Let's talk about Halloween
Origin of the Name “Halloween”
The name “Halloween” comes from the same word we say in Our Father: “hallowed,” which means “holy.” Hallow-eve, as in a holy evening, is the evening before the feast of All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) when all the saints are remembered in the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches (the Orthodox Church celebrates All Saints’ Day on the first Sunday after Pentecost (Зелені свята). All Saints’ Day is followed by All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2, remembering all the departed in the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches (as the Mexicans do on Dia dos Muertos). As we have written here on the site, the Orthodox Church does not commemorate the dearly departed only on one day of the year, but rather several times:
Demetrius Saturday - the Saturday before the day of St. Demetrius (day of St. Demetrius - Oct. 26, Nov. 8 - old calendar).
Soul Saturday - the Saturday before Meatfare Sunday.
2, 3, 4 Saturdays of Lent - as Christ lay in the tomb on Saturday, we remember the departed on these Saturdays of the Great Lent.
Bright Week and the first Sunday after Pascha - a traditional time of visiting the gravesites of departed family, also known as provody/проводи.
Saturday before Pentecost - another traditional time of visiting the gravesites of departed family.
Whether We Like It Or Not
Monasteries on Mt. Athos
Over the last 50-100 years, our society has come to believe less and less in the supernatural world, supernatural only in the sense of what cannot be seen such as angels, demons and God, of course. Would you easily believe someone if they told you they had seen an angel? And what about a ghost? What about having been spoken to by God?
Without a doubt, it has become second nature to doubt the supernatural. But, as Christians - yes, even Orthodox Christians, not only are we expected to believe in the devil and demons, but anticipate their interference in our lives.
Listen to the podcast The Real Demons of Hallowe’en: Special Episode - Is it participation in the occult, cavorting with demons we should be running away from, or is it harmless dressing up and candy? While in Canada, and specifically in the Ukrainian Orthodox community here in Canada, we have little touch with monasteries and their experiences there, it is a semi-regular conversation that occurs among monastics of demons attacking them during their prayers, leaving them with bruises and cuts. We must believe in the devil and demons and evil spirits because the devil wants to confuse us and doubt us. That is his success - chaos, confusion and doubt.
Costume Ideas And Protection
While Halloween can be seen as a secular holiday, without a doubt there are some people who truly do worship Satan and ask for evil spirits to come out. The spirits will be out only because they have been called upon, not because it is some sort of auspicious evening. So take heart!
Keep your and/or childrens’ costumes a little more innocent - characters, non-scary figures, animals etc. Avoid the scary monsters, demons, and witch costumes.
And if you do not already, consider wearing your cross and make the sign of the cross to protect yourself as you pass in front of disturbing scenes. Teach your children to do the same.
But Fear Not
We are not afraid of death or the devil for we have the single, most powerful tool of the universe - the Holy Cross. We know that Jesus has broken death and overcome the devil. But, nonetheless, we take the demons seriously and ask God for His protection.
Also read “The Christian Origin of Skulls at Halloween”.