Results 1 - 3 of 3
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | WHAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF HALLOWEEN... | 1 Thess 5:22 | Makarios | 99558 | ||
Greetings EdB, Thank you for that clarification. I first wrote that piece on Halloween when I was so much younger! :-) (About 10 years ago) I am constantly making revisions to it. Blessings to you, Makarios |
||||||
2 | WHAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF HALLOWEEN... | 1 Thess 5:22 | Jehonadab | 99562 | ||
Halloween has also been called All Hallows' Eve, the eve of All Saints' Day. This supposedly Christian name, however, hides origins that are far from hallowed. In fact, scholars say that Halloween's roots go back to a time long before Christianity-the era when the ancient Celts inhabited Britain and Ireland. Using a lunar calendar, the Celts divided the year into two seasons-the dark winter months and the light summer months. On the full moon nearest November 1, the Celts celebrated the festival of Samhain, meaning "Summer's End." Samhain may not be, as is often said, the name of the Celtic god of death but, rather, the name of the festival. According to Jean Markale, French specialist on the Celts, it was probably Lug, the god of light, who was honored during Samhain This festival, which marked the beginning of the Celtic new year, came at the end of summer, when the harvest had been gathered and the flocks and herds had been brought down from pasture into shelter. The Celts believed that as the days shortened, it was necessary to reinvigorate the sun through various rites and sacrifices. In symbolism of the dying old year, all fires were put out, and the new year was inaugurated with sacred bonfires from which all members of the community rekindled their hearths. These bonfires-an echo of which can be found today in Britain on Guy Fawkes Night and in Brazil in the June festivals-were also thought to frighten away evil spirits. It was believed that on the festival of Samhain, the veil between the human and the supernatural worlds was parted and spirits, both good and evil, roamed the earth. The souls of the dead were thought to return to their homes, and families would put out food and drink for their ghostly visitors in hopes of appeasing them and warding off misfortune. Thus, today when children dressed as ghosts or witches go from house to house demanding a Halloween treat or threatening a mischievous trick, they unwittingly perpetuate the ancient rituals of Samhain. Jean Markale comments in his book Halloween, histoire et traditions (Halloween-History and Traditions): "In receiving something in their hands, they establish, on a symbolic level that they do not understand, a brotherly exchange between the visible and the invisible worlds. That is why the Halloween masquerades . . . are in fact sacred ceremonies." Since people believed that the barriers between the physical and supernatural realms were down, they thought that humans were able to cross over into the spirit world with ease. Samhain was therefore a particularly auspicious time to unlock the secrets of the future. Apples or hazelnuts, both viewed as products of sacred trees, were used to divine information concerning marriage, sickness, and death. For example, apples with identifying marks were placed in a tub of water. By seizing an apple using only the mouth, a young man or woman was supposed to be able to identify his or her future spouse. This divination practice survives today in the Halloween game of bobbing for apples. Samhain was also characterized by drunken revelry and a casting aside of inhibitions. "Traditional values, if not flouted, were reversed," states Markale. "What was forbidden was allowed, and what was allowed was forbidden." Halloween still reflects this spirit today, which no doubt accounts to a great extent for its increasing popularity. Commenting on this, The Encyclopedia of Religion describes Halloween nowadays as "a time when adults can also cross cultural boundaries and shed their identities by indulging in an uninhibited evening of frivolity. Thus, the basic Celtic quality of the festival as an evening of annual escape from normal realities and expectations has remained into the twentieth century." Of great concern to Christians, however, is the fact that Halloween and celebrations like it are steeped in paganism. The apostle Paul wrote: "I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons." (1 Corinthians 10:20-22, New International Version) He also asked: "What common interest can there be between goodness and evil? How can light and darkness share life together? How can there be harmony between Christ and the devil? What can a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-16, Phillips) The Bible thus condemns the whole idea of putting a Christian mask on a pagan practice! Also, the Bible warns against the practice of spiritism. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) While it is true that the vast majority of those who celebrate Halloween would claim to spurn Satanic practices, we should, nevertheless, be aware that historically this holiday has close connections with the occult. Thus, it can serve as a door leading to spiritism |
||||||
3 | WHAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF HALLOWEEN... | 1 Thess 5:22 | Makarios | 99563 | ||
Good information, Jehonadab! When I initially came up with my information in 1995, I was constantly reading books on Satanism and satan worship.. I remember that sometimes, I would be so spiritually "drained" and repulsed after reading some of that material that I had to step away from it for some time before going back to it again. Just a word of wisdom on all "Halloween" posts.. We should be careful that we do not delve into the enemy's works too deeply, since we might find ourselves knee deep in it if we are not too careful.. Remember, the enemy can deceive us in more ways than one, and what is written about him can even deceive us if we dwell too much and too often on his devices, taking away our joy and hope. I write this even though I do agree that we should be aware of the enemies devices. But we should be careful about just how close we take that look. Blessings to you, Makarios |
||||||