My dear friend, Rachael, has written a post about Halloween. I know there is a lot of discussion and controversy over whether or not as Christians we celebrate. Rach and I are actually on opposing sides of this issue. We are still very good friends, though. One of the commentors to the article Rachael linked to said something to the effect of with all the pain and suffering going on in this world, why are we arguing about something so petty.

I actually disagree. I think as Christians we have turned our eyes and ears away, and are very undiscerning about many spiritual things. We don’t like to do the hard things, deny ourselves or our children. We aren’t realistic about some of the things that threaten our spiritual health, and in particular the spiritual health of our children. They are sponges. Why are we commanded to instruct them in righteousness and the fear and admonision of the Lord at a young age, if they are invulnerable or to naive to get it at that age? They soak it up! Now, we don’t want to be raising clones. We are teaching our children to ask questions. To find answers for themselves. But we also need to be teaching them that sometimes, no matter how fun or harmless things might seem, there are times when we truly just need to do the hard thing, and deny ourselves. By doing so, we are showing our children how to be in the world, but not of it.

Also, there is much said in the Bible regarding blessings and curses. When we go the way of the world, and align ourselves with heathen practices or mindsets, we are welcoming a curse on our land. We like to blame the woes we face on those in leadership. There are for sure many corrupt leaders who have come and gone. But as a people, when we turn away from righteous, holy living, God CANNOT bless that, and the land is cursed. I’m not implying that life would be perfect if we all didn’t celebrate Halloween. We live in a fallen world, so there will always be trials, but the Bible is very clear about blessings and curses, and how they carry from generation to generation. So back to the commentor’s opinion, perhaps there would be less pain and suffering if we set our hearts like flint to following the Lord with such a passion, that all things impure would appear so vile to us, that we would have no choice but to flee from it.

Also, I have experienced YEARS of Christians pulling out the verse, judge not. I think it’s a cop-out. It’s a way to be unaccountable. Accountability is uncomfortable. I don’t like it either. I’m as defensive as the next guy when it comes to having my weak points spot-lighted. However, we ARE called to judge – those within the body. We are to hold each other accountable. I chat once in a while with a precious lady in Texas. She and I share many convictions. One we do not share is our view of Christmas. She feels it’s wrong to celebrate. I’ve not put much thought and prayer into whether we should or not. Last year we were discussing it, and I got a bit defensive. But you know, she had some good points. And I needed to hear them. I needed to figure out first of all my I felt so defensive. That’s a good sign right there that I at least need to step back and look more objectively at the topic. And do my own research. And lots of praying. Was she judging me? No, certainly not. She was just stating what she believes, and encouraged me to invest time praying and researching. I’m still not settled on the issue of Christmas. I do know though, that I cannot just say, well, I’ve not been convicted about it, so I’m not giving it up. Perhaps I’m holding on to my enjoyment of the many beautiful and wonderful traditions, instead of asking God, what do YOU think about it. That would be the biggest thing I’d have to say to those who are adamantly refusing to give up their Halloween traditions.

I’ve been called hypocritical for celebrating Christmas and condemning Halloween. I realize there are traditions which seem to have pagan roots for Christmas, I cannot argue against them all. I’m still researching them, though. However, Halloween is blatantly evil. And as harmless as we want to make it, it’s not. If it’s a matter of celebrating the season of Autumn, and the harvest, that can be accomplished by many other ways, namely Thanksgiving.

I did ask my children today if they feel like they are missing something because we don’t celebrate Halloween. They all said NO! It’s yucky! BUT, then Cole said, it would be kind of fun to dress up and get candy. I said, well, we can do that anytime. He was very happy with that answer! So that may just be part of our near future. Actually, a couple of years ago, we were planning a Hawaiian luau to break up the winter. We may just have to do that this year. Now THAT I could throw myself enthusiastically into.

As an aside, I did find an interesting article on the origins of the Christmas tree as we know it. I’ve heard for years about the pagan customs of the druids and Romans and what-not that purportedly led to our use of the Christmas tree. However, it is known that the tradition as we know it began in Germany, and eventually made it’s way to North America, after first becoming popular in Britain. That I knew. What I didn’t know was the following I found while googling the topic.

Subtopic: The Christmas Tree

Grade Level: 4th-5th

Author: Rayn Blair

Background:

The origin of the first Christmas tree dates back to the Middle Ages in Western Germany. The people during this time period participated in and watched dramatic plays called miracle and mystery plays. These plays were performed to teach the common people about religious truths that were contained in the bible. There were no printed books available, and pictures were scarce during this period of time. “As laymen joined with the clergy, the individual plays were arranged in a lengthy series or cycle throughout the church year” (Foley, pg. 39). In this way, peasants were taught about the Old and New Testaments of the bible.

During the Christmas season, the Paradise play was presented. This play depicted Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. On stage was an evergreen tree, covered in apples, which showed Adam and Eve’s sin and later banishment from the garden. The tree received particular attention because it was the only prop on the stage. This symbol remained firmly planted in the minds of spectators and actors. Later, after the plays “ceased to be performed in Germany” ( Foley, pg. 41), people began putting their own trees in their homes.

This early Paradise tree had a lot of value to the Germans. By having the tree in their home they were able to teach their children the story of Adam and Eve. They taught this story through symbols. The evergreen tree symbolized immortality because it stays green all year. The apples on the Paradise tree symbolized Adam’s sin. Round wafers and cookies were also added as decorations. They represented the fruits of redemption.

Candles were also important symbols to the Germans. The candle was their main source of light, and it represented Christ being the Light of the World. The candles were placed on a wooden pyramid structure with shelves called the lightstock or Christmas pyramid. This pyramid stood next to the Paradise tree. This candle holder was also decorated with tinsel, paper or cloth roses, and a star was usually placed on top.

After some years the two were combined. The Christmas tree we know today is a combination of the Paradise tree and the Christmas pyramid.

From Germany, the idea of a Christmas tree spread. As Germans left the Rhineland to settle in other places, they took their proud custom with them. In England, German settlers had brought the idea of a Christmas tree over. It wasn’t until several decades later that it was formally introduced by Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, a German.

At first the Christmas tree was found only in the homes of the upper-class English. The idea soon gained in popularity and became an English sensation. It became a Victorian symbol “laden with ornaments and surrounded with gifts” (Foley, pg. 65).

Hessian (German) mercenaries fighting for the British during the Revolutionary War, most likely introduced the concept of a Christmas tree to America. Tradition says that these soldiers set up Christmas trees for the colonial children. They did this so they would be able to cherish their homeland customs, since some of them had been away from home for three Christmases. No documentary evidence has been found to support this tradition, however, only stories.

Documented evidence of the Christmas tree began showing up in the early 1800’s and continued to grow steadily. Most of the information is from the personal accounts of German settlers. The earliest illustration of a Christmas tree in America was from a book entitled The Stranger’s Gift by Herman Bodum, printed in 1836. The Christmas tree began to spread rapidly throughout America. By the year 1850, the Christmas tree had become the fashionable thing for the holiday season.

Today most Christians celebrating Christmas have a Christmas tree in their home during the holiday season. They have their own special traditions involving the cutting and decorating of the tree. Many people view the Christmas tree as the most glorious and best-loved symbol of the Christmas season.

References.

Bodum, Herman (1836). The Stranger’s Gift. Boston.

Foley, Daniel J. (1960). The Christmas Tree. Philadelphia: Chilton Company.

Pauli, Hertha (1944). The Story of the Christmas Tree. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.