A lot of Protestants understandably refuse all Halloween observance. I don't blame them. But there is some responsible retrieval work that Protestants can do with respect to the historic Hallowtide.
First is learning the actual history. But even without a deep understanding of that history, thinking on our own death's, our eventual "heavenly birthdays", alongside remebering and thanking God for the faithful martyrs throughout history—including those of the Reformation—is instructive for our own faith and helps prepare us for the possibility of our own martyr's death.
All Soul's Day on November 2 was historically a day focused on the departed souls of loved ones now in Purgatory. We rightfully reject the doctrine of Purgatory but can use the day to remember the departure of all those who died in the faith (for all faithful Christians are saints) and are now among the glorious clowd of witnesses that surround us.
Modify some existing practices and sanctify them. Develop your own household and neighborhood customs too.
Dress up, decorate in ways that honor God and reflect the natural changes in season, light candles and lanterns, plan and host a joyful feast, carve turnips (historic practice) and pumpkins, sing Reformation and All Saints hymns, gather with neighbors, prayerfully contemplate your own death, read about the lives and deaths of the saints of old, honor and remember the lives of faithful men and women in your own family.
These and many other things can be done while rejecting the ugly, perverse, pagan death cult celebrations that have papered over this historically Christian holiday season.
#ToChristAlone #grownostr #RecoverTheHousehold