Halloween and the Church - Research Paper Example

John Vasquez V01187357 Lesson 8 Halloween and the Church One of the popular American practices that may be considered strange and paradoxical is the feast of Halloween. It seems that despite the fact that Americans are very pious, and are a nation of believers in various Juedeo-Christian religions, this dark holiday attracts almost everyone. Halloween, notwithstanding the fact that the official Catholic Church condemns it, is really widely spread in the society. However, it would be incorrect to state that the Americans are the only nation incorporating both pagan and Christian traditions into their culture. The duality of contrasting beliefs shows how Americans incorporate diverse beliefs to create a society that is unique. Individuals should dwell upon the phenomenon of Halloween and try to speculate upon how it reflects the peculiarities of the American mind and culture on the whole. Halloween originated among the ancient Celt. The Celtic culture created a special feast in which to honor Samhain. Davis (2005) explains the rituals concerning the Samhain traditions were: Rooted in pagan traditions more that 2,000 years old, Halloween grew out of a Celtic celebration making the onset of winters gloom. Called Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sow-een), it combined the Celts harvest and New Year festivals, held in late October and early November by people in what is now Ireland, Great Britain and elsewhere in Europe. This ritual was tied to the seasonal cycles of life and death, as the last crops were harvested and livestock were brought in for the winter or slaughter. The Celts believed that last day of autumn the souls and ghosts of the dead visit the Earth. David Rendelman (n.d.) explains: The Druids, an order of priests in ancient Britain, believed that on Halloween, ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves came out to harm people. They thought the cat was sacred and believed that cats had once been human beings but were changed as a punishment for evil deeds. From these Druidic beliefs comes the present-day use of witches, ghosts, and cats in Halloween festivities. These beliefs created the current Halloween practices of today in America. The Druids preferred not to stay alone, made a large fire, and were on their guard in order to make sure the evil spirits stayed away on 31 October. This is where the modern carnival comes from. In order to protect oneself from the evil spirits, an individual has to dress up and pose as ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves. Ron Rhodes (2008) elaborates on pumpkin carving and candles, which the Druids used to scare off evil spirits with grotesque features. Kenneth Davis (2005) explains pagan rituals “merged with Christianity, these Celtic rituals held sway in Europe for centuries. And when millions of Irish and Europeans emigrated to America, they carried along their traditions.” Although it was later almost fully prohibited in England, France and other European countries, Americans became the ones who truly breathed new life into the holiday. Old traditions merged with new traditions and todays Halloween was invented. Although many religions disapprove of Halloween, even in America, Halloween and the Catholic Church have a close relationship. The Halloween celebrations and Catholic Church holiday of All Saints that is celebrated on November 1 are closely interconnected. Kenneth C. Davis (2005) explains: Christianity took a dim view of these heathen rites. Attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a church-approved holiday, the seventh-century Pope Boniface IV designated Nov. 1 All Saints Day to honor saints and martyrs. Then, in 1000 A.D., the church made Nov. 2 All Souls Day, a day to remember the departed and to pray for their souls. Even still, people continued to celebrate holy days like Samhain, costumed as angels and devils, with bonfires and parades. Together, the three celebrations (All Saints Eve, All Saints Day and All Souls Day) were called Hallowmas, and the night before came to be called All-hallows Evening, eventually shortened to Halloween. The Catholic Church attempted to replace a demonic holiday with one that met with their approval. The holiday that was to replace the heathen rituals was to be a day that celebrated Church saints. Riley (2007) states: The tradition dates back to the time of the first Christian martyrs. According to third century historian Eusebius, second century Christian bishop Polycarp had kindly greeted and set a table of food for the soldiers who came to his house to arrest him in exchange for an hour to pray...was said to have been offering up prayers of faith and praise while people prepared to burn him alive. Following his death, Christians gathered annually at Polycarp’s grave to remember his brave witness and gain courage through his example. Gradually the day shifted focus to remembering all martyrs. Another version of the Catholic Church sanctioned holiday is: Villagers were also encouraged to masquerade on this day, not to frighten unwelcome spirits, but to honor Christian saints. On All Saints Day, churches throughout Europe and the British Isles displayed relics of their patron saints. Poor churches could not afford genuine relics and instead had processions in which parishioners dressed as saints, angels and devils. This religious masquerade resembled the pagan custom of parading ghosts to the town limits. It served the new church by giving an acceptable Christian basis to the custom of dressing up on Halloween. (How did a Pagan Holiday become a Christian Celebration) Despite the effort to change pagan rituals into a Christian holiday, the Catholic Church only muddled and blurred the lines between pagan tradition and Church tradition. The Catholic Church argues against the Halloween holiday. Rendelman (n.d.) quotes a Biblical scripture, 1 Thessalonian 5:21-22, that states “test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” Evil is apparent in every aspect of the Halloween traditions. Costumes depicting devils, demons, skeletons, the dead, zombies, witches, and other wicked creatures are worn by babies to the elderly. Begging for candy or other treats can be considered immoral. Americans fascination with this holiday is based upon the national tendency to enjoy trick effects and shows, no matter how evil the holiday appears. Another evil that should be avoided is the lightness Americans take death. There is no fear of God or death in the Halloween tradition. Other traditions of Halloween, such as various prophesies, magic rituals, fortune-telling, divination, and others are also, according to religous groups, of anti-Christian nature. Celebrating Halloween, the Catholic Church claims, often results in people’s interest towards the Satanism and occultism. In modern culture, Halloween has become not only a commercial holiday, but also a season of cultural fascination with evil and the demonic. Even as the society has pressed the limits on issues such as sexuality, the cultures confrontation with the dark side has pushed far beyond boundaries honored in the past. This fascination with the occult comes as America has been sliding into post-Christian secularism. While the courts remove all theistic references from Americas public square, the void is being filled with a pervasive fascination with evil, paganism and new forms of occultism. (Mohler 2003) Thus not only the Catholic Church, but many religious groups, feel Halloween should not be celebrated. Another tradition Americans have began to follow is Halloween weddings. A large amount of Americans like to perform wedding ceremonies on this day, especially with some characteristic Halloween trick effects. For example, the bride and bridegroom are married by Dracula from out of his coffin. It seems odd that Americans would take a serious ceremony like a wedding and turn it into something creepy. As a rule, people in the USA prefer to get married in church. However weddings on Halloween cannot be preformed in a church, as individuals cannot expect a priest dressed up like a vampire or a wizard. Again, it can reveal the American peoples need to sometimes step aside from traditions. It might seem like harmless fun, but many religious organizations find the aspect of dressing in costumes evil. By looking like witches and other non-human creatures people show disrespect to their own human image that was created by God. Daniel Rendelman (n.d.) claims that individuals can find excuses for Bible believers to celebrate Halloween, but the argument does no good. These practices are rather bizarre, as religious groups, normally respected by Americans, considers that imitating evil spirits allow an individual to be taken over by a demonic possession. Dressing up in costumes can also be considered destruction of an individuals appearance, which was given to them by God. Other individuals repeat Halloween traditions today by people who are unaware, or simply do not care about their true meaning. Individuals celebrate the holiday for the fun without knowing the origins. Rendelman (n.d.) feels time may have passed, but the origins and true purpose remains the same. Such as petty vandalism which the Church also does not approve of. Children break glasses, burn trees, toilet paper houses, steal, and other acts of malicious mischief. Bannatyne (1998: 21) explains in the 1920s the scouts introduced the practice of trick or treat where people passed out candy to protect themselves from the mischief. People still like to commit actions they would not usually do in their normal life. Respectable businessmen are likely to turn over garbage bins, stewardesses (mainly on domestic flights) dress up like a witches or fairies, teachers have no less fun than their students. It is really an unusual tradition to wear a mask and play a role quite opposite to what one is in the society. Both children and grown-ups enjoy themselves and have fun greeting November in the costumes of witches and vampires, throwing eggs, taking part in the best costume competitions, and eating pumpkin dishes. It reveals the need Americans have to throw away from time to time their normal social roles and take up something quite uncommon. Americans particularly care about their children. The majority are usually good parents. Thus individuals that are not American do not understand why parents allow their children to participate in the Halloween holiday. In addition to all this, Halloween has become downright dangerous in many neighborhoods. Scares about razor blades hidden in apples and poisoned candy have spread across the nation in recurring cycles. For most far greater fear is the encounter with occultic symbols and the societys fascination with moral darkness. (Mohler 2003) In addition some scientists think it can traumatize the child’s mind, demoralize the children and even demonize them. Going door to door can expose children to deranged pedophiles and other predators. Still American parents treat Halloween as a means to please their kids, despite the dangers. Not all of the criminal activity on Halloween is petty vandalism. Rogers (2001:97) relates the story of the Devils Night in Detroit. The night of Halloween or Devils Night in Detroit was from many years in the 1970s through the mid 1990s a night of arson. In a particularly bad year, 1994 saw almost half the town on fire (Rogers 2001:97). The crime wave eventually was contained by volunteers patrolling the city. Millions of dollars in damages were created during Devils Night. The tradition that had started out as petty vandalism in the early 20th century had grown into a full night of terror. This is an example of how Halloween traditions can get out of hand. Not all Americans participate in the Halloween traditions. Some parents due to religious beliefs, safety concerns, or various other reason choose to withdraw from the Halloween holiday all together. Alternative festivals have become popular among these groups. Punch, pumpkin pies, caramel apples, and other fall harvest/Thanksgiving gatherings are another option to the Halloween holiday. Safety for these parents are paramount. This is why: For this reason, many families withdraw from the holiday completely. Their children do not go trick-or-treating; they wear no costumes and attend no parties related to the holiday. Some churches have organized alternative festivals, capitalizing on the holiday opportunity, but turning the event away from pagan roots and the fascination with evil spirits. (Mohler 2003) The Catholic Church, along with other Christian churches, offer these services to mitigate the negative affects of the scary holiday. Thus the question becomes why are Americans so attracted to Halloween? The answer may lay with the fact of modern secularism has taken over America. More and more Americans are choosing a secular life over a devout existence. The secular economic advantages to this holiday must also be taken into account. It is thought: Modern Halloween has become a day associated with darkness and secularism. Halloween is responsible for some 4-6 billion dollars each year, according to horror historian David J. Skal. Halloween is also said to be the second most important party night in North America, according to historian Nicholas Rogers. (Riley 2007) Secular America thinks about turning a profit. If Halloween was no longer observed, than billions of dollars, a whole industry, would die out. This would seriously impact the American economy. Halloween festivities make Christians act in an unchristian manner that contradicts Christian foundations. The Americans have not lost their faith, or turned to the dark side. Americans still believe in God, but choose to separate this one night from their religious ideals. This creates a conundrum on the Halloween issue in America. If Christians live a proper life for the rest of the year, why do they choose the dark side one night a year? The conclusion might be many elements of Halloween show that the Americans are in need to change their social roles from time to time. Americans are tired of posing as respectable citizens and would like to be – at least once in a year – somebody else. Bibliography Ankerman, J. (2008). The facts on Halloween. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. Print. Ankerberg, J. and J. Weldon. (1996). The facts on Halloween: What Christians need to know. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. Print. Bannatyne, L. P. (1998). Halloween: An American holiday, an American History. USA: Pelican Publishing Company. Print. Blevins, J. C. (2008). Religion of fear: The politics of horror in conservative evangelicalism. USA: Oxford University Press. Print. Chafets, Zev. (1990). Devils Night and Other True Tales of Detroit. New York: Random House Davis, K. C. (2005). Don’t know much about Halloween. 23 Oct. 2005. USA Weekend Magazine. Online. Flanagan, A. J. (2002). Halloween alternatives: Three Saints’ Parties for home or classroom. USA: Pauline Books and Media. Print. Harding, N. (2006). Better then Halloween: Bright alternatives for churches and children. USA: Church House Publishing. Print. Markale, J. (2001). The pagan mysteries of Halloween: Celebrating. USA: Inner Traditions. Print. Mohler, R. A., Jr. (2003). First person: The issue of Halloween. 31 Oct. 2003. The Baptist Press. Online. The good news, a magazine of understanding. (2005). How did a pagan holiday become a eChristian’ celebration? Online. Rendelman, D. (n.d.). Finding the truth about Halloween. Emet Ministries. Online. Riley, J. (2007). Halloween the unpopular Christian story. 31 Oct. 2007. The Christian Post. Online. Rhodes, R. (2008). Halloween: What you need to know. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. Print. Rogers, N. (2001). Halloween: From pagan ritual to party night. USA: Oxford University Press. Print. Stevens, S. (2004). Halloween-It isn’t what it seems! Oct. 2004. Jubilee International Resources. Online. Read More