This is a subject that I have been mulling around in my head for a very long time – years actually – and I was really hoping to get this blog post out before Halloween, but of course I didn’t manage that.
It doesn’t really matter though, because Christmas is around the corner, Easter around the next and Halloween will come up again before we know it.
There are so many different opinions on how these ‘Festivals’ should be celebrated, with the strongest opinions coming from fellow Christians. But I am sure we all agree that it is God’s opinion that really counts.
Lets start by taking a closer look at each Festival. We’ll start with Christmas which is a wonderful family feel-good celebration and end with Halloween which quite shockingly has a very dark origin and representation.
Christmas
Christ and Father Christmas
As believers, this is a heartfelt festival, to celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas carols and Nativity stories can be heard across all the airwaves and seen in almost every mall, school and church. Even non believers embrace this everlasting story.
So where did ‘Father Christmas’ come from?
This is a very sweet story and actually one that is based on fact. St Nicholas was a bishop who lived in the 4th century AD in a place called Myra in Asia Minor (now called Turkey). His parents died and left him their fortune when he was very young. He was very kind and become known as a very generous man who would give secret gifts to people who were in desperate need. News of his kindness became so widespread that when anyone received a secret gift, it was thought to be from St Nicholas.
There are many delightful legends about St Nicholas although sadly there is no proof that they are all true.
In the 16th century in Europe, the stories and traditions of St Nicholas became very unpopular, but someone had to deliver presents to the children at Christmas so in the UK he became Father Christmas, a character from old children’s stories.
In Scotland he was known as Santa.
In France, ‘Père Nöel’.
In Germany, the ‘Christ Kind’.
And in the USA his name was ‘Kris Kringle’. Later, when the Dutch settlers brought the old stories of St Nicholas with them, Kris Kringle became ‘Sinterklaas’ or as we now say ‘Santa Claus’
The UK Father Christmas and the American Santa Claus have since become more and more alike and now they are one and the same. The same Father Christmas that we like to include in our Christmas festivities.
Easter
Jesus and the Easter Bunny
This is another very important festival on the Christian calendar. Although on the one hand, it is a time of somber contemplation, on the other hand it ushers in the jubilant celebration that Christ is alive. He was hung on the cross to die but rose again 3 days later, defying death and forever reigning over evil. So what has this victorious story got to do with Easter Bunnies, eggs, gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks.
Actually,these cute and cuddly little icons all have pagan roots but nevertheless, they were slowly incorporated into the Easter tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
Their imagery is somehow ‘sweeter’ to receive than their roots, which are a little concerning. According to the University of Florida’s Center for Children’s Literature and Culture, the origin of the Easter Bunny can be traced back to 13th-century, to a pre-Christian Germany, where people worshiped several gods and goddesses. Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility, and feasts were held in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. (the time at which the sun crosses the plane of the equator making day and night of equal length.) Her symbol was the rabbit because of the animal’s high reproduction rate.
Not such a cute little fuzzy bunny now hey??
But still, it has become so much a part of the Celebration of Easter.
According to some sources, the German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania, brought with them the tradition of an egg laying hare called ‘Osterhase’.The children would enthusiastically make nests in which the hare could lay its coloured eggs. I guess its similar to Santa Clause where the children would leave milk and cookies, here the kiddies would leave carrots, hoping the bunny leaves them some extra special candy.
And that’s how the Easter bunny found it way to America and later ‘the world’
Halloween
Ghosts and Ghouls, Goblins and Gremlins
There is a whole lot of scary stuff surrounding the history of Halloween but today it has become a super charged, commercially driven ‘party’.
So where did it all begin?
At the start of the Celtic year, the people of Britain and France believed that Samhain, who is the the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans. The only hope of escape would be to disguise themselves as evil spirits, so that they would not be under attack. The belief goes that at sunset, the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks.
Not sounding so nice anymore is it? And most of the Halloween customs can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions.
In the 14th Century however, the Christians tried to introduce an alternative focus for this festivity, and rather celebrated the lives of the faithful Christian saints. The result has been that many Christian parents now allow their children to dress up in more innocent costumes and join in the fun of ‘trick or treating’ because after all, in our ‘western culture’ it is almost impossible to avoid Halloween.
But here is another very scary fact. For those who follow wicca (witchcraft), Halloween is one of their two most holy days. The belief in Samhain (the lord of death) is still very much present day and Halloween represents an opportunity to embrace the evil side of the spiritual world.
So what are we to do? There is obviously no lasting benefit to ignoring a festival that is all around us but we cannot celebrate it as it’s roots suggest.
What we can do is boldly and unashamedly create an alternative focus which celebrates good over evil, God over Satan. We can create room for heaps of fun and use the day to celebrate God’s protection, provision and purpose for our lives.
So in conclusion
Lets look at the word.
Romans 14: 4-6 – Amplified Bible (AMP)
Don’t Criticize Others
4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? Before his own master he stands [approved] or falls [out of favor]. And he [who serves the Master—the Lord] will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person regards one day as better [or more important] than another, while another regards every day [the same as any other]. Let everyone be fully convinced (assured, satisfied) in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord. He who eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Before doing my research, I asked God to give me some understanding on how he would love to see us celebrate these festivals. His response has lead me to this encouraging conclusion;
I believe that there is absolutely nothing wrong with including ‘Father Christmas’ in your Christmas celebrations, the Easter Bunny in your Easter Festivities and ‘Trick or Treating’ in your Halloween parties.
This is what the Lord said with regards to Halloween. “This is a very dark celebration. But you can use this time to celebrate my love and provision and victory over evil. I am all around. I will go with you wherever you go. You are living under grace and not law and I will cover everything that you ask me to cover.”
What is important is that you and your family know and understand and celebrate that Christ is the center of all of these celebrations, just as he is the center of your life.
To make these celebrated occasions even more special for your family, why not create your own ‘family traditions’. Traditions that include Christ and make each occasion unique and memorable to your precious family.
Here’s an idea for Halloween; You could buy some special sweets (heart chocolates or something) and have a family prayer time before you go ‘Trick or Treating’ asking God to bless the sweets and the fun adventure ahead. Then you can give a sweet to each home you visit and trust that God will supernaturally work in the life of each the person.
Lastly, let us not label these old icons as ‘evil’ or give them more credit than they are due, but rather enjoy the festivity for what it is without making the icon the central focus of the celebration. Have fun and make good family memories. There is nothing wrong with enjoying these traditions, as long as they don’t overshadow Jesus.
Enjoy your freedom in Christ. Enjoy Christ.