Halloween (October 31) and All Saints Day (November 1) have become tangled traditions. And here’s the RWV (The Revised Willis Version.) For Christians, All Saints Day is a feast day. It allows believers to revere those who have died. In the Catholic Church, Saints are dead Christians; they are designated Saints only after they are thoroughly vetted for their good works; canonized—(critically reviewed, evaluated for official approved, —Whew—) then they are officially recognized as Saints by the Church.
Merriam-Webster gives two definitions of a Saint; 1a: one officially recognized especially through canonization as preeminent for holiness —abbreviation St. 2a: one of the spirits of the departed in heaven —in both cases, dead. Halloween–and I got this straight out—is an adulteration of “All Hallows’ evening” or “All Hallows’ Eve” You can see, there was an easy migration from celebrating the memory of the dead.—-today’s Halloween is a fer piece down the road from All Hallows ‘en.
While I am writing this, you can hardly drive down any street without seeing Halloween decorations on doors, in trees, yards, vehicles, and face-painted, too. Although COVID-19 shut down Halloween last year, and is severely curtailing Trick-or-Treat activity this year, alternative means are ubiquitous. Our Church joins in on the fun with “Trunk-or-Treat,” fun and treats outside in the parking lot.
Almost any idea or celebration can go too far, or become misguided. Halloween is a fun time; it can become a teaching moment as well. I think Christians actually do a better job dealing with the juggernaut Christmas evolved into by incorporating excellent teaching moments—-a kind of reclaiming the original purpose. Halloween, not so much.
Some Christians complain that Halloween hijacked the meaning of All Hallows Evening and All Saints Day. Some go so far as to say it is anti-Christian; citing the emphasis on Witches, Goblins, Ghosts, and Zombies. For sure, part of the secular influence is an adulteration of the Christian observance; it derives from the reality that the Saints being celebrated are, well, dead. Some cultures go a lot further with the dead theme than is typical in the USA.
The New Testament is rife with descriptions of saintly people, meaning “fully mature in the faith.” Missing in our current milieu is the essence of why we celebrate those who have gone before us, leaving legacies worthy of emulating. Certain passages come to mind, Ephesians 4:12-13, or Hebrews 11:1-3, or a specific reference to “saints,” Hebrews 11:4. But you get the idea. I love the comment —attributed to a child (or maybe it’s apocryphal)—“A saint is someone that the light shines through!”
Theologically Methodist’s observe All Saints Day on the Sunday closest to November 1. It is revered as a time of “giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints“, including both the famous or obscure. The larger picture is the strong belief that we are surrounded by “…a great cloud of witnesses...” We both revere those who have died, and celebrate the faith;a tradition we share with those who have gone before us. Have a Blessed All Saints Day!…..and Happy Halloween, Y’all!
Thanks, Willis.