Halloween and Our Catholic Faith

Dear Parishioners,

I always receive lots of inquiries from some of our Catholics at this time of year about whether they should celebrate Halloween and what kinds of Halloween activities are accepted by the Church. The term “hallow” is an old word meaning holy. We still use it in the Our Father: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed (holy) be thy name.” “Ween” means evening. So, to say Happy Halloween means “Happy Holy Evening.” Even though the excitement of Halloween seems to appeal especially to children, we need to explain to them that they can enjoy it for entertainment purposes, but it has nothing to do with our faith. This ancient celebration originated in Ireland, where its main purpose was to scare away evil spirits from tormenting people.

As Halloween spread, the Church moved the Feast of All Saints from May 13 to November 1. Thus, Halloween falls on the eve of the Solemnity of All Saints, which takes precedence. One can choose to dress children in costumes of their favorite saints on the eve of All Saints’ Day instead of traditional Halloween costumes.
The modern trend of frightening costumes and the commercialization of Halloween is worrying in our society today, and I can understand why some parents and students raise questions about it. This pause from our normal lives can also be turned into something positive. We can have a good celebration within our families that reminds us of the stories of the saints and our ancestors. Even frightening skeletons and masks can provide opportunities for conversations about the supernatural in ways that can strengthen our faith.

Blessings,
Fr. Vince, Pastor