All Hallows Eve and All Saints

​October 31, 2018

All Hallows Eve:
Happy Halloween. Trick or Treat. Ghosts, demons the devil, and zombies all have their roots in the ancient Holy Day, “All Hallows Eve.” All Hallows Eve is the evening before the Holy Day, “All Saints Day.” Many of the current practices of costumes, trick or treat, Jack O Lanterns, and the like come from ancient pagan traditions along with Christian traditions, many from the British Isles.

The Christian Church started celebrating All Hallows Eve in the eighth century. It was celebrated as a prayer mass and vigil in the Roman Catholic Church leading into All Saints Day.

All Saints Day:
All Saints Day is when the Church honors and remembers those faithful to their salvation in Jesus Christ who passed to live with God in heaven in the previous year.
 
The beginnings of All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day have their roots in a celebration of eternal life of those who died believing in Jesus Christ.
 
Luther and All Hallows Eve:
Let’s move from the Eighth Century to the Sixteen Century Germany. Many of the traditions and practices of All Hallows Eve were also being observed there too. The culture was in tune to the supernatural and Satan was well known amongst the people.
 
And Luther chose to start the Reformation movement on All Hallows Eve, October 31, 1517.
 
Martin Luther was a professor of Theology at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony in Germany. Luther posted on the Castle Church door his 95 Theses. The 95 Theses were statements on practices in the Holy Roman Church that Luther thought were anti-biblical and needed to be changed or done away with. It was Luther’s intent to bring reformation and new life based upon the Bible to the Holy Roman Church. There was no better time for people to see needed changes on the Holy Days that celebrated new life in Jesus forever.
 
What’s Next?:
Since the Holy Days of All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day were intended to celebrate life, let us use them to celebrate life as well. No more zombies, ghosts, devils, and demons. Let us celebrate saints of God who live life NOW with Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension at the center along with the lives of those who have gone before us and the eternal life in which they live forever. No more graves, mass murderers, horror, and death. Let us celebrate life that we have in Jesus, THE EMPTY TOMB, and the grace of God that saves through faith in Jesus Christ.

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