Monday, October 28, 2013

Halloween: the Orthodox Christian view

Why celebrating this is wrong


For several years we’ve distributed writings in our parish on the pagan festival of Halloween, which is now celebrated not only in the West, but in our long-suffering native fatherland. This year again we want to draw your attention to not participating in this celebration under any circumstances. Whether it’s children, parents, or residents in your neighbourhood - you cannot take part either passively or actively.

When we speak of the Orthodox, they look at this event in different ways. Some categorically reject it, others feel forced to participate - "so as not to offend the neighbors," while others are happy to participate in it fully. It seems there may be nothing wrong in that, for example, a child went with other kids in costumes to walk the area and collect treats? Or, for example, is it bad that children knock on the door, and people give candy? At first glance - all innocent. But why is it that the Church insists that neither the first, nor the second, nor any other part of this event is allowed.

We’ve explained before the historical satanic meaning of the holiday, and for many it is quite clear. On this we are told that this is now one of the holidays where previous significance does not apply, that it is now a simple autumnal festival, quite innocent and fun.

Let us, therefore, look directly at what this holiday resembles now, as far as possible without referring to its "forgotten" meaning.

Currently, under this holiday people place, where possible, real and fake pumpkins, which depict evil faces. To this are added all sorts of other malformations. Others arrange “make-belief” cemeteries and spider web pits. They clothe themselves in all sorts of costumes from simple animals to patients and freaks. Under these decorations adults are just having fun, and the children collect candy. Moreover, the amount of these candies is quite excessive and the quality in most cases below average.

So, what can a child’s soul learn, by looking at all this, by participating in it?

Obviously, nothing good. Thrown-out pumpkins accustom them to handle the fruits of the earth without respect and become unfeeling towards others, those who are happy with just a handful of rice. In fact, what happens? A man takes a fruit created by God, carves an evil face in it, lights a candle for this, and then throws out the fruit. Is this not a religious sacrifice to Satan?

Throughout this hypocrisy evil faces will be grafted and are displayed where Halloween grins are no more sincere than the Hollywood smile. Furthermore, being surrounded by angry faces, people are basically being accustomed to the fact that evil is the norm, and even good. Just look at today's heroes from sports teams (almost all of their logos - evil grins, and even some use the name of the devil in the name) to cartoons - almost everywhere showing the more evil ones winning. And even the "good" hero to win must certainly get angry and use the same tactics the villain uses.

Mocking attitudes to monsters develops callousness and inability to feel the pain and suffering of others. In fact, what is so happy in a bloody wrinkled face, which many masks depict? Or what is so good in chopped limbs? Why should it become a matter of fun and holiday decoration?

What to say about the supposedly amusing relation to the deceased? Graves are turned into an object of dreadful fun. The ashes of a human are made subject to inappropriate jokes.

If a child is watching all of this from childhood, what kind of relationship to someone else’s pain, to the memory of ancestors, to the dust of the dead, to holy relics, finally, will develop in their soft pliable heart?

Passing by the cemetery, a person, celebrating Halloween, will be thinking about Halloween, but not of eternal life, seeing the human suffering, corpses, will not remember the Redeemer, and in his heart the fire of sympathy will not light.

Not all that bad, they will tell us. But it is worth to take a look around, and we'll see, that true love, true compassion, self-sacrifice for the sake of this Christian brotherly closeness is almost already gone in the world. People get used to the fact that humans are dying needlessly every day all around the world. Some of them are dying horrible deaths with their guts falling out, parts of their bodies torn and faces all scared and partially burned. What would otherwise make us try our best to stop this from happening has become mere  entertainment. It will not be a while when  people start openly admitting to watching real wars with the enjoyment similar to that of watching a sports game. In fact, we’re aware of the facts when some Americans were preparing to watch real war reports with popcorn.

Naturally, non-tempted children, unaccustomed to seeing angry faces, are scared of these "decorations". However, in order to lure a child and create in their mind the desired association, candy is used. In children, this "holiday" is primarily identified with unhealthy amounts of candy that they love, and everything else falls into place by itself. The child literally sells his soul. Of course, this is not a conscious act on the part of the child, but the responsibility lies with the child. However, much more responsibility lies with the adults, who arrange this temptation for children. Adults especially need to remember the words of the Savior: But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (Matt. 18:6-7).

Therefore, no matter how involved one may be in this celebration it is harmful to them. Especially, it is harmful to Orthodox Christians, because, in addition to the above mentioned temptations, this holiday has a clear anti-Christian orientation. The Cross becomes part of a presentation, and the souls of the dead are represented in the form of rotting rags. Along with the "living dead", all of this is a mockery of the faith of Christ, especially designed to instill in young hearts false ideas of death, resurrection, and eternal life and the Cross of the Lord.

Sometimes we hear that it is difficult, living in a modern society, especially in the West, not to participate in it. The temptation is there, and, perhaps, for those, who have not betrayed any importance to this temptation, now seems particularly great. But for this the Church exists. You need to ask for help with a prayer to God and to ask questions to the priest. And you’ll see, previously insurmountable barriers will be quite passable. The main thing is, to remember that, there is nothing more valuable than the human soul in this world, and that for her salvation the almighty God came down to the sinful earth and was crucified and with that the Church was created.

It is especially important to remember, that this pagan festival coincides with big Orthodox holidays. The very same day, the 31st day of October (new style) – is the day of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke, and the next day - the memory of Saint John of Kronstadt. Is it necessary to say to an Orthodox person, on these days it is better to be in the church, than participate in Halloween madness?

Church of Saint-Seraphim of Sarov / ROCOR
rusorthodox.com

English translation courtesy of N. Petroff.