Halloween is such a controversial holiday. Like most things, it started out as something good and is now a shell of what it once was. I have found that “hating” on anything is probably the least effective way of understanding why a thing exists or is insistent upon perpetuating its existence in its present form. In understanding a thing, we are empowered to either peacefully co-exist with it or work to change the prevailing condition, even if that means removing ourselves from the perpetuators (or perpetrators, depending upon what’s going on).
As for Halloween, it began as “All Hallows Eve” or “All Hallows Evening”. It celebrated the eve of All Hallows Day, which occurs each year on November 1st and is a celebration of all the saints and martyrs who gave their lives in service of Christianity and are now in the Spirit World. Why would Christians choose November 1st as a day to honor saints and martyrs? Well, there are several reasons, the first of which dates back to the celebration of Samhain by the Celtic peoples of what are now Great Britain and Ireland. Samhain was a celebration of the fall harvest and the natural change in seasons, which brought about a time of reflection on the previous growing season.
People call this “paganism”, but many of the traditions of the classic world make perfect sense if given some thought. As the cold days of fall creep in and darkness comes earlier in the day, it is a natural time to be in-doors. When one is inside, he’s not focused on the external world. So, it is a natural time of reflection. When one is out working or playing, it is NOT the natural time for reflection. That is a better time for individual and collective expression, because you are out and about and in the company of others.
In December, many will celebrate Christmas. It has its origins in the Roman Saturnalia and the worship of the God Saturn. Again, this makes perfect sense, when you consider that very little grows in the winter. So, Saturn was worshipped as the God of Plenty and most of the activities initially associated with that day were in hopes that the Golden Age of Plenty would continue, even in the darkest days of winter.
On a deeper level, Saturn represented the level of discipline one would have to exercise in assuring that there would be enough supplies to last the whole winter long. Even slaves had full plates as part of the Roman Saturnalia. This was an indication that the master of the house exercised Saturnian discipline in ensuring preparation was made year-long, so that the needs of the house could be met in the winter. So, Saturn is considered Father Time and is a God who demands that we exercise a certain amount of discipline. Some call Saturn the great malefic, for being such a strict father. It is because the father is strict that the sons and daughters have a long, fruitful life. The gift-giving and merry-making associated with the Saturnalia became the gift-giving and merry-making associated with Christmas.
So, Halloween or All Hallows Evening was supposed to celebrate the evening before a time of reflection. Since people naturally fear the dead, it was decided that there needed to be a means of coping with this fear. Costume, pranks, and receiving candy from ghouls and ghosts was originally intended to remind that there is no reason to fear the dead – that they are simply in another place and form. Had the early Church not decided against teaching the principles associated with reincarnation, there would be no need for Halloween. We’d have a healthy respect for all the realities associated with death and the realm of the dead.
The celebration of Halloween even eclipses the day it was supposed to represent. It’s like celebrating Good Friday and forgetting Easter. Or, celebrating Black Friday and skipping Christmas. That’s essentially what’s being done when we celebrate Halloween and forget the Feast of All Hallow’s Day. Think about it. There is no day for honoring the souls of loved-ones who’ve contributed much to our lives, but have gone on. Yet, there is a day to dress-up in costume, buy and eat candy, and act a bit of a fool. Because we don’t give things of spirit much serious consideration in a scientific age, we cannot expect that this situation will change anytime soon.
November means nine. Nine is the number associated with completion, birth, and the presence of the Eternal God. November is the 11th month in our 12-month calendar system. Eleven is also a master number and represents the portal or gateway between two states of reality. So, it is the perfect month to reflect on the testimonies of all those lives which are complete, all those people who have passed through the gate, on to the next phase in their journey toward the Return to our Eternal God.
As the Earth travels through the doorway of fall, into the dark of winter, it is the perfect time to reflect on the change in seasons for all life-forms. We are born. We mature. We grow old. Then, we die, only to return in another form in the next season of life. The investment we make in this lifetime will determine what blossoms and blooms for us next lifetime. And, that’s the true meaning and spirit of the holiday and Holy Day after.
By James Will M. Power
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