Dear Dr. Tom: Every autumn I hear some people say that Christians shouldn't celebrate Halloween because it is a pagan holiday. What should I say in reply?—H.W., Davis, California

Dear H.W.: Since you live in the USA, ask them to name an American holiday that does NOT contain elements of pre-Christian paganism or non-Christian origins. Christmas? You mean the gift-giving winter holiday season in December, when Romans celebrated Saturnalia with parties and feasting, which required masters to wait upon their servants? Or more specifically December 25? The 12th-century Christian bishop Jacob Bar-Salibi wrote, “It was a custom of the Pagans to celebrate on the same 25 December the birthday of the Sun, at which they kindled lights in token of festivity. In these solemnities and revelries the Christians also took part. Accordingly when the doctors of the Church perceived that the Christians had a leaning to this festival, they took counsel and resolved that the true Nativity should be solemnised on that day.”

We could continue our discussion with Easter, named after Ostara, the Norse goddess of fertility. Even Thanksgiving, that delightful day set aside for festive thankfulness to God for the good of this land (plus turkey and football), is a modified pagan harvest holiday with no biblical mandate.

Coming the day before All Saints Day, Halloween was long ago thought to be a day when the dead could return to Earth. Thus ancient Celts lit bonfires and donned costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.

There are actually some Halloween traditions that have deep symbolism in Church history. For example, carving the jack-o'-lantern comes from the European Catholic tradition of carving turnips into lanterns as a way of remembering the souls still in purgatory. Halloween isn't a religious holiday any more, but it is celebrated today with costumes, parties and sweet treats. If that offends some people, they can certainly choose to keep their lights out when the kids come trick-or-treating. As for me and my house, we shall serve the lore. And granola bars.

Thomas Shepherd, professor of theology and church history at Unity Institute® and Seminary, is the author of several books, including Good Questions: Answering Questions From the Edge of Doubt and Jesus 2.1: An Upgrade for the 21st Century. His column, “That's A Good Question” appears in each issue of Unity Magazine. To learn more, visit his website at www.metaphysicaltheology.com.