Halloween is one of the most celebrated occasions in the Western regions and holds significant value in their culture. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. In the middle of the celebration, the most sought-after question prevalent – Do Mormons celebrate Halloween? Or Do Latter-day Saints celebrate Halloween?
Before we start answering the question, it must be noted that it is the preference of individual members of the church (or LDS) to celebrate Halloween or not. In this article, we also break out how Mormons celebrate Halloween and what Mormons do on Halloween.
Halloween and Mormons
Halloween started celebrating 2000 years ago with the Celtic festival, especially in Western countries. It is a celebration of saints, martyrs, and other pious people who have passed away. Praying for those in damnation who have not yet entered paradise is also relevant during this time. Instead of mourning, this occasion is celebrated with fun activities where most of the people wear masks, do parties, bonfires, etc.
The Mormons are a spiritual community that adheres to Joseph Smith’s teachings in addition to Christian doctrine. It is believed that they belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often known as LDS only, with a worldwide population of 16 million, according to History.com. However, it is claimed that this religion was officially founded in 1830 with the publication of The Book of Mormon.
Note – Mormon considers themselves Christian and celebrates their functions in that way. However, most Christians don’t appreciate them as Christians and its official subgroup.
Do Mormons Celebrate Halloween?
Yes, most of the Mormons or Latter-day Saints celebrate Halloween as any other Christian. They dress in Halloween costumes, participate in Trunk-or-treat, play games like pumpkin carving, etc. However, many Mormons refrain from wearing masks due to their popular belief. They say – They don’t need to hide their identity according to the Church of Jesus Christ’s teachings.
Even though many Mormons celebrate Halloween, a large number of Mormons are reluctant to celebrate it due to its pagan roots. However, Easter and Christmas also have deep pagan roots, so, this is why most Latter-day Saints follow these celebrations.
So, yes, most Mormons celebrate Halloween with their kids and participate in all activities as other Christians do. But the church has a clear stance on avoiding evil practices and Satan worships.
It is noted that the Church leaders do not prescribe whether Latter-day Saints should celebrate Halloween or not. It is a personal choice of the individual and the church hasn’t interfered in their decision-making.
Also read: Does Having Kids Ruin Your Relationship?
How Do Mormons Celebrate Halloween?
Mormons considered themselves Christian and they celebrate Halloween in the same way as other Christians do. They dress up in a costume celebration, kids participate in trunk-or-treat, pray to the holy God, costume parties, etc. In a nutshell, Mormons aren’t restricted from participating in any Halloween celebrations, and they do participate with their families and friends.
- Trick-or-treating – It is the most popular tradition celebrated on Halloween in which kids dress up in costumes and go door to door to ask for treats, more specifically for candies. When someone refuses to offer treats to the kids, they are threatened to play a trick.
- Pumpkin Carving – Mormons celebrate Halloween tradition by pumpkin carving as other Christians do. Varied faces and designs are carved into the pumpkins as pumpkins are believed to ward off evil spirits.
- Costume Parties – The party is like a fashion show where kids, adults, males, females, etc, are take participate to showcase varying costumes. However, instead of treating it like a costume competition, follow this fun activity to enjoy the celebration. Werewolves, zombies, vampires, witches, goblins, etc are a few costumes that you can style on this occasion.
- Reading and Watching Halloween Stories – Halloween is considered a Celtic festival that involves spirits, ancestors, and the mystical world. Reading and watching scary Halloween stories are actually not about to be frightened but to get away from it.
Conclusion
Do Mormons celebrate Halloween? The answer is Yes, Mormons are Christian (as they do believe) and similarly celebrate Halloween as most Christians do. They participate in all functions and celebrations whether it is trick-or-treating, costume parties, decorations, community gatherings, etc. For reading more real-life experiences, you can go through this Reddit thread.
