The Trick Behind the Treat

"FRANKENSTEIN": Story written by Mary Shelly, a cocaine addict. She wrote the novel while sitting on her mother's grave. When her husband died, she cut out his heart and then burned his body. She kept his heart. This is the origin of the "cute" monster suits and the origin of horror movies.

JACK-O'-LANTERN: Irish tradition says a miser/drunkard couldn't get into heaven because of his wicked life. His name was Jack. He also couldn't get into hell because he played tricks on the Devil. He was thus destined to walk the earth in darkness until judgment day. The devil gave him a lantern to guide him. Originally, turnips and potatoes were hollowed out and a candle placed in them. To protect those who provided a treat the Druid priest would leave a carved out lantern (turnip, potato) in which was placed a candle of human fat. This was to ward off evil spirits. Pumpkins were adopted in America as more suitable. The ugly face was to ward off demons.

VAMPIRES: Castle Dracula exists in Rumania and was once owned by a man named Valid the Impaler. He was a real person in the middle ages with a blood and flesh fetish. Broms Stoker wrote the book about him and called him Count Dracula. Hollywood made it into a movie.

LANTERNS/GHOSTS: From Druids and other traditions relating to evil spirits flying around on October 31st. Lanterns were to ward off the spirit/ghosts.

WITCHES: One of the oldest forms of Satanic worship. These individuals and covens which exist today are dedicated to Satan and his work of fear and terror. Many have real Satanic power. John Wesley said "to give up belief in witchcraft is to give up belief in the Bible". October 31st is the night of one of four witch general meetings during the year. It is a night of drugs, hallucination, blood sacrifices, and horror.

BLACK CATS: Talisman of witches. Animals indwelt by evil spirits. Known in the Bible many times as familiar spirits. Talisman could also be any charm, animal or object used for bad luck. Both Roman and Greek mythology speak of a woman priestess who could turn herself into a black cat. She served under Hecate as the goddess of sorcery and patron of witches.

FORTUNE TELLING: From Druids who used the remaining bones of humans and animals to tell the future. Scotch and Irish used games of divination to determine young ladies' future husbands, etc. Witches consulted many times to tell fortunes.

TRICK OR TREAT: Druids looking for virgin sacrifices. Soul cakes were left at door step to feed wandering souls of the departed. Goodies were left to feed demon spirits so they would not cause destruction. Later, goodies were given to pranksters to keep them from bothering ones house and properties.

HORROR MOVIES: Origin in Druid, Satanic, witch worship and sacrifice. Origin in horror tales told on Halloween to frighten others. They glorify ugliness, abnormalities, blood, perversion, violence, mutilation, and animal-like behavior. Their intent is to create fear and terror.

HUMAN MUTILATION: Origins is actual Druid practice. Also from witch activities, spells, etc. Promoted by movies, haunted houses, etc. Includes decapitation, legless and armless bodies, facial distortion, every sort of blood and gore you can imagine. This is something we protect our children from 364 days a year and promote on Halloween.

COSTUMES/ ANIMAL/ MONSTER: People came to the Druid Festival of Samhain in animal skins. The movie industry introduced monster characters. Costumes are a token worship of the things that they represent.

COSTUMES OF SUPER-HEROES: Origin in Greek and Roman mythology. Causes a preoccupation with the satanic supernatural...

EDITOR'S INSERT: "The day honoring Samhain highlighted the gloom and cold of the coming season. The Celts believed that Samhain assembled all the souls of the dead on October 31, the eve of the Celtic new year. This freed them to return to their homes, where their families were to entertain them. If they didn't find an acceptable welcome the spirits would cast spells or cause other problems for the living (the first form of trick or treat) To prepare for the arrival of these spirits the Druids built huge bonfires, sacrificing animals, crops, and even humans. This fire was also used for divinations (they studied the remains of the sacrificed animals)." "During this ritual, many people wore costumes made of animal heads and skins. When the Romans conquered the Celts, they combined the festival to Samhain with their own festival honoring Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, making apples and nuts an important part of the rituals." (Excerpt from Cultic Related Studies)

UGLY MASKS: From Druids, horror movies, satanic stories.

FAIRIES STAFF: Druid priests carried a crooked cane with a razor sharp point. The person refusing them would be threatened or staffed.

CHURCH OF SATAN: Halloween is a high holy day for witches and satanists. Do not take this lightly. The US. Government has granted tax exemption as a church to the Church of Wicca (Seekers of Wisdom) and the Church of Satan.

WHAT DOES GOD SAY?

Deuternomy 18:9: When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.

Deuternomy 7:25: The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God.

Deuternomy 7:26: And you shall not bring an abomination into your house, and like it come under the ban; you shall utterly detest it and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is something banned. /h4>

2 Cor. 6:14-16: Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.

1 Thess. 5:22: Abstain from every form of evil.

Rom. 12:2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Eph. 4:27: And do not give the devil an opportunity.

Jeremiah 10:2: Learn not the way of the heathen. For the customs of the people are vain.

2 Cor. 2:11: In order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

2 Tim. 1:7: For God has not given us the spirit of FEAR; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 John 4:18: There is not fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Luke 12:32: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom.

Romans 13:10: Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Proverbs 26:2: Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, so a curse without cause does not alight.

Romans 13:12: The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

1 Peter 1:14-16: And obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy".

Questions About Participation..

Every October 31, Christian parents face a number of questions about Halloween, such as, "Should we allow our children to go out trick or treating?" and "Should we answer the door and give out candy? or tracts?"

Without a sufficient knowledge of Halloween's history and what the Bible says, it is difficult for a Christian to adequately answer these and other questions about participation in Halloween.

The celebration of what we know as Halloween dates back to before the time of Christ. In the Celtic countries of Britain, Germany, and France the Druids, the priests and teachers of the Celts, set aside October 31 to honor Samhain the lord of the dead. At this time of year, the crops were harvested and it was a time of general decay. The day honoring Samhain highlighted the gloom and cold of the coming season.

The Celts believed that Samhain assembles all the souls of the dead on October 31, the eve of the Celtic new year, freeing them to return to their homes, where their families were to entertain them. If they didn't find an acceptable welcome, the spirits would cast spells or cause other problems for the living -- thus the first form of trick or treat.

So to prepare for the arrival of these spirits, the Druids built huge bonfires, sacrificing animals, crops, and even humans. The fire was also used for divination, as they studied the remains of the sacrificed animals. During this ritual, many people wore costumes made of animal heads and skins. When the Romans conquered the Celts, they combined the Festival of Samhain with their own festival honoring Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, making apples and nuts an important part of the rituals.

As time passed, despite the prevalence of Christianity, this pagan rite continued. The Irish, for example, held parades to honor Muck Olla, one of their gods. At the head of the parade marched a leader wearing a white robe and an animal head. Those following him asked for food to help celebrate the October 31 festival, punishing farmers who refused to cooperate -- another form of trick or treat. Bonfires raged throughout Wales, Scotland, England and the rest of Europe on October 31.

To counter this growing pagan rite, in the year 834, Pope Boniface IV moved the church feast of All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day) from May to November 1. October 31was naturally called All Hallows' Evening -- eventually abbreviated Halloween.

In Medieval times, satanic witches took Halloween as an opportunity to mock the saints of the church commemorated on All Saints' Day. The witches supposedly flew on broomsticks and were accompanied by black cats (also believed to be a type of witch). And in later years, the poor in England went door to door for food on November 2, All Souls' Day. Beggars received "soulcakes" in return for their promise to pray for the dead of that household.

In America, however, because of the strong religious convictions of the early settlers, Halloween celebrations were banned. But in the early 1800's as more immigrants of Celtic origin arrived, Halloween celebrations were instituted, complete with bonfires and death-related symbolism, as well as door-to-door trick or treating.

Dealing With the Questions

Despite the contemporary decline in trick or treating, because of dangers such as poisoned candy, Halloween lives on. School parties, the media, and peer pressure all serve to make Halloween a fun and necessary time in children's eyes. Christian parents face extreme difficulty in deciding what their family should do about the annual celebration. But considering Halloween's origins, it should not be difficult to establish a scriptural position on the holiday.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 states: "When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord."

Spiritual Guidelines

As Christians seek to make a firm decision regarding participation in Halloween, it is important to keep in mind that believers are called to:

1) Be separate from the world. "For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries." (1 Peter 4:3)

2) Be transformed. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

3) Be obedient and holy. "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior." (1 Peter 1:14-15)

4) Be "God pleasers". "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4)

5) Be leaders. "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them." (Ephesians 5:11)

Answering questions about distributing candy on Halloween or allowing children to go and trick-or-treat is something each individual Christian must do for himself. But as we look at the roots of Halloween and what the Bible says, we now have the firm foundation we need to base our decisions upon.

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Written by John Stanko, a pastor in Mobile, Alabama.

How Do I Become a Christian?

References

1) The Holy Bible.

2) Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary - A. Merriam Webster, 1971.

3) Youngs Analytical Concordance: Robert Young, LL.D., 1975. 4) Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Vol. 11-12, pg. 857, 1910. 5) Encyclopedia Britannica, Micropedia, Vol. 4, pg. 862, 1975. 6) Encyclopedia Britannica, Micropedia, Vol. 3, pg. 1068, 1975. 7) Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 13, pg. 725, 1978.

8) Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 13, pg. 725, 1982.

9) Collier's Encyclopedia, Vol. 12, pg. 192, 1980.

10) World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 9, pgs. 24-25, 1977.

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"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. {35} And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. {36} If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John_8:34-36_KJV)