Samantha Rinne
Resident Genderfluid Writer/Artist
The whole idea comes from a Protestant movement against what was actually a largely Catholic holiday.
A Catholic's Guide to Halloween
The early Catholic church had a great number of martyrs. Why, you ask? Because of early Roman persecution. Christians were sent to be eaten by lions. Put on the cross. Forced to stand in cold water for hours on end, freezing to death, and hopes they would recant. Instead, they made converts of the Romans during these spectacles. Who in turn were subjected to this for years and years.
They had festivals of each major saint who had a major leadership role in the church. However, the number of martyrs were simply too numerous to count, so a day was set aside, All Saints Day, to honor their sacrifice. The day after that is All Hallows Eve (All Hallows Eve -> Hallow Even -> Hallowe'en -> Halloween). Halloween didn't come from Samhain. It may have, possibly, have been influenced from a Christian attempt to reach pagan crowds, hence the specific choice of date (originally All Saints was May 13). But it is also distinctly Christian, even though pagans can celebrate it, just as some celebrate Yule AND Christmas.
In fact, the whole "demonic" smear about Halloween is a direct result of Protestants being against Catholicism and all its saint statues. It's super popular, and they can't seem to get rid of it, so they tell people it's "evil" and "pagan". And yet, the Day of the Dead, celebrates matters exactly as this article describes, and it's celebrated in largely Catholic countries.
Christians, This Is Our Night
I'm Protestant btw. But I've learned the story of the early martyrs. It's time to learn the True Meaning of Halloween. That it is not about evil, demons, or death, but about the triumph over such things. This is biblical.
So yeah, Halloween is commercial. But it's also an opportunity to share the Gospel.
A Catholic's Guide to Halloween
The early Catholic church had a great number of martyrs. Why, you ask? Because of early Roman persecution. Christians were sent to be eaten by lions. Put on the cross. Forced to stand in cold water for hours on end, freezing to death, and hopes they would recant. Instead, they made converts of the Romans during these spectacles. Who in turn were subjected to this for years and years.
They had festivals of each major saint who had a major leadership role in the church. However, the number of martyrs were simply too numerous to count, so a day was set aside, All Saints Day, to honor their sacrifice. The day after that is All Hallows Eve (All Hallows Eve -> Hallow Even -> Hallowe'en -> Halloween). Halloween didn't come from Samhain. It may have, possibly, have been influenced from a Christian attempt to reach pagan crowds, hence the specific choice of date (originally All Saints was May 13). But it is also distinctly Christian, even though pagans can celebrate it, just as some celebrate Yule AND Christmas.
In fact, the whole "demonic" smear about Halloween is a direct result of Protestants being against Catholicism and all its saint statues. It's super popular, and they can't seem to get rid of it, so they tell people it's "evil" and "pagan". And yet, the Day of the Dead, celebrates matters exactly as this article describes, and it's celebrated in largely Catholic countries.
Christians, This Is Our Night
I'm Protestant btw. But I've learned the story of the early martyrs. It's time to learn the True Meaning of Halloween. That it is not about evil, demons, or death, but about the triumph over such things. This is biblical.
So yeah, Halloween is commercial. But it's also an opportunity to share the Gospel.