HALLOWEEN- SAMHAIN (SOW-IN)

HALLOWEEN - Samhain (Sow-in)

This holiday began in Europe specifically in Ireland and Northern France. This was a Celtic custom, a pagan holiday basd on false beliefs about the dead, demons and spirits that walked among the living. During this time the Celtic people wore custumes with animal heads, skins and told each other fortunes.

They commemorated the holiday by building sacred bonfire, animal sacrifices offered up to idols (dieties). The Roman Empire conquered the Celtic territory and they combined two of their festivals with samhain: Feralia-the passing of the dead and Pomona- the Roman goddess of fruit trees (apples) hence the practice of bobbing for apples today.

Later it made it way to America shores by colonial New England settlers.  "Anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. (Deut.18:10-12).

TRICK-OR-TREAT- (Pre-Christian roots).The early settlers that came to America celebrated by dressing up in ghoulish costumes and went from house-to-house to trick-or-treat. They believed the masks frightened off the demons who brought with them misfortunes. One reason for the costumes is that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Sweet were offered to appease the spirits.

In medieval times the Roman Catholic clergy embraced this pagan custom and their adherents  requesting small gifts. 1000 AD the church designated November 2 as All Soul's Day, a time for honoring the dead. As time went on all the gory stuff was removed and eventually lost most of its superstitious and religious influences.

As Christians we have to separate ourselves from these unclean things. According to 1 Corinthians 10:20-21, it is stated "I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."