Recognizing the Witnesses: All Saints’ Day – Daily Reflection

The Debate Around Halloween and All Saints’ Day

Every autumn, as part of a familiar cycle, the leaves change, temperatures drop, and a discussion unfolds among Christians about whether to celebrate Halloween. Personally, I’ve never been keen on those eerie costumes adults wear. It seems like, well, there’s so much history tied to this time that many people don’t realize. Interestingly, the day after Halloween—All Saints’ Day—has its own unexpected history.

In a reflection from 2007, Chuck Colson shared some thoughts on this. He praised the witnesses of the faith, highlighting their enduring stories.

To be honest, here we are again—another Halloween. I’m not particularly excited about discussing it. Really, at its best, Halloween is just a pretext for collecting candy from neighbors. At its worst, it feels like an outdated celebration of pagan traditions that many abandoned long ago. So this year, I’d rather shine a light on a celebration that often gets overshadowed by Halloween.

Halloween, which is just a shortened form of All Hallows’ Eve, marks the night before All Saints’ Day. For centuries, Christians have commemorated those who came before us on All Saints’ Day. There’s so much to learn from what Hebrews refers to as “the great multitude of witnesses.”

The practice of honoring the Church’s achievements goes back to the early Christian martyrs. Take Polycarp, a beloved church leader. When soldiers came to arrest him, he welcomed them graciously. According to Eusebius, a historian from the 3rd century, Polycarp prepared a meal for them and requested the chance to pray. Later, when facing execution in the Colosseum, surrounded by a hostile crowd, the governor pressured him to renounce his faith. Instead, this disciple of the apostle John declared, “[Christ’s] I am a servant, and God has never wronged me. How can I blaspheme the king who saved me?” As the flames were prepared, Polycarp offered a heartfelt prayer.

For years after his martyrdom, Christians gathered annually by his tomb to share Holy Communion, recalling his brave testimony for inspiration. Over time, the day evolved from just honoring Polycarp to commemorating all martyrs. By the 7th century, a feast was established for all Saints of God, the heroes of the faith. One of my personal favorites is Monica, who lived in the 4th century and, unlike Polycarp, faced struggles not in public but through her heartfelt longing for the return of her wayward son, Augustine. He later became a key figure in Christian thought, and he reflected on his mother’s tears over his reckless lifestyle with a powerful prayer.

We could go on sharing stories like this—about Justin Martyr, Martin Luther, or Amy Carmichael. This All Saints’ Day, perhaps consider taking initiative in your church to honor those great saints who serve as examples for us. Remember to tell children about the Christian roots of Halloween. It’s fine to let them dress up as superheroes and gather candy, but once the festivities wind down, why not encourage them to emulate their true-life heroes? It’s less about costumes and more about how we choose to live.