Or, shall we say, Happy Halloween!
Across the Christian church, different church bodies have different approaches to the celebration of Halloween. Much like many other traditions, various denominations have different interpretations of what Halloween is…and is not.
But, did you know that Halloween and the celebration of All Saints Day (on November 1) actually are connected?
Halloween is actually a mashed-up version of “All Hallows Eve” (Hallowe’en). Especially in the middle ages, Hallowe’en would be a night that church goers would attend worship and light a candle on the graves of those who had died in the past year. We observe this practice as we celebrate All Saints Day. In addition to that practice, other traditions developed, some of which are similar to Halloween practices today (wearing costumes, making jack-o-lanterns, etc.)
So as you celebrate Halloween today (have some fun with it!), I also encourage you to think ahead to our celebration of All Saints Day. Consider for yourself:
- If you were to describe what a “saint” is, what would you say?
- What saints have impacted you and your life of faith? How have they made an imprint on your life?
- As you approach All Saints Day this year – remembering those who have died and those who have been baptized in the past year – do you feel a sense of loss? of joy? of hope? something else?
As we’ll hear this coming Sunday in 1 John 3, we have all been called children of God. And as such, YOU have been named and claimed as a saint in God’s Kingdom. May you claim your title as saint this week, and may you embrace what it means to live as a saint in God’s Kingdom today!