God • Family • Country
Celebrating Halloween with discernment and keeping Christ at the center
The leaves are falling, Spirit Halloween stores are nearing their close, and kids everywhere have
their costumes laid out for the next night, hoping to come home with an overflowing basket of
candy.
Across America, many Christians wonder where they should draw the line with themselves, their
kids, and their families on how to celebrate Halloween. Where does the desire to create
Halloween memories with the kids reach a grey area with the gore and evil that is so prevalent
during this time of year?
The word "Halloween" is actually derived from the phrase "All Hallows' Eve", meaning the
evening before All Saints' Day, a Christian feast celebrated on November 1.
The tradition of honoring saints and Christian martyrs dates back to the early centuries of the
Church. As Christianity grew, the Church established a dedicated feast to honor not only those
who had died for their faith but all the saints who had entered into eternal life. By the eighth
century, November 1 had become established as the date for All Saints' Day in the Western
Church. The following day, November 2, became All Souls' Day, dedicated to remembering and
praying for the faithful departed.
Together, these three days became known as Allhallowtide: All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day,
and All Souls' Day. Rather than originally being a celebration of darkness, the Christian
observance centered on the saints, the faithful departed, the hope of eternal life, and the promise
of salvation through Christ.
In an October 30, 2026 episode of The Michael Knowles Show, Michael Knowles invited
Catholic priest Father Carlos Martins, host of The Exorcist Files, to discuss the relationship
between Christianity, Halloween, and the spiritual world.
Their conversation offered an important distinction that Christians should consider: participating
in Halloween traditions does not necessarily mean celebrating evil, but Christians should be
intentional about the things they choose to embrace.
Father Martins acknowledged that Halloween has evolved into a cultural celebration with a
meaning different from some of its historical associations. When asked whether he would allow
his hypothetical children to participate, he answered yes, but established two conditions. First,
their costumes should not celebrate evil, the macabre, or gore. Dressing as royalty, athletes, or
other innocent characters, for example, would be perfectly acceptable. Second, he insisted that
All Saints' Day should receive at least as much enthusiasm and celebration as Halloween itself
Knowles also offered his own perspective, explaining that while Christians should not live in
fear of demons, they should not deliberately seek out their attention or glorify the darkness
associated with them. He questioned why a Christian would choose to dress as a zombie, goblin,
or witch when there are countless other ways to participate in the holiday. He even suggested
that dressing as a saint could be a meaningful alternative.
What makes their discussion particularly relevant is that neither argues that Christians must
completely abandon Halloween. Instead, they encourage families to approach the holiday with
discernment, recognizing that there is a difference between enjoying a cultural tradition and
celebrating the very things that stand in opposition to Christian values.
Ultimately, their message is a reminder that Christians do not need to surrender every cultural
celebration, but neither should they compromise their beliefs simply to participate. We can enjoy
the festivities, create family traditions, and celebrate with our communities while remaining
mindful of what we are glorifying. Most importantly, Halloween should never overshadow the
Christian feast that follows it.
Perhaps it is time for Christians to reconsider how they approach October 31.
Rather than automatically rejecting the holiday or participating without discernment, we can look
back at its Christian significance and ask ourselves how we can celebrate in a way that reflects
our faith. The day following Halloween is not simply another November morning; it is the
reminder of the holiness Christians are called to pursue and the eternal life promised through
Jesus Christ!
As we all know all too well, the spiritual battleground is becoming intense. The devil is relying
on us to think things like horror movies and the Ouija board aren't a big deal.
"It's just a movie"
"Its just a costume"
"We're just having fun!"
All until you stand before the Lord one day and have to answer for it.
With this said, I want you to end this weekend in reflection. What are ways we can start
recognizing and honoring God during this time of year? What does this look like for my kids, my
community, and myself?