“Trick or Treat” is the common greeting heard around the world on October 31, otherwise known as Halloween. Although today’s version of this ancient pagan holiday is all about costume parties and the door to door hunt for treats, many do not understand nor realize what evil origins Halloween derived from.

Halloween came from the superstitions and religious customs of the Celts. This ancient people of Northern Europe practiced a religion known as Druidism and Halloween was the day the Druid priests would honor their dead. Druids believed that the souls of those who had died that year were captured and held in the bodies of animals until their New Year, November 1 according to the Druid calendar. On the first day of their new year the souls would be judged and given the choice to claim a heavenly reward or remain in the body of the animal for another year.

The night before this judgment on October 31, or Samhain as the Druids referred to it, these souls were supposed to be free to move among the living. At dusk, townspeople and villagers would dress up in masked costumes as a tribute to the spirits and march to the edge of the towns and villages. This ritual was in hopes of leading the ghosts away from their homes and shielding themselves from the trouble these spirits might bring upon them. The people would provide treats in the form of tables filled to the brim with all sorts of food. Should they fail to provide adequate “treats” for these spirits, evil may befall them-from the burning of their homes to people and cattle becoming sick or even death. Human and animal sacrifice was a common practice associated with the observance of Samhain among the Druids and continued well into the first century A.D. usually involving cats or horses. Druids were known to offer human victims for those who were gravely sick or in danger of death in battle.

Christianity grew within the Roman Empire causing a suppression of Druidism. Samhain was known as an evil time of activity for the followers of Satan. It was believed in the Middle Ages that these Satanists became the most active and enjoyed their greatest power during this time. Much of the activity against Christianity was directed toward the Church on October 31. Activities such as mock communions, the worshipping of pagan gods and the devil, and the profaning of various symbols of Christianity were commonplace.

The name Halloween was first used in a decree made by Pope Gregory III in the eighth century. The Catholic festival for all the saints in Heaven was moved from May to November 1. Pope Gregory IV made this a universal celebration of the Catholic Church in the ninth century. This day became known as All Saint’s Day or All Hallow’s, making the day before it All Hallow’s Eve or Halloween. In the beginning, Halloween had nothing to do with the pagan holiday of Samhain. However, over the centuries the customs of the pagan holiday, Samhain, has perverted the religious holiday, All Hallow’s, by carrying on with dressing in masks and costumes and going door to door asking for treats. Today, the ramifications for those who do not provide adequate “treats” for the costumed mob knocking on their doors is unfortunately seen in toilet paper streaming from trees and eggs caked against pristine homes.

Should Christians participate in the custom of Trick-Or-Treating? This is a question many of us face and have made our own decisions regarding it. I can only refer to the only rule book I know concerning the answer to such a question. God warns His people to avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thes. 5:22).