This was a very succinctly written piece we found online---
"Halloween is a combination of two worlds on several levels.
It is a mix of pagan and Christian;
the living and the dead;
ancient and modern civilizations;
folklore and history.
Samhain, All Saints’ Day (also known as All Hallows) and All Souls’ Day, continued to be the night of Oct. 31. It combined the elements of the pagan beliefs and traditions regarding the world of the dead, communication between the living and the dead and related festivities. It was the festival of Samhain as well as the night before All Saints’ Day. That meant that Oct. 31 was known as All Hallows’ Evening or All Hallows’ Eve. It was shortened to Hallowe’en and later to Halloween.
Wait..There's More!....the Pope's of Halloween...
"Before being celebrated on November 1, May 13 was when Pope Boniface IV (608-615) started All
Gregory IV |
And when they say to you, "Consult the mediums and the wizards who chirp and mutter," should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 8:19 RSV