Halloween: The Eve of All Saints
Every October 31, children dress in costumes, homes are decorated with pumpkins, and neighborhoods come alive with trick-or-treating. For many, Halloween has become primarily a secular holiday. But its origins are deeply connected to the Catholic calendar.
The word Halloween comes from “All Hallows’ Eve,” meaning the evening before All Hallows’ Day—All Saints’ Day, which the Church celebrates on November 1. The following day, November 2, is All Souls’ Day, when we pray in a particular way for the faithful departed.
Thus, Halloween falls at the beginning of a beautiful three-day period in which the Church turns our attention toward the mysteries of death, judgment, Heaven, and eternal life.
The saints remind us that Heaven is our true home. They were ordinary men and women who, by the grace of God, persevered in faith and holiness. Some were kings and queens; others were priests, religious, mothers, fathers, missionaries, soldiers, scholars, and children. Some suffered martyrdom, while others lived quiet and hidden lives of heroic virtue. What they all have in common is that they lived for Christ and now behold God face to face.
This is one reason the tradition of dressing up on Halloween can have a distinctly Catholic character. Costumes of saints and other wholesome characters can help children learn that our heroes are not merely celebrities, athletes, or fictional characters. Our greatest heroes are the saints. St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Joan of Arc, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and countless others show us what it means to follow Christ faithfully.
At the same time, Catholics should not be naïve about the darker elements that have become associated with Halloween. Our Catholic faith takes the reality of evil, sin, Satan, and death seriously. The devil is not a harmless cartoon character, nor should occult practices, witchcraft, séances, or attempts to communicate with the dead be treated as innocent entertainment. Christians have no reason to participate in such things.
But neither should Catholics be afraid of Halloween. Christ has conquered sin and death. The Christian does not glorify darkness but celebrates the victory of Christ over it. The saints are witnesses that those who belong to Christ need not fear death, because eternal life awaits those who persevere in His grace.
So this Halloween, enjoy the innocent traditions: carve a pumpkin, dress up, give out candy, and enjoy time with family and neighbors. But perhaps also take a moment to remember what the name Halloween actually means.
It is All Hallows’ Eve—the eve of the great feast of All Saints.
And perhaps this year, before the candy is eaten and the costumes are put away, say a prayer with your family:
“All holy men and women, pray for us.”
Then on November 1, go to Mass and celebrate the saints who have gone before us. And on November 2, pray for the faithful departed, especially those who have no one else to pray for them.
Halloween can be more than a night of costumes and candy. Properly understood, it can point us toward the great Christian hope: Christ has conquered death, Heaven is our goal, and the saints show us the way.
In Christ,
Fr. Joe Connelly