Hallowe’en

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 29, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 48.

“Hallowe’en.”—Some one wishes to know the origin of “Hallowe’en.” In few words: The night with its customs comes down to us from pagan origin, when the “fairies,” or imaginary spirits, were propitiated, and their aid sought. All sorts of spirits were supposed to be abroad on that night. It is in the Catholic Church the eve of “all-saint’s day.” It was impossible for the heathen to build a temple to each god, so they built the pantheon to all the gods. It was impossible for the apostate church to devote a separate day for each saint, so they fixed upon November 1 as “All Saint’s Day,” the eve of which they called “Hallow Eve,” or “Hallow Even,” or “Hallowmas.” It is no more nor less than a continuation of the old heathen custom. There is this difference between its ancient observance and its modern: the ancients believed in the day and the efficacy of their rites and revels, many of our modern observers make sport and mock of the same customs for the sensuous pleasure they get out of them. Which are the more guilty, the honest “heathen” or the “Christians” who imitate them?