Thanks to my friend Caesar Kalinowski for this great reminder!
I love Jerry Seinfeld’s take on Halloween when he was a kid - “You mean everyone’s giving out candy?! Everyone?! What do I have to do to be part of that!” Halloween has some “dark history”, and many of us were taught that this was a holiday you were supposed to avoid if you’re a Christian. But the truth behind this annual event may surprise you. There’s no reason to miss out on this HUGE chance to bring redemption to your neighbourhood because Halloween is actually a great example of how the Good News of Jesus brings redemption to ALL THINGS!
Halloween’s origins date back to an ancient Celtic festival that celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
In 609 A.D., Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honour of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance to November 1.
The influence of Christianity spread into Celtic lands and The All Saints’ Day celebration was also called All-hallows or Allhallowmas (from Middle English meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. You can check out the History Channel - they go deep into the history of Halloween!
This is a great example of the truth that there is absolutely nothing that the Gospel cannot redeem. Jesus came and walked on earth to redeem lives in culture. And so the church practiced the truth of redemption and helped to redeem something in culture, rather than abstaining from it.
Regardless if you really love this tradition and go all out, or if you're less into the whole dress-up and party thing, or whether you call it Halloween, Trick-or-Treat, Harvest Party or whatever, it’s hard to argue that when a national tradition literally lines kids and parents up at your doorstep, that has to be a good time to roll out the red carpet for mission! So here are a couple of things you can do to leave a lasting impression on people and really prime the pump for future missional opportunities:
> Participate! Turn on the lights – it says, "We're home, we're here and we're open for business!" Even though Halloween has a tradition of being "scary" and all, make your house super inviting. Turn on lots of lights, prop open your door, or better yet, sit out front and greet people on your porch or driveway! It’s also a great way to help make the treats and the whole evening accessible for all abilities and mobilities if walking up steps to a porch can be avoided.
> Give good stuff – be the house and folks everyone looks forward to. I still remember which houses gave out full-size Chocolate bars when I was a kid! Be generous. Be like Jesus who brought on the best wine the steward had ever tasted at the wedding feast.
> Offer a warm drink - it’s generally colder in October evenings. Set up a table out front with a few chairs and offer hot chocolate or cider. This will let people know that you are open to relationship and not in a hurry to move them along.
> Ask everyone their name and tell them yours too - seriously, that’s basic stuff. When someone you don't know comes to your home - you ask them their name and you introduce yourself. (We all learned this in kindergarten!) Don't crack the door and toss a piece of candy out toward their bag. Discipleship and mission moves at the speed of relationship. This may be the start of a new friendship!
This can be a big deal! If you’re desiring to live a lifestyle of discipleship and mission, then taking advantage of this holiday tradition is low-hanging fruit! Have fun with it and trust that even small steps relationally are a big deal. With a little extra intentionality and faith, Halloween can be a turning point for you and your neighbours!