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
