Each year, on October 31st, neighborhoods across Canada come alive with bright costumes, glowing pumpkins, and joyful laughter. Halloween, originally known as All Hallows’ Eve, has deep historical and spiritual roots. It began as a Christian observance on the eve of All Saints’ Day, a time to remember the faithful who have gone before us. Over time, it has blended with folk traditions from various cultures, becoming the festive event, we recognize today.
In Canada, Halloween is celebrated by people of all ages. Children go door-to-door collecting treats, while families decorate their homes and gather for community events. Yet beyond the fun and excitement, Halloween can also remind us of important Christian values — the triumph of light over darkness, the importance of faith in the face of fear, and the hope of eternal life.
For our Church community, this season offers an opportunity to guide our children and families toward understanding the deeper meaning behind the celebration. While we enjoy the creativity and joy it brings, let us also emphasize kindness, generosity, and gratitude — sharing light, both literally and spiritually, with those around us.
As we carve our pumpkins and open our doors to neighbors, may we remember that every smile and every act of giving reflects the warmth of Christ’s love in our world.
Halloween and Armenian Tradition
Halloween, observed on October 31, traces its roots to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, later adapted by Christianity as All Hallows’ Eve, the vigil of All Saints’ Day. It symbolizes the transition from harvest to winter—a time when people remembered the departed and reflected on the mystery of life and death.
In the Armenian tradition, there is no equivalent holiday that involves costumes or trick-or-treating. Yet, the themes of remembrance and the spiritual world are deeply woven into Armenian Christian culture.
Commemoration of the Departed
The Armenian Church has its own solemn traditions for remembering the dead, such as Merelots (Day of the Dead), observed several times a year following major feasts like Easter and Pentecost. On these days, families visit cemeteries, light candles, offer prayers, and share food in remembrance of loved ones—echoing the same human need to honor and stay connected with those who have passed.
Autumn Festivals and Symbolism
In ancient, pre-Christian Armenia, harvest-time celebrations honored Ara the Beautiful and Anahit, the goddess of fertility and compassion. These festivals featured light, fire, song, and communal joy—much like the bonfires of Samhain that inspired Halloween. Even today, Armenian villages celebrate the end of harvest with blessings of fruits and grains (Բեռքի Օրհնութիւն), linking nature’s cycle with divine providence.
Christian Perspective
From a Christian standpoint, Halloween’s darker imagery—ghosts, witches, and fear—contrasts with the Armenian Church’s message of hope in resurrection and victory over death. While curiosity about Halloween is common among Armenian youth living abroad, the Church encourages them to focus on the spiritual values behind such observances: remembrance, gratitude, and renewal of faith.
In Conclusion
Although Halloween is not an Armenian feast, it offers an opportunity to reflect on the universal themes of life, death, and eternal hope. In the Armenian Christian understanding, these themes find their truest expression not in fear or fantasy, but in the Resurrection of Christ, who transforms death into life everlasting.