Why Don’t Jews Celebrate Halloween?

In our very neighbourly NDG, Halloween is one of the most difficult days for our children. Our urban district comes alive with bustle of families going trick-or-treating. Since we moved here over 15 years ago, I’ve said if there is one holiday that NDGers celebrate its Halloween.

Our children watch as their friends all dressed up, fill the decked out block with every colour imaginable. Over the years we have allowed our children to give out candy on our porch. We’ve explained that our value is to give and not take.

This year some of our neighbours went out of their way to lovingly deliver Kosher candies to our children. Living in a multi-ethnic community, I find it more and more important to explain why we don’t celebrate this seemingly innocent pastime.

Historically speaking, the Halloween’s origins trace themselves back to the pagan idolatrous rites of the ancient Celtic and Druid civilizations. The Celtic year ended on October 31, and they would then celebrate a joint festival dedicated to the “sun god” and the “lord-of-the-dead.” Some historians even believe that Halloween was once also associated with savage human sacrifices.

Subsequently the Church appropriated this Holiday. In fact, the name “Halloween” means “Hallow evening”, or “holy night”, and is connected to All-Saints-Day also known as…