It is different because Halloween, or All Hallos Eve, is a satanic holiday that predates the Christian era by several centuries. It is not the same day nor the same celebration as All Saints' Day, November 1, also originally a pagan festival which was converted to a Roman Catholic festival by Pope Gregory lll in the eighth century.
The celebration or observance of Halloween dates back to the ancient Druids who were powerful priests and worshipers of Samhain (Satan), the "Lord of the Dead." On October 31, the holiest day of the Druid year, the worship of Samhain required human sacrifice. Young women were required of the land owners and peasants. If they were pleasing to the Druids, a jack-o-lantern lit by a candle made of human fat was given to them as a sign to demons that all was well.
However, if the household refused an offering and there was no sacrifice, a hexagram was placed on the house as a sign for demons to enter to torture and kill the inhabitants.
It was also believed that on Halloween the souls of all the evil people who had died during the year came back to their homes to harass their relatives. To ward off these evil spirits, food and drink were left outside to "treat." or appease, the spirits lest they "trick," or torture the household.
Halloween was, and still is, one of the eight holy days celebrated by the occult, Satan worshipers, and those involved in Witchcraft. Many of the same things practiced in the past are still being done today. Including human sacrifice. Satanist enjoy the free publicity at Halloween. One group even prayed that evil spirits would possess the commercially made costumes sold to unsuspecting children through out the country.
As Christians, let us remember that "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 17) and let us "cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Rom. 13:12) that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this age and against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places." (Eph. 6:11)
Let us abstain from all appearances of evil. (1 Thess. 5:22). As Christian parents, it is our responsibility to teach our children truth and unselfishness, both of which are undermined by Halloween. At this harvest time we may celebrate the rich bounties given us by God our Father, through His Son, Jesus. We may share our blessings with others. But whatever we do, let us not "give place to the devil." (Eph. 4:22)
