Halloween predates Christianity by many centuries. It was part of the ceremonial rituals of the Druids, a mystical religious order which existed in Ireland. History reveals that the Druids held what was called the “Vigil of Saman” on October 31, for the purpose of calling together certain wicked souls by Saman, the lord of death.

These Druids claimed to be descended from a god in the Latin pantheon of gods, and worshipped Mercury, Apollo, Mars, Jupiter, and Minerva. They were followers of astrology and believed in the immortality of the human soul and reincarnation. Their religion was saturated with mysticism and superstition, and involved ceremonialism in which human sacrifices were offered.

Many superstitions related to Halloween were derived from the Druids. They believed that cats were sacred and had once been human beings but were changed into cats because of their evil deeds. Druids also believed in ghosts, spirits, witches, fairies, and elves, some of which came out to harm people on Halloween.

The celebration of Halloween as practiced in Western civilization today is an adaptation of those Druid ceremonies of so long ago. The early Catholic Church tolerated it. They chose various days to celebrate the life, death, or martyrdom of each of the people the church had proclaimed “saints.” Thus, November 1 became known as “All Saints’ Day.” The night before that day became “All Hallow’s Eve,” thus “Halloween.” On that evening, it was believed that the demons were free to harass people, but they had no power at all on All Saints’ Day. Thus began the concept of Halloween, complete with some of the old Druid trappings.

Because of this, the Protestant churches adopted October 31 as “Reformation Day.” Today, many evangelical churches hold “Harvest Festivals” in place of Halloween, giving Christian children a positive alternative to that holiday.

For one who understands the origin and significance of Halloween, it is a painful reminder of how Satan has craftily perverted Christianity and then wed it, in this instance, to paganism. Neither the religion of the Druids nor the observation of “All Saints’ Day” or the evening before it has any relationship whatever to Biblical Christianity.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20