, this one contains some elements of fact and a lot of imagination. The Castle Dracula existed in Romania and it's occupant c.1431-1476 was a blood thirsty man named Vlad. He was also known as the Impaler as he liked impaling his dinner guests on stakes so dining in their midst; while they screamed and died. Bram Stoker's novel and many later movies take been based on this individual; some redefining and enhancing the lore surrounding Dracula. Frankenstein - This character, made from dead torso parts, comes from a well known novel written by Mary Shelly. This lady was a known drug aficionado who kept her husbands centre in a box subsequently he died from drowning. Many subsequent books and movies have been based on this character. Vampire - A vampire is whatever person with a blood or flesh fetish. Because this description then aptly fits Vlad of Castle Dracula, the name Dracula has become a synonym for vampire. Many modern horror moving-picture show figures could as well fit this description, ie. Jason and Freddie Krueger. With our societies appetite for horror films, where dead and dismemberment are the norm, many of our present populace could be considered modern solar day "armchair" vampires. Even the active participation in and popularity of modern Goth clubs and vampire societies but reflect the growing blood-animalism in society. Latest incarnations of Dungeons & Dragons , like the participatory Camarilla , have combined role-playing and vampire themes. Werewolf - The concept of a human turning into an animal was possibly derived from the Biblical tape of God's punishment on Nebuchadnezzar (II Kings 24 & 25). Today'south werewolves are e'er portrayed as being demonically transformed -- embodying evil. Many witches and Satanists believe that they can transform themselves into beast-beings by utilizing the powers of demons. Such concepts were popular in the middle ages in Europe. Ghosts/Haunted Houses - Disembodied spirits. All based on the thought that a human being's soul can roam the earth for 1 purpose or some other. The Bible is clear that when you lot dice, you are either in Heaven or Hell. This leaves only demons to be doing the haunting. The contacting of, or communication with, these spiritual entities is expressly forbidden by God (ane Sam 28:half dozen-20, Leviticus 19:31). Flying on Broomsticks - Levitation is the conventionalities that an individual tin fly, or use an object to fly, from supernatural causes. Satanists and witches who adhere to this do believe that spirit beings (demons) actually provide the power for this feat. The broomstick too has a phallic (sexual) connotation for witches (wiccans) who believe in sexual magic. Bobbing for Apples - This was derived from ancient practices of divining the future. The ane who successfully caught an apple tree between his teeth, was supposed to be able to count on having a romance with the lover of his pick (alt. concept: To take adept luck). The ancient Roman celebration to their goddess Pomona included giving apples to gods - for she was said to be the Goddess of Fruits. As pagan ritual merged into later on celebrations, "apple bobbing" in Wales and "Apple Dark" in Ireland (where the apples are tied on strings to try and bite) were just two of the resultant variations. In Scotland many methods were employed to divine the hereafter concerning relationships... A boy and girl burned nuts together in a fire - if they burned quietly they would exist happily married. Others pulled kale or cabbage to see if the dirt stuck to the roots - if it did the hereafter mate would be wealthy. The condition of the stalk and gustation supposedly divulged such things as the physical stature and temperament of the time to come spouse. Dorsum to the apple, a young adult female took an apple, a candle, a pocketknife, and a mirror into a dark room. She cut the apple into nine pieces, ate viii of them, speared the 9th on her pocketknife and held information technology over her shoulder. Her future hubby would come up in apparition to take the apple. His face up would be mirrored in the glass beside hers. Once again, all forms of divining the future reverse to scriptures. Ouija Boards & Seances - Two of the most popular "scare" activities for young people at parties. Both serve the aforementioned purpose of attempting to summon spirits to proceeds insight into by, present, or future events. Many new interactive "games" and "toys" are being produced utilizing the same concepts of spirit divination. Expressly forbidden by God (Leviticus 19:31), these practices are extremely unsafe as they open up individuals upwards to contact and advice with demonic entities. Fear - Fear has maybe the oldest roots of all the elements of Halloween. This is due to the fact that all godless fright comes from Satan - and the Devil has been in the business of promoting fearfulness for a long time. We who trust in God live by organized religion and religion eliminates fright. In contrast to Satan and his tactics, God is the writer of Peace, 2 Timothy ane:7 says, "For God hath not given usa the spirit of fright; but of ability, and of love, and of a sound heed."

Christian Response Each private has to consider the whole celebration of Halloween, based on their own Christian values. Simply the main theme promotion of fearfulness, clearly shows it's origin and driving force. Some will say that I'm being a bit farthermost for speaking out against Halloween ("It'due south just harmless fun"), well I have no doubt that to many it is fun... the Bible never said that sin and things promoted past Satan wouldn't exist fun. Actually the Bible speaks of sin as being pleasurable (Hebrews 11:25). Others will raise objections similar, "well they could be doing a lot worse". But remember that all evil, from the least to the worst, is even so evil; and equally wrong in God'southward sight. Adjacent comes one of the greatest excuses, "the kids don't dress upwards every bit anything evil, and they're simply going out to go some candy". Actually, many people (young and erstwhile) get involved in far worse, because the starting levels look harmless or gustation skilful. Sanctioning any part of Halloween is giving your kid the message that the themes, practices and promotion of Halloween are okay (and so don't exist surprised if they try out any of the other darker parts of Halloween when they're older) The last feeble excuses, that "every 1 else is doing it" and "I did information technology while I was young and I grew up okay" are past far the worst. More than anti-biblical practices take been promoted through family tradition and peer pressure, than any other means. When all is said and done, information technology doesn't affair if you did something when you were young, and that it appeared to have no effects, what does matter is what the Bible has to say nigh it. On a vacation that Satan has claimed for himself and for evil (and with, by far, the bulk of all its themes testifying of its spiritual source), we as Christians should not testify honour or reverence to Satan; by participating in or celebrating Halloween in whatsoever manner. Of course, any Christian dressing up as characters that God has called an abomination in His Give-and-take (even as Satan himself) must truly break the Lord's center. Education - Some other indicate of business organization is the unhealthy promotion of Halloween and information technology's themes within the school system. It is an appalling argument on the emphasis of our society, when Christian values and teachings are no longer being allowed in many schools, all the same the pagan celebration of Halloween is avidly discussed and promoted. When surveyed, many educators felt more fourth dimension was spent on Halloween than on Thanksgiving or Christmas - both of which are Christian in origin or practice. 1 northward eastern news study (Nov. iv/93) emphasized one schoolhouse'southward "whole curriculum" approach to Halloween for class 6 students... "In social studies, the students learned the history of gravestones... They learned about the epitaphs written on the stones, and had a chance to write their own. The children were fascinated to learn the origins of Halloween... In Science, students learned about E.S.P. (Actress Sensory Perception) and the important words, dates and people connected with it. They besides has a take chances to test their own heed-reading abilities. Listening to, and reading scary stories was the focus in reading, while in math, students learned compass and protractor skills by making hex signs..." Is this what you would want your children to be learning? Some other news study (Oct. 29/93) shows how difficult it is for children in the public school system who don't gloat Halloween. "a instructor asked (the male child) what he would exist for Halloween, (and) he responded that he was not going to participate because he knew that it was an evil holiday. The teacher so asked his mother to squelch those types of comments." More ever, parents need to accept a stand for what is right and brand a deviation for good in their children's instruction. Alternatives - Even as Christian observances (i.e. Christmas and Easter) have superseded the pagan celebrations of the dates on which they were placed, there is no reason why Christians cannot creatively author celebrations that in no style honour Satan. Our celebrations, and all we do, should be glorifying to God (principle of Matthew 22:37). Why should Satan go any credit for our fun? Some ideas that have been tried and work well include churches or groups having a "harvest party" (honoring God as our provider) or something along that theme. If you lot choose to take a costume party along Biblical themes, be careful to limit what characters; as the Bible includes many pagan and demonic personalities. Retrieve that taking pagan practices inside the church no more makes them Christian than a person feeling they are a Christian because they get to church building.

Have a Good October 31st. "At present the God of peace exist with you lot all. Amen." (Romans fifteen:33) Additional Bible References - The Bible is full of references that testify God's Holiness and His requirement for all His children to be dissever from the globe and to be holy in thought and human action. A few examples: Merely as He who chosen you is holy, y'all too be holy in all your bear, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (ane Peter 1:15-16) Bear witness all things; concord fast that which is proficient. Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians five:21-22) Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the pagan... (Jeremiah 10:2) Also... Deuteronomy 18:ten-14, Galatians v:xix-21, 2 Corinthians vi:fourteen-17, Colossians 3:15-17 2 Corinthians 10:three-5, and Matthew 22:37 ...whatever you lot do,  do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians x:31

Written by Brent MacDonald of Lion Tracks Ministries. (c) 1992-1996, Third Edition. This electronic version does not include all graphics which are institute in the printed booklet. Experience gratuitous to duplicate as long as the source is cited.

For a more detailed test of these subjects and more Read the book: Hell-o-ween All Year Round Online Edition (PDF)

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Source: http://www.liontracks.org/publish/ltmhween.htm

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