Theology Made Podcast

The Origins of Halloween: When the Saints Took Over


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Halloween didn’t start with candy, costumes, and haunted houses. Long before pumpkins glowed on porches, the night belonged to bonfires, monks, and saints. In this deep-dive episode,we trace the story of October 31st—from the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the medieval church’s vigil of All Hallows, to Luther’s hammer on the church door, to the immigrant streets of America.

Along the way, we’ll see how the saints once claimed Halloween, reshaping it from a night of fear into a night of hope. And we’ll ask the deeper question that has haunted every version of Halloween across history: What do we do with death?

This isn’t just history, it’s theology, culture, and the gospel colliding in one unforgettable night.

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Theology Made PodcastBy Theology Made