Honoring Our Ancestors This Halloween

Halloween did not begin as a celebration of darkness. Its roots reach back to Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and the turn of the year, when communities remembered the dead and acknowledged the thinning boundary between the living and those who came before them. Later, Christian observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day became intertwined with these older customs—hence All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween.

Across the world, remembering our forebears is one of humanity’s most enduring traditions. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos welcomes ancestors home with food, flowers, music, and stories; many Asian cultures honour family ancestors through offerings and seasonal festivals; and across Africa, including in many South African homes, ancestors remain a living presence in family identity, gratitude, and moral guidance. These practices are not about fear or worship—they are about connection and respect.

To honour our ancestors is to remember that we did not arrive here alone. Their courage, sacrifices, mistakes, wisdom, and love shaped the families, communities, and cultures we inherit. In remembering them, we find belonging; in telling their stories, we find identity; in living well, we give them honour. To deny or speak ill of Halloween shows ignorance and disrespect for your own heritage.

And no, Halloween is not “Satanic.” It is a blend of ancient seasonal customs and actually - Christian remembrance of the dead—traditions that, at their heart, invite us to pause, remember, and be grateful.

Do you remember your late mother or father on their birthday or death-day? Same thing, this is simply a dedicated day.

So light a candle, share a story, cook a favorite family meal, or simply say their names aloud.

Our ancestors are not distant ghosts; they are the roots beneath our feet. This Halloween, may we honour them with warmth, gratitude, and joy. Sawubona (I see you)