All Saint's Day on November 1st... an Alternative to Halloween

Our family doesn't care too much for Halloween. While at seminary, we lived near Salem, MA where we saw the reality of Wicca and witchcraft being celebrated as the historic city filled up with people each year on this day.

Halloween marks the Samhain festival in the Wicca calendar year, a festival of darkness where Wiccans invite the spirits of the dead to their festivities and believe that the separation of this world to the afterlife is at its thinnest point. The reality of Satan, spiritual darkness, and the spiritual world has turned us, as a family, away from such a real, serious "holiday."

Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 5:7-11

I've found that many Christian families do not know about All Saints Day, a Christian holiday that falls one day after Halloween on November 1st. We choose to celebrate this day, remembering all the saints (all ordinary believers, set apart in the Lord by His Spirit) who have gone before us and praying for all the saints living today and yet to come.

"...to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." 1 Corinthians 1:2

We started this tradition last year, simply celebrating by going out for ice cream with our kids and teaching them about who are saints from a biblical perspective. As they get older, we'll probably incorporate further study into the lives of specific saints throughout history into our day and do a variety of exciting outings. For us, it's a meaningful and fun alternative to celebrating Halloween.