Americans spend billions of dollars on Halloween. Tom Davis invites us to reflect on other significant spiritual events and observances for the same time period.
I did not always celebrate Halloween growing up, though I do remember dressing up occasionally. One year I was a vampire; another year I was Marcus Allen, a running back for the Raiders in the 1980s. I also have vague memories of trick-or-treating a few times, coming home with a large haul of candy, and eating it over the next several days. As a young adult, Halloween became a time to watch horror movies such as Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th.
Today, children still dress up and go trick-or-treating. As I write this, one of my neighbors has a seven- or eight-foot Frankenstein monster and a ghost in the front yard. The tradition of trick-or-treating while dressed as ghosts, goblins, and other frightening creatures probably began in Ireland in the 1600s, though dressing up for seasonal observances dates back to ancient times. In some cultures, people wore costumes to scare away evil spirits. It seems to me that if you want to frighten evil spirits, you have to become something intimidating and threatening.
These familiar customs, however, tell only part of Halloween’s story. The holiday’s name and date connect it to the Christian observance of All Saints’ Day, while October 31 also holds an important place in the history of the Reformation.
From All Hallows’ Eve to All Saints’ Day
Ephraem Syrus, a fourth-century Christian theologian, records that a feast honoring all martyrs was observed on May 13 in the Eastern Church. Maximus, an early Christian leader later recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church, preached about the saints each Sunday after Pentecost, the celebration of the Holy Spirit’s coming recorded in Acts 2. In A.D. 609, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome—formerly a temple to the Roman gods—as a church dedicated to Mary and all the martyrs. These observances developed into traditions honoring saints and martyrs. Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is the evening before All Saints’ Day, a day set aside—like Memorial Day—to remember the heroes of the faith.
Halloween and the Reformation
By the sixteenth century, indulgences had become an established practice in the Catholic Church. People could purchase indulgences believing they would shorten a deceased relative’s time in purgatory or secure release from it. Church teaching also held that venerating relics for specified periods could reduce time in purgatory, and some indulgences supposedly offered full remission of sins. Many people were willing to pay for these benefits, which the pope could also grant directly.
An obscure monk and professor in Wittenberg, Germany, named Martin Luther began to challenge both the theology and the practice of indulgences. He voiced most of his criticism in sermons and academic papers. Luther argued that if the pope had authority to grant indulgences, he should release all souls from purgatory. At first, Luther’s protests were not widely heard because they remained largely
within Wittenberg and academic circles.
In 1516, Luther preached against indulgences three times. On October 31, 1517, he circulated a document known as the Ninety-five Theses, traditionally said to have been posted on the church door in Wittenberg; a copy was also sent to church authorities. The document presented ninety-five objections to indulgences, including concerns about charging the poor, the pope’s authority over purgatory, and the spiritual effect of indulgences on those who purchased them. Indulgence revenue helped finance St. Peter’s Basilica and repay obligations connected to Albrecht of Brandenburg. Luther believed the practice exploited people’s fear of purgatory and their desire to help deceased relatives. He maintained that genuine repentance, rather than payment, was what mattered. These events helped launch the Reformation.
Remembering the Heroes of the Faith
Although the most visible features of Halloween are ghosts, ghouls, costumes, and trick-or-treating, the season also invites reflection. We can remember the apostles who wrote the New Testament and led the first generation of Christians. We can be thankful for the Church Fathers, including Augustine, who guided the Church through controversies during its first four centuries. We can learn from people such as Mother Teresa, who cared for the poor, sick, dying, or homeless, and William Wilberforce, a leader in the movement to end the Atlantic slave trade. We can also remember reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin. Halloween is not only a time for trick-or-treating; it can also be a time to honor the heroes of the faith.
©2026 Probe Ministries
Tom Davis
Tom Davis is a research associate with Probe Ministries. Before joining Probe, he served as an intern with the Baptist Student Ministries and a Chapter Director with Ratio Christi. Tom studied philosophy at Collin College and Dallas Baptist University, where he earned an A.S. and a B.A.S. He earned an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Tom’s research interests are in Christology, Historical Jesus studies, and philosophy of religion. He loves the outdoors and his hobbies are football, basketball, and good movies.
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