Be alert and vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, walks about seeking those whom me may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
As I tried to share in my previous entry, Satan would love to have people think he doesn't exist…
roaring lion, walks about seeking those whom me may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
As I tried to share in my previous entry, Satan would love to have people think he doesn't exist…
...or that he's a creation of mankind invented as an excuse to escape responsibility for one's actions. But neither of these are true. The Bible makes clear the reality of the devil and our need to be wary of him.
In light of my past experiences with Satan and his cohorts, people would sometimes ask my thoughts about Halloween. In North America it has become something almost equal to Christmas with the early marketing of products and candies, all with Halloween in mind.
I am not, however, going to give my opinion as to whether or not Halloween is merely harmless fun, or if it is something to avoid. Everyone has to make his or her own choice. But I am going to share what I have read about Halloween and its origins, and all of it from a very reliable and well-established source.
Historically, Halloween has occultic origins. At one time, it was considered to be one of the most important days for druids and pagans. The Encyclopedia Britannica's online edition says of Halloween that it was "one of the most important and sinister calendar festivals of the Celtic year."
It went on to say, "it was fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes. Sacrifices and propitiations of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them the Celts believed they could not prevail over the perils of the season or counteract the activities of the deities."
Obviously, Halloween was not a time for fun and merriment. It was not a time for collecting candy and coins, or wearing cute costumes. It was a scary time when spirits of all kinds ran amok and people tried to do all they could to scare them off.
The Encyclopedia Britannica went on to state that Halloween, also known as All Hallow's Eve, "had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts in ancient Britain and Ireland." On Halloween, "people set bon fires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits."
The holiday is known for its skeletons and black cats. Also, for the Jack-o'-Lantern, which the Encyclopedia described as a symbol of "a hollowed-out pumpkin... carved into a demonic face and lit with a candle inside" to ward off evil.
While an upstanding missionary to Druids known as Saint Patrick, worked hard to banish these pagan rites which, again according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "involved offerings to demons." These rites and practices allowed for "animal sacrifices and rituals grossly repugnant to Christian teaching."
Human sacrifices for Samhain and Halloween were real events. They were not merely legends and fables. The Encyclopedia states, "The Druids offered human sacrifices for those who were gravely sick or in danger of death in battle. Huge wickerwork images were filled with living men and then burned; although the Druids preferred to sacrifice criminals, they would choose innocent victims if necessary."
Certainly, this is a far cry from North America's celebration of Halloween today.
D.B.
For further reading:
Encyclopedia Britannica.
Encyclopedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite
Online edition
Chicago: 2012
Recommended cites in the Encyclopedia to look up:
Cited: Halloween
Samhain
Celtic religion
Druid
In light of my past experiences with Satan and his cohorts, people would sometimes ask my thoughts about Halloween. In North America it has become something almost equal to Christmas with the early marketing of products and candies, all with Halloween in mind.
I am not, however, going to give my opinion as to whether or not Halloween is merely harmless fun, or if it is something to avoid. Everyone has to make his or her own choice. But I am going to share what I have read about Halloween and its origins, and all of it from a very reliable and well-established source.
Historically, Halloween has occultic origins. At one time, it was considered to be one of the most important days for druids and pagans. The Encyclopedia Britannica's online edition says of Halloween that it was "one of the most important and sinister calendar festivals of the Celtic year."
It went on to say, "it was fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes. Sacrifices and propitiations of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them the Celts believed they could not prevail over the perils of the season or counteract the activities of the deities."
Obviously, Halloween was not a time for fun and merriment. It was not a time for collecting candy and coins, or wearing cute costumes. It was a scary time when spirits of all kinds ran amok and people tried to do all they could to scare them off.
The Encyclopedia Britannica went on to state that Halloween, also known as All Hallow's Eve, "had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts in ancient Britain and Ireland." On Halloween, "people set bon fires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits."
The holiday is known for its skeletons and black cats. Also, for the Jack-o'-Lantern, which the Encyclopedia described as a symbol of "a hollowed-out pumpkin... carved into a demonic face and lit with a candle inside" to ward off evil.
While an upstanding missionary to Druids known as Saint Patrick, worked hard to banish these pagan rites which, again according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "involved offerings to demons." These rites and practices allowed for "animal sacrifices and rituals grossly repugnant to Christian teaching."
Human sacrifices for Samhain and Halloween were real events. They were not merely legends and fables. The Encyclopedia states, "The Druids offered human sacrifices for those who were gravely sick or in danger of death in battle. Huge wickerwork images were filled with living men and then burned; although the Druids preferred to sacrifice criminals, they would choose innocent victims if necessary."
Certainly, this is a far cry from North America's celebration of Halloween today.
D.B.
For further reading:
Encyclopedia Britannica.
Encyclopedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite
Online edition
Chicago: 2012
Recommended cites in the Encyclopedia to look up:
Cited: Halloween
Samhain
Celtic religion
Druid
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