The Truth About Halloween

00:00

Is Halloween celebrated where you live? In the United States and Canada, Halloween is widely known and celebrated every year on October 31. Halloween customs, though, can be found in many other parts of the globe. In some places holidays are celebrated that, although named differently, share similar themes: contact with the spirit world involving the spirits of the dead, fairies, witches, and even the devil and demon angels.—See the box “Celebrations Like Halloween Worldwide.”

PERSONALLY, you may not believe in supernatural spirits. You

might simply view taking part in Halloween and similar celebrations as a way to have fun and teach your

children to explore their imagination. Many people, though, regard these celebrations as harmful for the

following reasons:

“Halloween,” explains theEncyclopedia of American Folklore, “is integrally related to the prospect of

contact with spiritual forces, many of which threaten

or frighten.” (See the box “Halloween Time Line.”) Likewise, many celebrations like Halloween

have pagan origins and are deeply rooted in ancestor worship. Even today, people around the

world use these days to make contact with supposed spirits of the dead.

Although Halloween has been viewed mainly as an American holiday, each year people in more

and more countries have been adopting it. Many newcomers to the celebration, however, are

unaware of the pagan origins of Halloween symbols, decorations, and customs, most of which are

related to supernatural beings and occult forces.—See the box “Where Did It Come From?”
1. Thousands of Wiccans, who follow ancient Celtic rituals, still call Halloween by the ancient
  
  name Samhain and consider it to be the most sacred night of the year. “Christians ‘don’t
  
  realize it, but they’re celebrating our holiday with us. . . . We like it,’” stated the newspaper
  
  USA Today when quoting a professed witch.
  
  Celebrations like Halloween are in conflict with Bible teachings. The Bible warns: “There
  
  must never be anyone among you who . . . practices divination, who is soothsayer, augur
  
  or sorcerer, who uses charms, consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead.”
  
  —Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, The Jerusalem Bible; see alsoLeviticus 19:31; Galatians 5:19-
  
  21.
  
  In view of the foregoing, it is wise for you to know about the dark origins of Halloween and
  
  similar celebrations. Having this fuller understanding may move you to join many others
  
  who do not participate in these holidays.
  
  “Christians ‘don’t realize it, but they’re celebrating our holiday with us. . . . We like it.’”—The newspaper USA Today, quoting a professed witch
  
  CELEBRATIONS LIKE HALLOWEEN WORLDWIDE
  
  Halloween has generally been regarded as an American holiday. Yet this celebration has
  
  become popular in many parts of the world. Additionally, there are other festivities that are
  
  like Halloween in that they celebrate the existence and activity of spirit creatures. Shown
  
  here are some of the popular holidays like Halloween around the globe.
  - North America - Day of the Dead
  - South America - Kawsasqanchis
  - Europe - Day of the Dead and variations of Halloween
  - Africa - Dance of the Hooded Egunguns
  - Asia - Bon Festival
1. WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
  
  The Origin of Some Halloween Customs and Symbols
  
  VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, WITCHES, ZOMBIES: These creatures have long been
  
  associated with the evil spirit world.
  
  CANDY: The ancient Celts tried to appease wicked spirits with sweets. The church later
  
  encouraged celebrants to go from house to house on All Hallows’ Eve, asking for food in
  
  return for a prayer for the dead. This custom eventually became Halloween’s trick or treat.
  
  COSTUMES: The Celts wore frightening masks so that evil spirits would mistakenly think
  
  the wearers were spirits and would leave them alone. The church gradually amalgamated
  
  pagan customs with the feasts of All Souls and All Saints. Later, celebrants went from
  
  house to house wearing costumes of saints, angels, and devils.
  
  PUMPKINS: Carved, candlelit turnips were displayed to repel evil spirits. To some, the
  
  candle in the turnip represented a soul trapped in purgatory. Later, carved pumpkins were
  
  more commonly used.
  
  HALLOWEEN TIME LINE
  
  FIFTH CENTURY B.C.E.
  
  The Celts observe the festival of Samhain at the end of October, when they believe ghosts
  
  and demons roam the earth more so than at other times.
  
  FIRST CENTURY C.E.
  
  The Romans conquer the Celts and adopt the spiritistic rituals of Samhain.
  
  SEVENTH CENTURY C.E.
  
  Pope Boniface IV is said to have established the annual celebration of All Saints’ Day to
  
  honor martyrs. *
  
  ELEVENTH CENTURY C.E.
  
  The second of November is designated as All Souls’ Day to commemorate the dead.
  
  Observances surrounding All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are collectively called
  
  Hallowtide.
  
  EIGHTEENTH CENTURY C.E.
  
  The name of the holiday, Hallowe’en (Hallow Evening) appears in print as Halloween.
  
  NINETEENTH CENTURY C.E.
  
  Thousands of people who move from Ireland to the United States bring with them
  
  Halloween customs that, in time, combined with similar customs of emigrants from Britain
  
  and Germany, as well as Africa and other parts of the world.
  
  TWENTIETH CENTURY C.E.
  
  Halloween becomes a popular nationwide holiday in the United States.
  
  TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY C.E.
  
  Commercial interest in Halloween grows into a worldwide multibillion-dollar industry.
  
  http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201309/truth-about-halloween/
  
  हेलोवीन श्रृंखला का आखिरी लेख पढ़िए हेलोवीन की पूर्वसंध्या पर बहर सूरत मानकर चलिए
  
  Hallow eve'n (हैलो -ईवनिंग ) को जब इकठ्ठा पढ़ा गया तो
  
  स्लेंग हो गया "हेलोवीन "