Halloween

The following is excerpted from the October 26, 1997, issue of "Companions" -- a weekly paper produced and distribute by Christian Light Publications. The particular article in question is titled "The Ghastly Pumpkin" and was written by L. Sexton.

Halloween started in Great Britain with the ancient Druid culture.
The Druids believed the soul was immortal. But they believed that when a person died, his soul was passed on to a new baby.
The Druids customarily practiced their worship in dark oak forests because they believed that plants and animals have special powers.
They also believed that the spirits of the dead revisited their former homes on earth on the night of October 31.
On this night witches and ghosts were supposed to walk the earth and also Samhain, the lord of the dead, would call forth legions of evil spirits. The Druids would light huge bonfires to ward off these spirits.
The Druids would then go from door to door asking for treats. These "treats" were not candy. They were victims for human sacrifices. Usually, they wanted young virgins.
If the Druids received their "treat" they would leave a lighted jack-o'-lantern at that house as a sign that a sacrifice had been obtained there.
If the Druids did not obtain a treat, they would draw a symbolic hex on the door of the house to instruct Satan to kill someone there.