Halloween versus Guy Fawkes Night

As part of my current focus on Sabbaths and holidays as set out in Old Testament law, I have been thinking about the holidays and festivals celebrated by Christians here in the UK today.

The holidays set out in Leviticus 23, and still observed by Jews today, all had a purpose above and beyond giving the nation some time off work and something different to look forward to. They were designed to remind the people of their history, allow time and space for worship, celebration and repentance, and ultimately re-focus their attention on who God is, what he has done and who they were as the people of God.

It can be argued that Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter have a similar purpose. Although there is no specific biblical mandate to observe them, the notion of taking a prolonged period of rest as a community to reflect upon and celebrate what God (through Jesus) has done for us is certainly a biblical principle.

In the UK today, we also celebrate holidays that are not specifically related to the life and times of Jesus, but nonetheless have a purpose and meaning. Two that are celebrated in close proximity to each other at this time of year are Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night. There is a popular opinion among evangelical Christians today that Halloween is a dark and distinctly anti-Christian festival while Guy Fawkes Night is much more about wholesome family fun. However, when you look a little more carefully at the history and significance of these festivals, there is a suggestion that the reverse might be true – Halloween is harmless while Guy Fawkes Night is a little more sinister.

As many know, Guy Fawkes Night celebrates the failure of the gunpowder plot to assassinate James I on 5 November 1605, of which Guy Fawkes was a part. However, this event was seen as more than just the successful thwarting of a terrorist plot – it also had strong religious overtones. The British monarchy at the time (as it is today) was Protestant whereas Fawkes was a Catholic. The observance of Gunpowder Treason Day, as it was then known, was enshrined in law and quickly became a focal point, not only for pro-establishment national pride, but also for anti-Catholic sentiment with effigies of the pope often being burned on the bonfire. Of course, that is not how most of us see the celebration of 5 November today but perhaps we should be more aware of its origins.

Halloween, meanwhile, simply means “All Hallows Eve” – the night before All Hallows Day or All Saints Day. In that sense, it is no less Christian than Christmas Eve – the night before another important Christian festival. It does not have its roots in Satanism and, although it is marked by pagans (as is Christmas), it is not chiefly a pagan festival. Many evangelicals are concerned that Halloween trivialises or celebrates the occult or dark spiritual forces. While we should all be aware that such evil powers exist and can be harmful, we should also remember Satan wields his influence in much more subtle ways than through carved-out pumpkins, spider-webs and pretend witches with pointy hats. In an attempt to protect children, some churches choose to mark the occasion with parties that disassociate with the term “Halloween” and the traditional symbolism that goes with it. Our church is hosting a “Star Wars Light Party” this 31 October, which sounds like great fun. So, naturally, my son will be attending dressed as the embodiment of the dark side himself – Darth Vader!

In my opinion, children need to be taught the difference between fantasy and reality. Halloween is essentially a celebration of fantasy and make-believe (which can incidentally be used as a metaphor for moral instruction) while Guy Fawkes Night celebrates the grim reality of discord, sectarianism and our nation’s chequered past. So which would you rather celebrate this autumn?

Or perhaps I’m being too deep here? Perhaps, regardless of its true meaning or history, a holiday is simply a good excuse to be together as family and community and share in innocent and fun traditions, and should therefore be welcomed?

Discuss...