By Kenya Smith

Halloween is coming soon, and many people are making plans for this special day.

Your kids probably already have a plan for what they will wear while trick or treating. Many teenagers and adults are thinking about what we are going to wear for that upcoming costume party. Some people will go to church and play games, dress up, eat and fellowship.

There is a debate surrounding whether Christians should celebrate Halloween or harvest. While some Christians celebrate harvest because of Halloween’s pagan roots, other Christians treat Halloween like any other holiday. Since Halloween is not mentioned in the Bible, which side is more in the right?

Halloween originated from the Celtic pagan holiday All Hallow’s Eve, when people remembered the dead and engaged in occult practices such as fortune telling. Years later, people from different religions and cultures added their customs to this holiday.

Today, Halloween is commercialized, and it emphasizes the scary and gory aspects. Now, that might be a good reason why Christians shouldn’t celebrate Halloween, but there are some things that we should also be aware of.

Did you know that some of our everyday practices have pagan origins? For example, our calendar originated from Roman and Nordic mythology. Thursday is named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder, and the month of June is named after the Juno, who is the Roman queen of the gods. The money that we use has a pagan symbol, the eye over the pyramid. Even wedding rings come from pagan origins.

I cannot imagine seeing people getting upset over what calendar to use or whether to follow Beyoncé’s advice and put a ring on it.

How to celebrate Oct. 31 as a Christian should be based on personal discretion. If you feel comfortable celebrating harvest, then have a good time. If you want to celebrate Halloween, then go for it.

However, it does not mean that it’s OK for Christians to actually dabble in the dark side of Halloween, such as séances, casting spells, fortune telling and playing with the Ouija board.

In 1 Corinthians 8, the apostle Paul gives us sound advice on how to enjoy our freedom while being responsible at the same time. Paul tells us that sometimes, we have to sacrifice our personal freedom for the sake of our friends. Please read all of 1 Corinthians 8 to understand the situation.

It’s OK to wear costumes, eat candy and attend parties on Halloween. You can even do those same things on any other day if desired. But please celebrate with wisdom and accountability. Moreover, kids, respect your parents’ decision about celebrating on Oct. 31.

Have a happy, fun, and safe Halloween/Harvest.

Kenya Smith is a Suffolk native and graduate of Regent University. Email her at s.kenya43@yahoo.com.