Is Halloween a Pagan Holiday? (And Should We Boycott It?)

[@sm2z24]

0:00: 🎃 Debunking the myth of Halloween's pagan origins and clarifying its Christian roots as the eve of All Saints. 4:46: 🎃 Debunking the myth of Halloween's origins as a Pagan holiday and its association with Celtic traditions. 10:24: 🗿 Origins of Kelts tribes in Europe and misconception of their homogeneity. 14:32: 📜 Challenges in understanding ancient Celtic religion due to lack of written records and diverse groups. 19:09: 🎃 Halloween origins debunked as non-religious Harvest Festival in Celtic societies. 24:14: 🎃 Debunking Halloween myths about Celtic New Year and the dead walking the Earth. 28:52: 🎃 Exploring the origins of Halloween and its lack of clear pagan connections. 32:58: 🔍 Discussion on the absence of clear religious elements in the portrayal of ancient feasts and fires in Pagan Ireland. 37:40: 🎃 Origins of All Saints Day in response to Paganism according to National Geographic and Evangelical Protestants. 42:28: 🎃 Origins of All Saints' Day and Halloween in Germany and Ireland, not linked to sin or paganism. 47:11: 💀 Reflection on death in Middle Ages art and literature emphasizing preparation and remembrance. Recap by Tammy AI

[@WGoldenDelicious]

Thanks, Tammy.

[@benjaminfalzon4622]

The reason the Catholic Church doesn't admit that something as obvious as Halloween is a Satanic festival is because the Catholic church is the Church the devil has founded. All paganism is Satanic, and catholicism is based on Paganism, not the word of God the Bible.

[@benjaminfalzon4622]

If you want to convince true Christians that Halloween isn't pagan, all you need to do is show where Halloween is mentioned in the Bible. If it isn't in the Bible, then it's pagan. The Bible condemns everything that goes on, on Halloween, including the costumes of Witches, demons ghouls. Darkness. How is that not Pagan?

[@rick2402]

God bless you, these should be on every video and not done by a commentator but the editor

[@benjaminfalzon4622]

Demons, Ghouls, Witches, Darkness, How is that not Pagan?

[@stcolreplover]

I think we should petition to have Joe wear this spiffy outfit for all of his podcasts.

[@rachaelmwangi873]

He wore it to Catholic Answers ‘conference’ this year and we were all treated to the full look on instagram 😅; just a few weeks ago!

[@caseycampbell1386]

He definitely needs to start wearing topical themed outfits! Winning 🏆 😂

[@DavidSupina]

Bit of a spoiler for which side of the issue he came out on, though.

[@ApostolicStorm]

Congregation: “All in favor…” (((AMEN)))

[@Malygosblues]

Add to the petition for him to start throwing in words like 'poppycock' or 'egads!'

[@oldmovieman7550]

I firmly believe that is Joes normal attire.

[@dariaschooler]

The rest of his podcasts are him concealed as Clark Kent, but Joe has been Shakespeare or Mozart all along.

[@monicadriscoll645]

😂

[@CCootauco]

​@dariaschooler Mozart, or an 18th century nobleman. Shakespeare woild have worn a doublet

[@lynne9768]

He's an English man in New York. Or wherever he lives..😅

[@dariaschooler]

Clarification appreciated😉

[@kaiserconquests1871]

Protestant fundamentalists discussing whether christian holidays (Halloween and even Christmas and Easter) are actually christian or pagan. Meanwhile Catholics: "hah, amateurs."

[@ChristoverMarxfortheWin]

More apologetics from the Evangelical playbook. You're heading in the right direction.

[@marlena.]

Ugh I don't like people that call everything satanic, just because others with different beliefs do or use something similair that is very normal, logical and justifiable, and scare others into that way of thinking too.

[@DavGre]

I’d get the argument if the issue was about the secular commercialization of said holidays (like Halloween has become about collecting the most amount of processed sugar, Christmas about the collection of the most material goods (and elves on shelves), and Easter is about chasing a person dressed as a bunny while trying to collect the most processed sugar imaginable). I’d get and even sympathize with that argument. But a lot of Fundamentalist Christians argue that the rampant materialism is acceptable on church property while arguing on the shallow side of the origins of each holiday without all the necessary details to make an informed argument on each holidays origins.

[@carolzappa1804]

​@@ChristoverMarxfortheWin, 😂

[@carolzappa1804]

(Teenagers, I call them)

[@dylankrause1418]

Former pagan who converted to Catholicism. On point Joe! Love the content, apologetic powerhouse and stylish. Thank you!

[@BensWorkshop]

Welcome home!

[@benjaminfalzon4622]

Former pagan, who converted to Catholicism? Say that again! ,.. What do you think Catholicism is?!

[@BensWorkshop]

@@benjaminfalzon4622 It's the Church founded by Jesus from which all the others split.

[@benjaminfalzon4622]

@@BensWorkshop It isn't the church that Jesus founded, but it is the church the Protestant denominations have split away. That's why Revelation 17, says; "the church we know today as the Catholic church," the prostitutes that sits on many waters, {many nations} Revelation 17:1 And. Babylon the great the mother of prostitutes And the abominations of the Earth.Revelation 17:5 "Read the whole chapter of Revelation" 17. It's all about the church we know today, as the Catholic church.

[@BensWorkshop]

@@benjaminfalzon4622 It is your private interpretation that the Catholic Church is the one mentioned in Revelation 17. It isn't. You can see the Catholic Church being the one Jesus founded in the New Testament and continuously through the early Church Fathers from Clement of Rome. You jut have to go look and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

That shade of blue is truly spooky.

[@georgefuentes4112]

😂😂😂

[@innocentsmith6091]

He looks like Mozart if he played surf rock

[@TheGariego]

It's not blue. It's more of a sea green.

[@carolzappa1804]

​@@TheGariego😂

[@PatronSaintKolbe93]

Once again, Joe is lit up… I can’t pull that outfit off.

[@EricThomas1996]

Media: "Halloween is Samhain, a trans-European Celtic religious holiday." Samhain: "I am just Labor Day"

[@dyzmadamachus9842]

I kid you not, an atheist once tried to persuade me that Easter is pagan by origin, and when I asked what religion celebrated it, the answer was "the pagans, duh". Many ppl don't understand that "paganism" is not one religion or belief.

[@Autorange888]

The Saxons had a goddess called Eostre. In the early middle ages they still set out alignments (archaeologically excavated) to the Spring Equinox, associated with Eostre, from which the christians begot their Easter.

[@Anonymousduck161]

@@Autorange888false. Easter coincides with the Jewish pasch. I.E. Passover. Jesus was crucified on the Friday before the feast and the disciples had to bring him down in haste to bury him because the sabbath was about to commence with the sunset.

[@dyzmadamachus9842]

1. Christians celebrated Easter before the first christians arrived in Western or northern europe. 2. Christians do not celebrate Easter on spring equinox (other than by happenstance). 3. In most other languages easter is not similar to that alleged Eostre at all. 4. The only written records we have of this alleged cult are by an medievil monk. So I'm always confused. Other than a phonetical similarity they have nothing in common...

[@Autorange888]

@@dyzmadamachus9842 The pagan Saxons set out alignments to the Spring Equinox for their offerings. One such was excavated by archaeologists, the gold coins offered there were minted in the 6th and 7th century. Because the offerings included gold jewellery it is possible the offerings were made by women. Bede, (673-735) in his treatise on Time, wrote sacrifices were made to the goddess Hreda (=glory, fame) in March and at the festival of Eostre in April. This was associated with the celebration of spring. Eostre was goddess of the east, of the dawn. Eos is the Greek goddess of Dawn, the Latin Aurora (east) Roman goddess has the same root. Aussine, was goddess of the morning star in Lithuania. The Kasubians in Poland knew the goddess Jastra. Also associated with the spring Equinox are Aprodite, Demeter, Astarte, the Babylonian Ishtar. Bede says Eostre gave her name to Easter. "Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated Paschal month, and which was once called after a goddess of (the English people) named Eostre". Initially, the church copied the pagan orientation to the Equinox and oriented their churches with the altar to the east. Later they discontinued this particular custom. I have just returned from the Quercy where on the Causse are many Neolithic dolmens, all of these are oriented to the east, to the Equinox. The bishops hated these wonderful edifices so much that they ordered some to be destroyed with explosives. Which is also Abrahamism, he was a mindless destroyer of pagan sacred sites.

[@Autorange888]

@@dyzmadamachus9842 Thousands of Neolithic dolmens in France are oriented to the rising sun at the Spring Equinox. Christian bishops ordered the destruction of many of the prehistoric monuments. In the early middle ages the christians began to copy the pagan alignments to the Equinox, orienting their churches toward the east, reflecting pagan practice. The difference is that prehistoric people knew a cosmology, not a religion that stems from Abraham, destroyer of pagan sacred sites.

[@SaltAndLight1027]

I got two minutes into this video playing on my TV before I actually turned my head and looked at the screen. Impeccable outfit Joe bringing it back to the Catholic answers Live Q&A !! Joey H from 1720

[@Jerome616]

Same 😂

[@ghettomarc50]

"Is Halloween Pagan?" "No, Patrick. Halloween isn't pagan." *raises hand* "Christmas isn't pagan, either."

[@Jerome616]

Classic😂

[@j897xce]

Mayonnaise is not an instrument.

[@thundersmite2162]

​@@j897xce well... 🤔

[@Casimir1998]

Thank you for the laugh.

[@atrifle8364]

Halloween= All Hallow's Eve = the evening before All Saint's Day Easter = Pascal/Pasca in most languages = the direction of the return of Christ= Resurrection Christmas = Christ's Mass = the Mass celebrating the birth of Christ

[@glendanikolakakos7431]

😂

[@marlena.]

The English should just start formally calling it Passover/Pascha/Pesach again. Just to deal with the people that thinks it's about Ishtar just because it sounds the same.

[@Hospitaller1099]

Don't forget that December 25th coincides with March 25th, the Annunciation, to commemorate the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she is with child. Exactly nine months later we get Christmas.

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

​​@@Hospitaller1099and 6 months before is the Nativity of John the Baptist

[@kreatillion1718]

St Valentine's Day = the feast day of St Valentine

[@beaniehampton]

Glad to see you didn't dress up for Halloween and are finally wearing your regular clothes.

[@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν]

A Blessed feast of St Ignatius of Antioch to all.

[@fallenkingdom-zd8xh]

Thank you! He’s my confirmation saint! Funny thing is, his feast day is exactly one month before my birthday! Saint Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us!

[@sillythewanderer4221]

A blessed feast indeed!

[@Autorange888]

The catholics made up plenty of saints who never existed, including prehistoric skeletons declared to be saints.

[@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν]

@@Autorange888 you will be pleased to know Protestant scholars Lightfoot, Zahn, and Harnak have found the Ignatius Epistles genuine. As well as our Orthodox brethren. Ο Θεός να ευλογεί.

[@Autorange888]

@@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν There's plenty of examples where the saints have been invented. Santa Orosia at Jaca in Aragon, Spain. She was supposedly beheaded on the mountain by the moors in the 8th century, later a shepherd found her bones. The skull was taken to the church in Yebra, the other remains were taken to Jaca. On June 25th processions occur, the skull is paraded on the mountain, the other remains are carried around elsewhere. She probably never existed, and elsewhere some prehistoric skeletons invariably found by shepherds under abri's may have been prehistoric.

[@evansmiddy9551]

Irish here, Samhain is definitely related to ancient Ireland. There are two problems, old irish is very hard to understand. Especially Ogham. Monks transcribed most of the language, which is why Irish language is latin related in parts. "Samhain" in Irish Gaeilge is a month like January, not just a day. It's a month, so it's definitely not a day thing. There are loads of old Irish tales, but i don't know personally if it's all related, as most of the stories like Táin Bó Cuailgne it just starts in Samhain, which again is a month not day. Again, it is hard to say religiously based. When it comes to Ireland under. In the UK, i can totally see the Protestants in power trying to exterminate us by saying praying for the dead or saints is like pagan or something. Protestants would sell their souls to one up Catholics in ireland.

[@DanielAluni-v2t]

Agreed

[@IsaiahINRI]

Silly papist. Don't you know your holiday comes from the pagan holiday "July?"

[@Autorange888]

The pagan Celtic cycle of annual festivals is well known, the key dates are the same as the orientations found at Neolithic stone circles. Samhain means End of Summer, you can easily verify this with a Gaelic dictionary. There never existed a Celtic festival called Halloween, its a gross misinterpretation of the christian All Hallows. The Celts were not stupid, they never had a macabre festival called Halloween.

[@deutschermichel5807]

​@@IsaiahINRI Sir, July is a month named after Gaius Julius Caesar, not a festival

[@IsaiahINRI]

@@deutschermichel5807 wooooosh

[@jonsorensen7819]

"We're Sgt. Pepper's Lonely hearts Club Band. We hope you will enjoy the show!"

[@gunslinger5132]

wow. I can’t believe I caught this as soon as it uploaded. and on my drive to work? heck ya.

[@christopherpowell1950]

Subscribe and you always will 😉

[@LandSurfer96]

Ha! Same. Sitting in traffic listening to this is a great way to start the workday

[@j.h.9376]

Thank you for addressing this. I've had such frustration from fundamentalist, scrupulous Catholics! I converted to Catholicism and was surprised to hear people say the very same things. I think it does come down to misinformation or lack of education.

[@vickicebulla419]

I think it also has to do with how people celebrate the holiday too. When most people put up demons, witches, and murder as their decorations, I can see why people would be weary. I love celebrating Halloween, but I won't be putting out the witches brew potion or book of spells nicknacks anymore.

[@kateguilfoyle5155]

That’s funny because Halloween was brought to the US by the Irish in the 19th century and the anti-Catholic US disapproved because it was Catholic! Mind you - it was not celebrated the modern way but by praying for the dead etc. (as Joe said). We celebrate it that way - by going to the grave and by setting up an altar in the home.

[@BensWorkshop]

Welcome home!

[@christinajendro2858]

@@vickicebulla419agree totally

[@SF-my2ym]

Growing up in New England, we always knew it was a Catholic holiday. It blows my mind nowadays when I hear people say it’s pagan. It’s always people that are anti Catholic and Atheist that claim to know more than Catholics.

[@jaycefields756]

We making it through the morning shift with this one boys!

[@IIAlexandreDumasII]

Did you just assume my gender?

[@R.C.425]

​@@IIAlexandreDumasII 🤣

[@DrChaunceyBlevins]

Absolutely 😂😂

[@PinkieJoJo]

Well I’m not a boy nor am I catholic but so am I. 😂

[@innocentsmith6091]

The problem with claiming a pre-Roman calendar civilization has a holiday on any given Roman calendar day is that isn't how calendars work. Even multiple solar calendars with 365 days, which days line up will drift around depending on when they start the year, how they divide months, and how they handle leap years. Some calendars use leap weeks. Some people inserted random leap days when they realized the harvest is late and the stars are in the wrong place. Even if they mean "1st day of the 11th month," that still makes it hard to draw a parallel.

[@crusaderACR]

Pre-Roman is impossible for what you said. Roman is still hard to correlate anything because almost every day got some sort of celebration attached, especially around the solstice.

[@Ekim1740]

November is 9th month of roman calendar. October was eight. December was 10th. September was 7th. March was the new year.

[@PatrickInCayman]

Awesome suit, Joe!

[@IIAlexandreDumasII]

Came here for Joe, stayed for Shakespeare.

[@taliadevendt7444]

THIS came right on time 🙏🏻✨ I’ve recently come back to christianity and was in so much doubt. Thank you for your time and research as always!

[@janeyount8412]

Catholic scholars get it right! Others seem willfully ignorant by comparison, to say the least... Welcome back to the arms of our incredible Savior Jesus Christ! I hope you soon discover the many splendors of *Catholic* Christianity! God bless you, and please pray for my family to return to faith in the Lord Jesus as well. 🙏🌹

[@McyHdez]

I typically listen to you on a podcast app, but came to KZbin to make a comment. Thank you for this episode! It was fascinating. I grew up evangelical, and am now going through RCIA. My husband is Mexican so we have celebrated "Day of the Dead" our entire married life and it horrifies my mother. Now learning about All Saints Day and All Souls Day has made me more excited for these feast days. And I'm glad to have the information about Samhain to hopefully share if my extended family will ever listen.

[@barbarafenton1775]

You really crack me up Joe!!! 😂 Love the costume! Thank you for all you do my brother!!!❤

[@Louisianabayou]

This isn't a costume Barbara...

[@Disinherited72]

The name Celt is a lot like the name Slavic, it isn't just one people or tribe. Slavs encompass many countries, all with different traditions and such. On a side note, a lot of people look forward to Friday the 13th as a day of spooky stuff without knowing its origins. Easter is another one. Modern day "druids" and "wiccans"always gave me a chuckle, no written records of any holidays, rituals or spells and such, but somehow tons of books claiming "this is how it was done" are written every year for decades. Money tip for you all, if you want to make a decent buck on the side, write a few "druid/wiccan/new age religion books. You dont have to have evidence, just make stuff up.

[@jakubkosz1009]

I am a Pole and can say that we have common traditions among all Slavic nations (for example Kupala night or Saint John night)

[@AmaliahMairin]

Reformed pagan Celt reverted back to the Church by the Grace of God edified by sane content from brilliant apologists such as yourself. Thank you, sir.

[@racheljames7]

Wonderful to hear ❤ ✝️

[@Autorange888]

Abrahamism = 1.000 years of slavery and misery.

[@issemayhem]

Gee, Heschmeyer.. You could have dressed up🙄

[@lzcontrol]

[@ShowaGojira92]

Great video as always Joe! As a Catholic who has always loved Halloween it's great to learn the actual origins of Halloween and it's Christian roots. If anyone is looking for a great Catholic horror movie to check out this month, I highly recommend "The Divine Fury"!

[@SF-my2ym]

“Exorcist” is mine!

[@chasnikisher7006]

Two thumbs up, one for the video and one for the costume.

[@mpasaa]

I look at all things claimed to be of pagan origin that Christianity celebrates and ask the common sense question: am I honoring God or is my intention to Honor and glorify Our Lord or not? Simple. Just celebrating Halloween be it giving out candy or dressing up or whatnot doesn't mean you're now pagan and worshipping unholy things turning away from God. Let's put it in perspective. Christians who adamantly accuse others of being pagan are probably like the Pharisees of ancient times solely concerned with the letter of the law versus the true meaning of Christianity...mercy and love. It's all about your intentions and focus on Jesus. I wouldn't dress up as a killer or prostitute or anything else that celebrates Sin and immorality and depravity. There are ways to celebrate Halloween that can also inject Christ and Faith into this holiday too.

[@rachaelmwangi873]

Especially for kids because they’re so scared. My 9yo had a conversation about this when I learned the Catholic explanation on the holiday

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

I always thought it was really inappropriate when I saw children coming to my parents house on Halloween wearing the scream creature mask. That movie is rated R.... why is a child wearing that?

[@jakubkosz1009]

Spiritually, this holiday is very suspicious. In my country (Poland) it is a very niche holiday (if anyone celebrates it, it is usually younger children who even do not go out for sweets anyway because it is badly seen), but there are All Saints' parties, where children dress up as their favorite saint :)

[@susanroffman1612]

God’s Word says BE NOT CONFORMED to this world. Honor God. Not your own ideas. Not your family’s desire for entertainment.

[@Autorange888]

@@susanroffman1612 Abrahamism = slavery, a 1,000 years of misery.

[@supernerd8067]

"Halloween being pagan" is just like the misconception that Christmas is just a rebrand of Saturnelia (please excuse my spelling if wrong). Saturnelia is actually a pagan appropriation of Christmas.

[@djo-dji6018]

Saturnalia 👍

[@dyzmadamachus9842]

To my knowledge Saturnalia are older than Christmas, but were never celebrated on 24th/25th December, because they ended 23rd. And began 17th.

[@jakubkosz1009]

I think the date of this is not important, but its content. If you put on a horror costume, you decorate your house with horror, you organize a contest for the best witch, you do tarot readings and you get drunk at a party, you do just sus things (in my opinion)

[@theeternalsbeliever1779]

Saturnalia is older than Christmas, so you are historically wrong.

[@triconcert]

Real scholarship! Thanks Joe

[@suburbanbanshee]

Re: harvest festival on one island -- You can look up the dates of harvest festivals all across Europe, and they are all on different days -- because harvest time was different in different places.

[@michaelbeauchamp22]

Makes sense. I saw someone else from Ireland comment that Samhain was actually the whole month, which also makes sense since harvesting normally takes a hot minute

[@jendoe9436]

Not surprised that most people don’t understand how farming and harvesting works these days. My area still has a bunch of farmers who have to plan out their schedules around planting, harvesting, watering, tilling, spraying, etc. It can take days, even weeks, to get a job done. Even with modern equipment the whole process can drag, especially if something breaks down or the weather is being a pain. They finished up cotton picking in my area in Texas, and now my brother and a family friend are in California picking cotton cause the season is different. When societies were more agricultural, time revolved around the crops, harvest, and animals cause without any of that, people would starve. It was also hard working so it makes sense after a laborious few weeks people would take a break and celebrate a job well done. People I know still take some time to celebrate cause they spent weeks rising at the crack of dawn and going until the sun goes down. Yeah they can get pretty rowdy in groups, but one can’t blame them for taking pride in their achievements and letting loose.

[@laurenatkinson1892]

I can't wait to listen during nap time!!!

[@audreymarsh5090]

Herr Mozart - I mean Heschmeyer - is back!!! Love the costume!! ❤😂

[@SF-my2ym]

Thank you for finally explaining the origins of Halloween! I was tired of explaining to Protestants and American Catholics where Halloween actually originated from. They don’t even realize Jack O lanterns came from French Catholics. Correction: Jack O lanterns come from the Irish and dressing up from the French.

[@lanmarknetworking3034]

That island you struggled to name is called Britton! Ty for all your hard work and scholarship! Still trying to tell the Baptists and Cumberlanders that Tabernacle fell on Sep 24th in 6 AD and thats why Christmas is when it is.... but this is the next stage!)

[@VincentTamer]

Orthodox Christian here. This is one of the best videos out there on this subject! Great work putting all this together. Thank you.

[@MinecraftLover-dz8nk]

please never stop making videos 🙂🙂🙂

[@jillherringshaw6647]

Thank you, Joe, for setting the record straight once again. And for wearing that costume!

[@JeffMillerCurtJester]

National Geographic on Halloween is just as accurate as their video on Luther. With Reformation Day being on October 31st is a funny coincide for them getting things totally wrong.

[@Autorange888]

The Dutch editors of the National Geographic erroneously wrote the Stonehenge bluestones are arduin stones, they don't even know arduin is found in Belgium.

[@robertrenato]

Great to have things cleared up about Halloween. Love the outfit! We've lost so much beauty and grace since past ages, it be nice to have some back:)

[@waltem8]

Sounds like Samhain was the equivalent of Irish Oktoberfest.

[@andrefouche9682]

Yeah but with Guinness.

[@jendoe9436]

I do like a good pint of Guinness.

[@waltem8]

@@andrefouche9682 ain’t nothin’ wrong with that, although I prefer Murphy’s.

[@dariaschooler]

Only one ignorant prot-vomit commenter out of all the remarks so far. Ratio is 99.9% for Catholic explanation. Brilliant presentation!

[@PuzzlesC4M]

Deadpan the whole time. 😂I'll have to watch again to actually listen to the content. Well played!

[@michaeljefferies2444]

I was listening to this on podcast and I didn’t even realize that this was being hosted by Amadeus Heschmeyer here.

[@AudioEpics]

Thank you for this elaborate, in-depth video! As Catholics, we always have to defend ourselves for celebrating Halloween (or writing dark fantasy for that matter). People cannot seem to make the distinction between mentioning or showing darkness (as opposed to the light) and relishing in all things evil. The opposition is much like the hatred towards D&D in the eighties. It gave the Catholic Church a bit of an ‘irrational party pooper’ reputation, which is definitely not what Jesus was. I was also thinking: There must have been a lot of biological waste after the harvest, e.g. when harvesting corn. So, didn’t that make it necessary to have bonfires, simply to dispose of that organic waste? In any case: Happy Halloween everyone!

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

I had someone object to my Harry Potter themed gloves while attending RCIA

[@HighKingTurgon]

Joe, I was hoping for a massive discursus on Ignatius for his feast. This is a great treat, too!

[@AdriannieBio]

Why were there bonfires at a harvest festival? Probably because it was cold in late October at night. And it was almost definitely how they cooked the food for the harvest festival???

[@jendoe9436]

And probably not much electrical lighting to help people see what was going on. Also, bonfires are just nice to hang around. The crackling, smokey smell, and bright colors are so calming and fun to hang around on dark, chilly nights 😁

[@AdriannieBio]

@@jendoe9436 Right? It’s like Christians are sometimes so superstitious they forget to have common sense. I say that as a practicing catholic catechumen.

[@laurenatkinson1892]

Thank you for talking about this! Raised protestant and very against halloween. Converted recently and was confused my first halloween why all our new catholic friend celebrated it. This year we are very happy and excited to participate!!

[@dogdayswithstorm756]

Joe! You didn't tell me if I can go trick-or-treating or not. 🎃 Ava from Ontario, Canada

[@SF-my2ym]

Didn’t Jesus say to give joyfully?

[@racheljames7]

I love your outfit! Very dapper. Brilliant video. Very informative, brother. You have a new subscriber.

[@MikePasqqsaPekiM]

This was helpful confirmation, I’m kind of rebounding from a severe backlash to the secularization and neo- paganization of Halloween. I do think it’s become an unhealthy obsession for some, and it’s certainly disheartening to see people so excited about Halloween who can’t even be bothered to go to Christmas mass. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy the good elements; probably healthy for non-Christians to see Christians able to have innocent fun with them. And oh, yeah, don’t skip the holy day of obligation ;-)

[@kingleary1829]

This was a great video establishing what we know and don’t of past pagan practices. I would love a follow up that discusses contemporary pagan practices using Halloween and what Catholics should understand.

[@vonKobra]

Catholic apologist and praticing stoic, I knew there was a reason I liked this channel

[@Chris-no8yb]

where does he talk about stoicism? i missed that.

[@a.ihistory5879]

Is Stoicism compatible with Catholicism?

[@Chris-no8yb]

@@a.ihistory5879 inherently, no. it denies the passions, which is a huge part of christianity: embracing and valuing these aspects of the human nature.

[@vonKobra]

Momento Mori is one of the pillars of stoicism. Stoicism is philosophical, not religious. The ancient stoics do talk about the gods (Roman or Greek pantheon), but only in terms of living life with respect for fate, and acting with virtue. You can easily embrace all of stoicism, recognizing that accepting God's will and plan is all stoicism asks.

[@vonKobra]

@@Chris-no8yb Stoicism is completely compatible with Catholicism. Stoicism does not deny the passions, it counsels temperance in our reactions to our human nature and passion. This channel is incredible when it comes rebutting false and uninformed understanding of Catholicism, don't spread false understanding of other systems of understanding

[@marjoriemiranda-diaz1484]

I could not stop laughing when I opened for the episode! Great outfit! Soooo cool!! Plus really enjoyed learning from this topic. I have to relisten and take notes. Great for evangelizing at colleges (and some in-law relative who happens to be a witch, always thinking the Catholic Church stole the pagan "feasts"). What a blessing it is to be in the Catholic Church! How wonderful to understand our faith! Thank you!

[@tonyl3762]

Like with your last Luther video, not a coincidence that secular mythicists and some Protestants find common ground on these Christian holidays. Both resent Catholicism for both similar and different reasons which gives rise to myths.

[@theignorantcatholic]

Bro. Super grateful for your work mate!

[@robertdaley1194]

The Eve of All Hallows(Saints).Here in Scotland Christmas Day was an ordinairy working day until the 1940s,it and other catholic feast days were outlawed by Knox and his Talibanners .

[@ellisspear]

What an amazingly thorough presentation 😊. so much great historical information So many great things to think about. thanks so much Joe❤😊😊

[@vinciblegaming6817]

It’s the costume! It’s like an Easter egg from Catholic KZbin! 😂❤

[@frankovstovski]

Fantastic explanation, Joe! Chronologically and geographically, these pagan accusations don't hold any weight/evidence whatsoever. Between when/where All Hallows Eve was established and when/where Samhain was celebrated, it makes no sense at all. We already know St. Patrick is known for Christianizing Ireland in the 5th century. Pope Boniface IV establishes All Saints Day on May 13th in 609 (and is only celebrated around Rome), nearly 200 years after Ireland became Christian. Pope Gregory III then moves ASD to November 1st in the 8th century, and then Pope Gregory IV establishes All Souls Day and All Hallows Eve/Hallowmas in the 9th century, nearly half a millennia after Ireland becomes Christian. Samhain was only celebrated in Ireland territory, then faded out in the 5th century when Ireland became Christian, and Halloween wasnt even around until at least the 9th century in Rome. The earliest records of Ireland celebrating ASD were on April 20th.

[@David20092203]

Druids were like Jazz musicians. Never write the music/religion down. 😅

[@carolzappa1804]

😂 Quote from "Spinal Tap"... (I don't recommend watching it now, btw)....regarding "The little people of Stonehenge.... Nobody knows who they were, or, what they were doing....but their legend lives on..."😂

[@pothecary]

This video came at JUST the right time. Thanks Joe!

[@gainsofglory6414]

A similar thing happens with Lief Erikson day that people often use because they don't like the Christian significance of Columbus day. They don't realize Lief was also Christian, converted under the first Christian viking king Tryggvason. Lief's day is also a great day to celebrate the first time Christianity reached the new world, although it was not able to hold.

[@KathleenHughes-gm3jx]

Didn't realize that Lief got here on October 12 as well...

[@janeyount8412]

Americans of Scandinavian descent, especially in the Upper Midwest, prefer to celebrate Erikson because he "discovered" the New World long before Columbus. It's a matter of ethnic pride more than religion.

[@gainsofglory6414]

@@janeyount8412 I like both days. The primary function of Columbus day is that he did what Lief couldn't due to his settlement not lasting. Columbus permanently connected the old and new worlds in a way that reshaped the future for all of humanity. But I also don't live super far from L'anse aux meadows all things considered and its on my bucket list to visit. I think Lief should be more elevated in the church and his day should get more attention along with Columbus. Most people don't know he was Christian, I didn't until recently.

[@janeyount8412]

@gainsofglory6414 Columbus' role in history was indeed pivotal. Now he's being cancelled.

[@Autorange888]

Humanity was pagan for millions of years.

[@Justaguy5678]

Hey Joe, great video! Could you do a video responding to the claim that Jesus went to India and was influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism? There is a lot of misinformation out there about this.

[@powerlessburger]

Always the highlight of my Thursday

[@karlarodriguez3449]

Thank you so much! This was incredibly informative.

[@aleksia123]

Great video! God bless you

[@doesnotexist6524]

That grooms cake is pretty awesome

[@91Albertus]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Finally a thorough explanation of this issue I was waiting for. And your last remarks are exactly what I was thinking - it is good to be remembered as Christians on one hand of the reality of death and the scary stuff - hell, demons, etc. (as you said, the Catholic concepts of "memento mori" and "danse macabre" - in Europe there are whole Chapels made from human bones for example), but at the same time to reinforce our belief that Christ has conquered all that so we don't have to be afraid any more, if we will live accordingly in the state of grace, which the Saints are proof of, who we celebrate on Nov. 1st. So we can have some innocent fun with it, just like with Christmas and other Holidays, as was always a practice in Christendom. Just because there is plenty of wrong stuff assosiated today with Christmas for example, which has been highly commercialized and laicized, that doesn't mean we should give it up, as it is rightfully ours - just like all of Hallowtide. From my own research it seems that Halloween as we know it today is a rather modern American thing, that came to be in the 19th century among European immigrants, mostly Catholic, when many different traditions got mixed together (the same immigrants that popularized Christmas in USA, before that it was mostly a puritan society that rejected any Holy Days as 'pagan'). One thing I would add is that the practice of 'trick-or-treating' could have roots in the old English Catholic practice of 'souling' - when people, usually children or the poor would go house to house around November 1 and offer a prayer for the dead of this household, in return for which they would get a specially baked for this occasion 'soulcakes'. And of course if someone would refuse, then he could expect some kind of prank done to them, as was the same if you refused Christmas carolers.

[@carolzappa1804]

Interesting. But still.... The only "celebrations" and remembrances the Catholic Church taught and practiced were Mass for all souls in Purgatory to be released, And Mass in remembrance and honor of All the Saints gone before us. All the extra stuff you mentioned was not "Catholic"; even if some Catholics participated in those pagan practices.

[@MrDarthtelos]

4 minute gang. Snazzy suit Joe. Looks good on you.

[@steviep831]

Thanks for the detailed explanation and debunking!! Loved it.

[@Jerome616]

So we have cowboy Jimmy, and now aristocrat Joe, what’s Trent going to wear?

[@jendoe9436]

I feel like Trent should be a Jedi monk 😆

[@TravelingPilgrim-ct6mh]

I'm already anticipating Allhallowtide in my country - All Hallows' Eve, which is the vigil starting at sundown on October 31st - November 1st celebrating all saints - November 2nd for holy souls in purgatory I'm preparing myself so that I can earn partial or planar indulgences for the dead during Allhallowtide

[@ellisspear]

I have met Joe in person and he is a delightful gentleman. As I recall, he was wearing a very similar outfit only in red. 😊😊 I thought that he just always wore similar. ;)

[@ellisspear]

🤣🤣

[@adasgigulka7389]

Very useful video, and the drip is crazy

[@amb_.]

It’s hilarious to think that someone watching this for the first time might think he always dresses like this

[@dyzmadamachus9842]

He does.

[@caseycampbell1386]

Thanks Joe! Shared this one w one of my friends.

[@JimCvit]

Long story short: eat my Reese's peanut butter pumpkins, almond joys, and Smarties on Halloween and then go to Mass the next day to honor all the saints. 👍🏻

[@shamelesspopery]

🍬🙏😇

[@jendoe9436]

Dang, I remember when Smarties were wayyyy more popular than they are now! Personally, I prefer Nerds, Dots, and Tootsie Rolls as they tended not to melt as quickly, and they are just so uncommon to have out that it’s always a treat when there’s bags full of them. Especially the vanilla tootsie rolls!!

[@timrichardson4018]

I use October and the secular Halloween season to watch "horror" films that use scary stories to illustrate good lessons. In my opinion, Haunting of Hill House is one such production. The hauntings correlate to the characters' family dysfunction. And the resolution of their problems correspond to the resolution of the hauntings. I also recommend the Netflix Dracula miniseries. Seems sacrilegious at first. But the end! I won't ruin it. But watch until the end. Not only a good message. A positively Godly message. I love it!

[@BensWorkshop]

Great debunking!

[@Anthony-fk2zu]

A local parish within my diocese’s Catholic school system does trunk or treat. That’s basically all I need to know. Obviously don’t do anything sinful, but candy and costumes are just fun for the kids. All Hallow’s Eve, folks. It’s in the name of

[@user-ks3qr5fk6m]

Do they dress like saints and angels or marvel characters?

[@Anthony-fk2zu]

@@user-ks3qr5fk6m there’s no sin in dressing like animals or characters from books, movies, or tv shows provided the characters themselves aren’t somehow sinful. (Dressing immodestly, grotesquely, etc is obviously wrong) Letting your kid dress up as an Octonaut and getting free candy isn’t a sin.

[@user-ks3qr5fk6m]

@@Anthony-fk2zu Of course it’s not a sin. That’s not the issue. What I see is that it has absolutely nothing to do with celebrating Christ.

[@Anthony-fk2zu]

@@user-ks3qr5fk6m Oh so have you been to the trunk or treat and seen that? Or are you assuming?

[@VirginMostPowerfull]

​@@Anthony-fk2zuI would add that dressing like demons or other bad figures is not necessarily wrong. That would be missing the entire point of an act, or a role play. I usually dress up as a zombie or a vampire.

[@BlankPaperFilms]

This video is based on the Celtic Druid Irish Pagan festival of “is schmalloween a flagan holiday and should we schmoycott it” where the pagans would comment incessantly to please their god KZbinsam Algorithaim

[@KeepItPG123]

that shade of teal is amazing and hurts my eyes

[@liberatewethepeople9121]

Love this season🙏🏼💕

[@whaddup691]

An hour long video on Halloween? I’m about it

[@David20092203]

We got his answer the second we saw his costume. (At least I hope it's a costume.)

[@benjaminfalzon4622]

The five claims played on the supplementary podcast are spot on and totally correct.

[@alwaysrootingfortheantihero123]

i’ve listened to podcasts and interviews with exorcists, and they say that Halloween is a very busy time for them. as long as you’re avoiding all that unGodly junk and horrible things then you should be good.

[@valwhelan3533]

Yes, just keep it to giving out candy to little kids in costumes. Maybe a few spooky decorations.

[@kerry8506]

I just started laughing as soon as I opened this and had to restart it because I’d missed what Joe was actually saying. Awesome costume.😅

[@suburbanbanshee]

I know the video was getting long, but it's a shame that Joe didn't have time to get into the whole anti-iconoclast, pro-saint synod thing. Emperor Leo the Isaurian sent assassins after both Pope Gregory II and Pope Gregory III, because they opposed him. (They didn't get the job done, but still.) There was a lot going on, and it was fascinating that the pope dealt with it by building things as well as holding a local synod and making decrees. Also, Pope Gregory III was one of those guys who got drafted to become Pope - he wasn't even a local priest, but was a visitor from Syria!

[@dreamweaver3406]

Excellent I’ve learned so much. Hopefully, you will dispel a lot of those crazy myths

[@roxanaconception]

Love the look! Great color. 😊

[@roxanaconception]

SIR, PLEASE COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS ON GOV. Whitmer mocking specifically our Catholic faith. I commented on today’s post of JUDICIAL WATCH on this topic.

[@violetd3487]

I think dressing up as St Denis, St Agatha, or St Lucy on Halloween is cool. 😁

[@trueblueclue]

Really dapper

[@TheRomans-exe]

As a faithful Catholic who loves history, and of Italio-celtic heritage, the way I understand the term "Celt" is as you say a catch-all. It's a linguistic/cultural term collectivly grouping RELATED languages and cultures, but in no way are they a unified civilization. Personally, I would use the term Latins as well for a catch-all for the Roman-descended peoples because they are related peoples who share similar language and culture. The Celtic peoples are separate cultures who all branch from a prior culture, but are now too different to say something silly like the Irish and Gauls are exactly the same. This is like the Romance peoples.

[@glendanikolakakos7431]

Love your costume Joe❤️❤️❤️

[@stooch66]

Thank you for reclaiming history!