The days are growing shorter, and the leaves are turning colour here in Sherwood Park. Many of us look forward to a fall season filled with campfires, forest walks, and pumpkin flavoured beverages (myself included). Yet for some, the season takes a darker turn on the evening of Halloween. Many Christian parents ask: "Is it right for Christians to participate in Halloween festivities?”Answering this question means taking both the pagan origins of Halloween and the Church’s rich liturgical tradition seriously. Many modern Halloween traditions trace back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. October 31st marked the end of the Celtic year, and the Celts believed that on this night the souls of the dead would return to their earthly dwellings while those who had died during the year journeyed to the otherworld. People lit bonfires on hills and wore frightening disguises to scare away malevolent spirits.However, in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III established the Christian festival of Allhallowtide, a time to honour all saints—known and unknown—who have passed on and are in Christ. What we now call Halloween is All Hallows’ Eve, traditionally observed with fasting, prayer, and vigil in preparation for All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd).All Saints’ Day celebrates the lives of devoted saints and martyrs who have gone before us. We gain wisdom by learning about their faithful lives and take joy in our ongoing fellowship through participation in our Church community and the Lord’s Supper.All Soul’s Day honours the everyday saints whose lives and witnesses shaped our spiritual journey. Rather than a day of mourning, it is a celebration of the dead’s’ faithful witness and a time of rejoicing in our continued communion together. We remember their faithfulness and look forward expectantly to their resurrection.Allhallowtide emphasizes our mortality. It reminds us that while death is inevitable, we can rejoice in the resurrection that is to come. The faithful departed are not far off. Rather, Allhallowtide reminds us that they are hidden in Christ. Reformed theologian Jürgen Moltmann writes, “To acknowledge hope for the resurrection of the dead means preserving community with the dead and deepening it in recollecting solidarity. The community of Christ has always been understood as a community of the living and the dead.… Wherever this unconditional divine love comes close to us, there the dead whom we love are close too. The closer we come to Christ the more deeply we enter into community with the dead. But Christ is present in the gospel, in the Eucharist, and in the community of brothers and sisters.… They are beside us wherever the Spirit of life lays hold of us and makes us happy. The community of the dead is the praxis of the resurrection hope.” (Jürgen Moltmann, The Coming of God, 106) A folk legend about Saint Patrick tells of his ministry in Ireland during a time when October 31st was a night of terror. The Celts believed that during Samhain the veil between life and death grew thin, and people hid in their homes while masked troublemakers roamed the streets. Saint Patrick, however, used this night to proclaim the Gospel. He travelled unmasked from house to house to offer candy to children and share the good news of Christ who conquered death.Christians today have the blessing and opportunity to draw upon the deep wells of Church tradition. Consequently, our own Halloween activities should be informed by our eternal perspective. Many churches hold special services to celebrate these days—consider attending to remember the saints and rejoice in God’s faithfulness. Spend some time during this “spooky” season sharing stories about those shining saints who have gone before us, both well-known and quietly faithful, and be bold in sharing what is truly good news.In Christ the veil is thin, indeed!About the Author: Ashten Forsberg serves as the Youth Coordinator at Sherwood Park Alliance Church and is currently pursuing her MA at Briercrest Seminary. She is known for her infectious passion, curiosity, and her unshakable belief that the gospel truly is good news. When she’s not wrangling teens or planning youth events, you’ll likely find her hiking up a mountain or relaxing by a campfire—preferably with s’mores and surrounded by the people she loves.