Every year as October 31st approaches, I hear the same question from friends and fellow Catholics: “Should we really be celebrating Halloween?” It’s a fair question — one rooted in genuine concern about faith and culture. After all, Halloween’s modern face is full of spooky imagery and commercialization, and it can be easy to forget where it all began.
But if we look back, the roots of Halloween are actually intertwined with Christian tradition. The very name “Halloween” comes from All Hallows’ Eve — the vigil of All Saints’ Day, a solemn feast honoring the communion of saints in heaven. In many ways, the evening was originally meant to prepare hearts to celebrate holiness, not horror. Of course, over time, local customs, folk tales, and cultural practices blended together, and what we now recognize as Halloween became a mix of both sacred and secular traditions.
For my family, we’ve always tried to strike a balance between faith and fun when it comes to Halloween. We love the creativity of costumes and the joy of seeing our kids’ imaginations come to life, so each year we pick a family theme. One year we all dressed up as characters from the Mario Bros. video game series — complete with a mustached “Mario” and “Luigi,” “Toad,” “Princess Peach,” “Bowser” and a mushroom running from house to house. This year, our theme is Aladdin — my kids can’t wait to become Aladdin, Jasmine, Raja, and Jaffar, while my husband is the Genie and I’m taking on the role of the magic carpet.
But the celebration doesn’t end there. Our children’s Catholic school makes a beautiful connection between Halloween and faith by encouraging students to dressed as their favorite saints for the All Saints’ Day Mass. I love that rhythm — the day filled with laughter, imagination, holiness and remembrance. It’s a gentle reminder that as Catholics, we can enjoy the playfulness of Halloween while still keeping our eyes on the deeper meaning of the days that follow.
So, can Catholics celebrate Halloween? I’d say yes — but with intention. We can enjoy the community, the costumes, and the candy, while still keeping Christ at the center. Whether that means dressing as saints, breaking out superhero costumes, praying for the faithful departed, or simply spreading kindness at every door we knock on.
Like many things in life, it’s not about rejecting the culture outright, but redeeming what is good within it. Halloween can be a joyful reminder that as Christians, we need not fear the darkness — because we walk in the light.