Here is an article that I wrote for our parish newsletter:
I am frequently asked by catechumen and recent converts to the Orthodox Church “What is the
Orthodox practice and teaching about Halloween? The first thing we need to do is to identify
Halloween by its correct Christian title, “All Hallows(Saints) Eve”. Within the Orthodox Church there
appears to be some very different opinions on the subject. As I was researching the topic, I found
every point of view ranging from it being a holy day of the Western Rite Orthodox Church (the eve of
All Saints' Day) to a secular day of fun for children to some calling it a neo-pagan holiday. The Eastern
Orthodox Christian Church, as a whole, has not made an official statement about whether or not to
celebrate Halloween. (It is not a religious Holy Day for us, as Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate
All Saints on the Sunday after Pentecost.) There are, however, some things to know about this holiday
and basic Church teachings.
Origin of Halloween"Halloween" is a contracted form of "All Hallows Eve" and is the Old English title for the evening of
All Saints Day (November 1), when Western Christians traditionally remember believers of other
times who are especially good role models of faith; many of whom were persecuted, tortured, and/or
died rather than renounce Christ. The Christian Church kept the Jewish custom of marking a holiday
(contracted form of "holy day") for the twenty-four hours beginning with sundown and ending with
sundown the following day. Even today Christmas Eve is almost as special as Christmas Day; and in our
Eastern Orthodox churches, all feast have Vesperal services attached to them to be done on the eve
of the Feast.
As northern Europe and the British Isles became Christianized, the Church saw that the pagan
festivals still lured Christians to compromise their faith. One such was the Druidic New Year that
began on November 1. In the strictly Orthodox early Celtic Church, the Holy Fathers tried to
counteract this pagan new year festival by establishing the feast of All Saints on that same day (in
the East, this feast is celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost). Consequently, the Church in those
areas designated October 31 and November 1 as the "Holy Evening" and Holy Day of All Saints Day.
The night before the feast (on “All Hallows Eve”), a vigil service was held and a morning celebration of
the Eucharist. The Church not only sought to give Christians an alternative, spiritually edifying
holiday; but also to proclaim the supremacy of the Gospel over pagan superstition. Rather than fearing
the "tricks" of those who have died, Christians reflected on the lives and deaths of those who were
faithful and used them as role models for their own walks with the Lord; and thanked God for
preserving the saints in the midst of suffering and persecution.
In the United States and Canada, Halloween was adopted more or less as an excuse for a party in the
nineteenth century. In Puritan America, Halloween was little more than gatherings of superstitious
villagers. The general reluctance of folks to go outdoors gave many opportunities to vandals and
pranksters, and another Halloween tradition was born. During the 19th century with the influx of Irish
and Scottish immigrants, the celebrating of Halloween by largely the adult population began to spread
in the U.S and Canada in the areas the Irish and Scottish immigrants settled. By the end of the Great
Depression, 'trick of treating' had evolved into a nightmare for shopkeepers, with vandals wreaking
havoc on property, and many towns imposed curfews. Things eventually settled down as the economy
improved, however, and Halloween began to resemble the holiday we know today, with children begging
for treats door to door (the 'trick' in trick or treat is a reference to the old vandals' cry).
Trick or TreatingThe practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for goodies, is largely an American
adaptation of European masquerades, similar to Mardi Gras or the Greek Carnival “Apokria” Season
preceding Great Lent, and the late medieval Christian practice of "souling," when poor folk would go
door to door, receiving food in return for prayers for the dead.
It should be noted that while the wearing of costumes has been allowed by Orthodox people during
the Carnival or Apokria, and by interpretation for Halloween, the wearing of masks is not allowed or
likewise dressing as the opposite gender. Orthodox people should note that during the Greek Carnival
or Apokria, costuming often spoofs prominent political and social figures, as well everyday people,
clowns, etc. It is not the norm to dress as ghosts, skeletons, devils, witches, or what in western
culture we would call “hobgoblins”.
How can we observe the true spirit of All Hallows Eve?If you are someone who follows the calendar of Western Rite Orthodoxy, it would be very appropriate
to continue to observe All Hallows Eve with the traditional vesperal services in the Church and on the
next day November 1 with morning prayer followed by the Holy Eucharist.
If you are an old Calendar/Julian Calendar Eastern Orthodox Christian, you have the great blessing of
attending the vigil service for St John of Kronstadt who feast day is celebrated on the Julian
Calendar date of October 19 and the Gregorian Calendar date of November 1.
If you are a “new Calendar” Revised Julian Calendar observant Eastern Orthodox Christian, like we
are at St.John’s, you have the opportunity to attend the vespers on October 31 for the feast of the
Holy Unmercenaries, Saints Cosmas and Damianos, celebrated on 1st November. As a proper
celebration encourage your children to look for acts of kindness to do in emulation of Sts Cosmas and
Damianos.
What do we do now?Orthodox Christians should evaluate Halloween and determine an appropriate response for themselves
and their own families. Orthodox Christians should refrain from any participation that would
compromise one's faith or bring dishonor to the Lord Jesus Christ. A good principle is to look for ways
to become a positive, Christ-honoring voice in the midst of secularism and neo-paganism. However you
choose to handle this issue, it should be done in prayer, in a positive and informative way, one that will
not undermine the teaching of the Church. Take advantage of your children's interest in this holiday
to affirm your own faith in God's loving authority in all areas of life and His approval of all that is
good and helpful. Explain to them the meaning of the Feast in the West and use it to teach your
children about All Saints and the Orthodox understanding of life after death.
Orthodox Troparion for All Saints' DayThroughout the world, Your Church, O Christ our God, is adorned with the blood of Your martyrs, as
with purple and fine linen. Through them she cries to You: Send down Your pity upon Your people. To
Your Church grant peace, and to our souls the Great Mercy. Amen.
article located at
http://www.theforerunner.org/pubdocs/PDF%20Newsletter/Voice1007.pdfThomas