According to the National Retail Federation, seven in ten Americans (who live in a country that still marginally believes in the Bible) now celebrate Halloween. Total spending on the holiday is in the billions of dollars. Foods that are often associated with it include Bonfire toffee (Great Britain), candy and toffee apples (Great Britain, Ireland), caramel apples and candy corn, candy shaped like skulls, bats, and so on, as well as pumpkins (a Halloween tradition).
Origins
The holiday we are familiar with today originated out of the Roman Catholic Church as a solution to fix its problem of running out of days to celebrate saints. Halloween came from "All Saints Day" or "All Hallows" which the church picked as November 1. It was a day to celebrate all the saints.
The origins of the holiday and its symbols are fairly well known. For example, the Library of Congress (U.S.) research center state, "Virtually all present Halloween traditions can be traced to the ancient Celtic day of the dead . . . In old England cakes were made for the wandering souls, and people went "a soulin'" for these 'soul cakes' . . . "
Nicholas Rogers, a historian who explored the holiday's origin, noted that although some who study folklore believe the holiday came from one of Rome's feasts called Pomona, it is usually linked with a Celtic feast dedicated to Samhain.
Why do many who profess to believe in the Bible celebrate Halloween? The simple answer is to them (not God) it does not make any difference.
Sadly, many who call themselves Christians see no harm in cavorting about dressed like a devil, skeleton or even a ghost. They enjoy giving out candy to children and having 'fun' at parties. Adults like Halloween because the holiday has far less expectations than other celebrations (e.g. Christmas, Easter). They also do not see anything ultimately wrong with having their children have "harmless holiday fun."
What Does God Say?
The Bible makes it plain regarding what God thinks about the world's holidays, especially those like Halloween.
When he (God) destroys the nations in the land where you will live, don't follow their example in worshiping their gods. Do not ask, ‘How do these nations worship their gods?' and then go and worship as they do!
You must not insult the Lord your God like that! These nations have done horrible things that he hates . . . (Deuteronomy 12:29 - 31, see also 18:11 - 12)
Halloween is an entirely pagan celebration with no basis in Scripture. God reminds us, through the Apostle John, not to gravitate toward such worldly holidays (1John 2:15).
Simply put, Halloween and its symbols originated not in Holy Writ but with people deceived by the devil to worship false (pagan) gods. No true believer in the Eternal should be involved in the holiday with its celebration of pain, suffering, and death. For all its trappings and 'fun,' the Bible condemns the holiday and it should be avoided.