I was recently reading a Facebook thread on Peregian Springs Locals Community Forum about Halloween. The comment and question that began this spirited conversation went something like this: “I hear that Halloween is celebrated in some neighbourhoods. Are there any Halloween festivities planned for Peregian Springs, and how do I know if I should expect trick-or-treaters on my street?”

Residents replied enthusiastically that Halloween is “HUGE” in the Springs, and that it is common for both children and their parents to dress up for an evening of celebrations and trick-or-treat fun. One Peregian Springs resident, originally from the United States, even observed that “Halloween is now bigger here [in Peregian Springs] than in my old neighbourhood in Colorado! We ran out of candy by 6:30…”

No doubt Halloween’s popularity is echoed in many other parts of the Sunshine Coast. Nationally it has grown from small beginnings and is now embraced by communities all across our country. So, like it or not, on the evening of Wednesday 31 October many of us will be visited by little, and perhaps not so little, goblins, fairies, witches, superheroes and devils.

As an Anglican Minister, I have come to expect the same question annually about Halloween. It has its variations, but mostly goes something like this; “So what do you think of Halloween?” I am never 100% sure who those posing the question are referring to when they say “you.” Is it Christians in general, the Church leadership, or me personally? For this reason it is always tricky to answer the question. I know that many Christians have differing opinions about Halloween. Therefore, I do not presume to be the spokesperson for the entire Christian faith, however, I also cannot bury my head in the sand and pretend that Halloween does not exist.

Before I share some of my thoughts about Halloween, it is helpful to step back into the early centuries to briefly look at the origins of the festival.

On 1 November each year, the Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated the end of summer and the harvest, and start of a new year and the colder months. As part of this celebration the people believed that the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead blurred, and the spirits of their departed loved ones returned home to visit to their families. However, they also believed that evil spirits lingered, so they lit bonfires, made sacrifices, dressed up, and wore masks and other disguises to frighten off the unwelcome spirits and bring on good fortune for the coming year.

In the 7th and 8th Centuries the Catholic Popes were unhappy with these pagan celebrations and decided to ‘claim’ the date for the Christian faith. As part of this process, the Popes moved All Saints’ (or Hallows’) Day from 13 May to 1 November. On this day the Christians remembered faithful believers of the past who had died and resolved to follow their good example. The eve of All Saints’ Day was also set apart as a holy day, and became known as All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween.

In the 16th Century the Catholic Church split, and its opponents (the Protestants, of which the Anglican Church belongs) banned the celebration of All Hallows’ Eve and Day. This was mostly due to their anti-Catholic stance rather than its association with dead Christians, or ghosts and goblins. The festival gradually lost its religious impetus and over time evolved into a day where trick-or-treating, carving pumpkin lanterns, dressing up in creative costumes and eating lollies became the norm.

So, is there anything good about Halloween, or is it an evil our society can do without?

From my perspective, if the focus of Halloween is a community festival known for fancy dress costumes, creative masks, tasty food, visiting neighbours, carving pumpkin lanterns, games, and generously sharing lollies with excited children, then this can only be helpful for bringing community together. What a great way to develop richer connections with those we pass in our neighbourhoods, but with whom we usually never utter a word!  Therefore Halloween is good, especially to deepen these relationships in a society that experts tell us is suffering from a loneliness epidemic.

However, on the flip side, if Halloween promotes things that are opposed to God, glorifies the Devil and/or celebrates evil, then Halloween is unhelpful, and our community could certainly do without it.  From a Christian perspective, I believe that we must not trivialise such things. Coupled with that, if Halloween revolves around children playing nasty pranks on neighbours who forgot to drop into the supermarket to stock up on lollies, then this, too, is not a helpful practice in any community.

Finally, what should we make of people remembering loved ones who faithfully lived as followers of Jesus on All Saints Day?  What a wonderful idea, and one I fully support. We can certainly learn a great deal from those Christian women and men who have gone before us, especially about living at peace with our maker.

If you celebrate Halloween this year, it is my hope and prayer that you will focus your energy on helping build a community characterised by deep, fulfilling friendships. After all, this is exactly the reason God created humans; for a relationship with Him, and with one another.

Reverend Gary McClellan

COLLEGE CHAPLAIN