I grew up looking forward to October 31st each year and the week after (or at least day or two) of candy-filled afternoons following a long day of school.  I liked getting the candy, but I also liked the dressing up in costumes.  It was fun to be creative and to see how my friends from the neighborhood planned to disguise themselves.  The fact that their parents were always with them as they “tricked or treated” did not rob the pleasure out of guessing who was under the mask. 

When I got to college, I discovered that some people had an objection to Halloween; until then my participation in the “holiday” went without any critical thought.  I realized that many treat the day as unholy because of its early association with pagan practices out of which the present-day events evolved.  I learned that some today are still using this as the holiday for all things occult, and it made sense to me for evangelicals to be wary of the practice.

The more I have thought about Halloween since then, I have come to a different conclusion.  Christmas and Easter have similar pagan beginnings where the medieval church adopted those holidays as opportunities to celebrate beautiful moments in the history of redemption.  The church adopted November 1st and the evening before it to remember the saints; it was called “All Saints’ Day” or “All Hallow Day.”  The night before was “All Hallow Eve” which has become Halloween.

It is more than history that gives me appreciation for the current practice.  Although many might still abuse the day for exulting in evil things, most who participate in Halloween festivities do it with purer motives (if love for candy can be called pure motivation).  What actually happens is that people invite strangers into their homes for a moment of conversation followed by a gift that their guests do not deserve.  It is a picture of hospitality, however brief, and there is much in the Bible that lets us know that God delights in hospitality.  Halloween is one of those great examples of things that Christians can re-claim, or really redeem, for the kingdom of God and to His glory.

Does God love Halloween? I don’t know – but He loves for His people to think creatively and wisely about their culture, and there are so few times in our own culture where we get such a clear illustration of what God does in the gospel (people out of their own generosity giving gifts to those who haven’t earned it all) that I find something redeeming in our practice at Halloween.  I still look forward to October 31st; and maybe I will have a little candy left over to enjoy after our disguised guests this year.