Halloween Has Grown: Why Do We Love Being Scared?
Record Halloween spending points to a deeper question: what do we believe about death?
Halloween has grown. According to the National Retail Federation, spending in 2023 set a record. Every October 31 we buy scares, costumes and parties. What we spend reveals what we believe about death.
Fear sells because death is too big for us
This is not a passing fad. It is a sign. Fascination with the dark shows up when a generation knows it is going to die and doesn't want to look it in the face. Scripture says God has put eternity into the human heart (see Ecclesiastes 3:11). That is why we look for transcendence, even if it's in a haunted house. Controlled fear gives us the illusion of mastery: I pay for the ticket, I scream, I walk out unharmed. But real death can't be controlled with a ticket.
In the United States and Mexico, the date overlaps with Día de Muertos: altars, flowers, photos of those who are no longer here. That mix shows the subject isn't just a party; it is also grief. And grief isn't solved with a pumpkin.
«Fear can be paid for; hope is received.»
Dressing up isn't the problem; hiding is
The question isn't whether a costume is a sin. The question is what we do with our fear. A costume can be creativity, play, community. It can also be a mask so we don't have to think about what awaits us. When fear becomes an identity, we dress up as what we fear and let the dark define our week. The underlying problem is the same as ever: sin makes us run from God and look for shortcuts. Escapism, consumption and sexualization are not the root; they are symptoms of a heart that wants peace without repentance. I'm not telling you to lock yourself away. I'm asking what you are buying with your fear. Fear can be paid for; hope is received.
The resurrection takes the sting out of death
Jesus did not ignore death. He faced it. And he rose again. That is why John writes: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5, ESV). Death is still real, but it is no longer the last word. Paul cries out: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55, ESV). And he answers: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV). That victory isn't bought with a ticket. It is received by grace, through faith in Christ. The resurrection doesn't erase the pain, but it sustains it.
This October 31, don't isolate yourself or mock those who celebrate. Ask someone an honest question: "Why do you like being scared?" Listen without preaching. If you go to a party, watch what you consume and how you dress; don't use others or use yourself. Pray for your neighbors and, if you can, invite someone to your church. Hope is better shared through closeness than through condemnation.
What is your fear telling you about what you believe about death? Write it down, talk it over with someone you trust and take it to God.
