What a complex question! On the surface, Halloween might seem like a simple secular holiday in America, similar to Thanksgiving. However, when we examine Halloween’s origins, we find that it began as the pagan holiday Samhain, which marked the end of the summer season for the Celts.
The Torah (Leviticus 18:3) instructs us not to imitate the customs of other nations. Among other things, this means that we are not to observe their holidays. In the Shulchan Arukh (Yoreh De’ah 178:1), the Rema (Rabbi Moshe Isserles, who wrote Ashkenazic additions to the Sefardic text) explains that “not copying their way” means that if an activity has no logical reason other than its idolatrous roots, it is prohibited. So, while Halloween may seem secular today, its idolatrous origins would make celebrating it problematic according to traditional Jewish law.
However, the Rema also clarifies that customs lacking roots in idolatry are permitted. For example, it was customary for doctors to wear specific clothing to be recognized. Even though Jews were generally discouraged from adopting non-Jewish customs, since this dress was logical and not idolatrous, it was permitted for Jewish doctors to follow the same practice.
Based on this, if a non-Jewish holiday is not rooted in idolatry, observance may be allowed. For instance, while some Orthodox rabbis choose not to celebrate Thanksgiving, most agree there is no harm in doing so. The key question, then, is whether Halloween is rooted in idolatry. Historically, the answer is clearly yes, but in contemporary America, Halloween is more about consumer culture and fun than religious significance. If you were to ask most parents today about the holiday’s origins, they likely would not reference Samhain, nor its later transformation into a Roman and Christian celebration.
All this considered, it is not forbidden for Jewish children to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. Personally, my wife and I discouraged our children from participating, both because of its connection to non-Jewish practices and to help them avoid unhealthy consumerist behaviors (especially eating too much candy!).
Distributing treats to children who come to your door is entirely permitted. Doing so can foster positive relations with our non-Jewish neighbors.
This is a great explanation and I had never heard this before!!!
I was never a big Halloween person although I love fall and enjoyed giving out candy and seeing kids in the cute costumes!!