You might have heard that “Halloween” comes from “All Hallows Eve,” but what does that mean?

All Hallows Eve is the day before All Saints Day (November 1), the day when Catholics celebrate men and women who have provided examples of courageously living their faith throughout the 2000 years of church history. Halloween functions similarly to Christmas Eve as a night of preparation before a celebration. Originally Halloween was a time to remember that with God’s help it was possible to triumph over the evil, scary elements of the world.

“Memento Mori”

In addition to celebrating the Saints, for Catholics Halloween is a time to “remember that you must die.” In a world where it is easy to get caught up in day to day life and lose sight of what is really important, Halloween serves as a reminder to be prepared for one’s eternal home in Heaven. Death is something to be mindful of and ready for, not something to be feared.

Costumes and Candy

As people continued using this time of the year to honor the dead, wearing costumes became a common way of representing the Saints in celebrations in Ireland and visiting Catholic homes to ask for treats arose in England as a part of Guy Fawkes Day celebrations. When Catholics from various cultural backgrounds arrived in the New World, these traditions mixed to become a uniquely American phenomenon.

Modern Halloween

Once the concept of Halloween arrived in America and spread to those outside of Catholic circles, its emphasis on costumes, treats and scary or supernatural elements increased and the original intention to honor the saints and live a life focused on God and eternity diminished. A few hundred years later, modern Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays of the year and even promotes elements that traditionally were understood as bad or evil.

“The Last Enemy to be Destroyed is Death” (1 Corinthians 15:26)

The world is a scary place, and often life feels a little out of control. In the midst of this, a Catholic view of Halloween is actually one of hope! Following the example of the great men and women of the past, Catholics can use Halloween to remind them that Christ has already conquered evil and invites everyone into a life with nothing to fear. “In the world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world!” (Jesus, John 16:33).