All Hallows Eve, All Souls and All Saints Day

Read a Catholic Christian history of Halloween (All Hallows Eve), learn the legend of the jack o'lantern and discover what Catholics believe about witches, ghosts and magic.

This is part of the the intro to the section called All Hallows Eve, All Souls and All Saints Day on the AmericanCatholic.org Web site. Articles featured are listed below:

Halloween’s Christian Roots
When you think of Halloween, what comes to mind? For a lot of people, Halloween has become synonymous with candy, costumes, scary stuff, witches, ghosts and pumpkins. But do you know the Christian connection to the holiday?

Catholics and Halloween
How can Catholics take back “holy” Halloween and use the holiday as a time for evangelization? Listen to American Catholic Radio to find out.

The Tale of Jack O’ Lantern

Why do we carve pumpkins for Halloween? Read a story from Catholic Update that explains the origin of this yearly tradition.

Witches, Ghosts and Magic: What Catholics BelieveWhat are Catholics to think about the devil, exorcism, psychic
hotlines, fortune tellers, ESP, ghosts and magic in the light of current
Church teaching? Curiosity about the supernatural is normal especially
for teenagers during Halloween but is it “of the devil” as some Christians
claim?

How Halloween Can Be Redeemed

How can Catholics keep All Hallows Eve from becoming “hollow”? Celebrate Halloween and All Saints Day while remembering both the Christian connection to Halloween and the positive messages that stem from the holiday.

Why Pray for the Dead?
What is the basis for the Catholic Church’s teaching about purgatory and praying for the dead? Why do Catholics pray for the dead?

Visit Our Saints Section!

Who are the saints? Who decides who is and is not a saint? How many are
there? Are saints’ names required for Baptism? Find the answers to these
questions on Catholic saints and more.