Halloween, similar to Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving, is a secular holiday that has no religious overtones. This is why, unlike Christmas or Hanukkah, which are typically turned into “winter celebrations” to be accessible to all, it’s not uncommon for public schools to host Halloween marches or themed parties.
However, because Halloween has its origins in the Roman Catholic Church, it’s understandable that some religions do not celebrate it.
According to history, Halloween is rooted in an old Celtic holiday known as Samhain, which featured big campfires and people dressed in costumes to fend off demons. The Catholic Church subsequently introduced All Saints Day, which runs on November 1, as a day to celebrate all saints. According to CNN, the holiday was initially observed in May but shifted to the 1st of November by Pope Gregory IV in 837 AD.
Following All Saints Day is All Souls Day, commonly known as Da de Los Muertos, which commemorates and respects loved ones who have passed away. It frequently features candlelight and costumes, similar to Halloween.
So, if you meet anyone who is not costumed for Halloween this year, it’s possible that they do not feel like putting one together or that they belong to these religions that don’t observe the holiday.
Jehovah’s Witness
The overwhelming majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses do not observe any holidays, including birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. According to the BBC, most Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that festivals are (or are strongly linked to) pagan rituals.
Jehovah’s Witnesses is a fundamentalist nontrinitarian Christian sect that differs from contemporary Christianity.
The organization claims global membership of over 8.7 million evangelists and a yearly memorial turnout of over 21 million people.
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a council of elders in Warwick, New York, United States, directs Jehovah’s Witnesses and determines all beliefs based on its interpretation of scripture.
They claim that the current world system will be destroyed at Armageddon and that restoring God’s reign over the planet is the sole answer to society’s ills.
Some Orthodox Jews
Some Orthodox Jews refuse to recognize or celebrate holidays associated with “Gentiles.” Although Halloween has religious roots extending back thousands of years, it is commonly considered godless (meaning not linked with a religion).
Muslims
Annually, the Islamic religion observes just two holidays: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. According to WNYC, most Muslims would avoid Halloween celebrations because the day has no spiritual meaning. Some Muslims regard it as a pagan festival that preaches evil rather than virtues.
Muslims are followers of Islam, which is an Abrahamic faith. They believe that the Quran, Islam’s major holy text, is the original holy book as given to Muhammad, the chief Islamic prophet and messenger.
As reported in traditional narratives, most Muslims also embrace Muhammad’s (sunnah) teachings and practices.
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Some Christians who are Evangelicals
Certain Evangelical churches oppose Halloween, believing it to be a non-Christian event linked to Satanism. Instead, Evangelical Christians may observe Reformation Day (also Oct. 31) or hold an autumn festival devoid of traditional Halloween components such as costumes or terrifying décor.
Evangelicalism, often known as evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a global nondenominational organization within Protestant Christianity that clings to the theology of salvation by grace entirely, through trust alone in Jesus’ sacrifice.
Evangelicals believe that the conversion or “born again” process is essential to salvation, that the Bible is God’s word to mankind, and that the Christian message should be disseminated.
The movement began in the English-speaking world and spread around the world in the 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries.
Hindus
The Hindu religion also has an October holiday, Diwali, which is a five-day festival of light.
Diwali is a happy holiday that connects people around to seek good luck and honour the victory of light over darkness. Dates and times vary each year.
Several Hindus may observe Halloween, though most are sceptical of honouring spirits but instead wait eagerly for Diwali, which occurs on the same day as Halloween.
Mormons
Mormon church members are free to choose whether or not to observe the eerie festival (although you won’t find Mormon kids dressed up in scary attire). If the festival falls on a Sunday, nevertheless, most families would postpone the celebrations to a later date, such as Friday or Saturday, as Mormons observe the Sabbath and try to avoid work or other outside engagements on Sundays (except for church).