‘Satanism’: Russian lawmaker calls for Halloween ban
Celebrating the holiday should be outlawed as it undermines traditional values, according to Mikhail Ivanov
Halloween should be banned in Russia, according to a lawmaker in Bryansk Region who associates it with Satanism, which is illegal in the country.
Speaking to news outlet Gazeta.ru, Mikhail Ivanov, who is also the head of the organization ‘Orthodox Russia’, described Halloween as a Western holiday that is alien to Russian culture and its spiritual foundations, claiming it is being forcefully imposed on society.
He argued that the symbolism associated with Halloween is linked with evil spirits and darkness and has a “destructive influence” on the fragile psyche of the younger generation.
According to Ivanov, the celebration undermines Russia’s traditional values, promotes occultism, and contradicts “the fundamental moral values on which our country has been built for centuries.”
Ivanov has called for equating the promotion of Halloween with the propagation of Satanism, stating that his organization’s mission is to create “legal barriers to the aggressive promotion of alien ideologies disguised as harmless entertainment.” The lawmaker urged Russians to focus instead on their own national holidays, heroes, and history instead of “borrowed substitutes.”
Halloween traces its origins to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the belief that spirits could cross into the world of the living.
The Western Christian Church, particularly Roman Catholics, later adopted the date as All Hallows’ Eve, the vigil preceding All Saints’ Day. The celebration eventually evolved into today’s Halloween, known for costumes, lanterns, and trick-or-treating.
Ivanov’s proposal comes as Russian religious leaders have been warning of occult practices spreading across the country.
Earlier this year, Russian Orthodox Church archpriest Andrey Tkachev described the phenomenon as a serious moral threat to the nation, stating that “the Russian land is full of sorcerers” and that “this abomination requires purification.”
The newspaper MK had previously reported that spending on esoteric services such as fortune-telling and spiritual healing reached 2.4 trillion rubles ($24 billion) in Russia in 2024.
https://www.rt.com/russia/626385-russian-lawmaker-halloween-ban/
Halloween is a celebration of a death cult. That is the biggest issue with it as far as I am concerned. We support life, not death. Halloween is also one of the holiest days on the Satanic calendar. People need to keep a close eye on their children in the month leading up to Halloween because they can disappear. It has happened near where I live. These kids end up being used in rituals.
What I don't understand is how people that call themselves Christians can take part. They even have Halloween celebrations at Churches all over the country. The Bible tells us we are not to be partakers with this kind of evil. It is sold to the public as innocent fun - it is not. We need to learn to see the difference.
Hey Mac….
Seems to me the Halloween of 50 years ago is not the same as today. It looks much darker these days. Or maybe I just have a different understanding now, or both.
Our church has a big celebration with games and candy and gospel tracts. But they do dress up in costumes. So again…my questions remain.
Yes, you are right. It certainly is not the same as 50-60 years ago. When I was a kid, it was basically dressing up in cute costumes and getting candy - for one day - that was it. There were no Halloween parties, no haunted houses, and no symbols of death all over the place. Houses with ghoulish decorations was a very rare exception. Most parents avoided them - for good reason.
To me, it seemed to make a dramatic change in acceptability back in the early 80's when Hollywood started with all the Freddie and slasher types of movies - very unlike the classic horror movies of the 50's that are laughable by more modern standards. Back then, I knew people my age that were almost addicted to very realistic horror movies that had become extremely more graphic over time. I remember more than once getting up and leaving from a movie night at home with friends.
Then there was the proliferation of occult themed games. Dungeons and Dragons had a huge impact on the youth by introducing them to occult ritual. The change was very noticeable to me and I voiced my objections more than once - especially to parents that didn't seem to think there was a problem, after all, "it's just a game." They didn't seem to understand the doors that "innocent fun" were opening. The commercialism surrounding Halloween also seemed to expand, turning that one day into a more seasonal event - like what has happened with Christmas. That contributed greatly to the expansion of what is seen as acceptable.
All of this has opened doors to dark spiritual forces. People slowly have been drawn in and the evil has been allowed to become more public. Something the broader culture years earlier would have flatly rejected because of what it represented. Over time, the country has become more immune to the symbolism to the point where in the 21st century, it is now fully out in the open and in our faces with images of death cult and occult symbolism everywhere. People see no problem with their children wearing everyday clothing and "possessing" other articles with skulls and crossbones, now being considered fashionable. Celine Dion's children's clothing line comes to mind. But even that was considered too over the top for many. Just give it time.
How far we have digressed in what is deemed acceptable. That acceptance has led to the rise of punks, depressed goths, and now purple and pink haired freaks. Then there is the whole trans movement. Tattoos and piercings, which are also rooted in the occult, are mainstream. Body modification to alter appearance into something non-human, has increased in popularity - but thankfully, not to the same degree. Casual dabbling into occult practices has come a long way in popularity. I have been in homes that proudly display symbols of witchcraft and the like, forcing me to leave. They don't seem to realize what it leaves them open to, and they don't make the connections to the chaos that it has unleashed in their lives and the lives of their children.
With all these changes, the Church has been forced to compete. What saddens me is that many believers seem to have made a compromise rather than make a clear distinction. Simply offering an alternative event clothed in names like "Harvest Festival" is missing the point, and in many cases, appears more like surrender. I have even seen large congregations actually have their own haunted houses. The worst part of all this is that too many are simply blind to the surrender and justify it by convincing themselves, "it's for the kids" and "it's just innocent fun." This is a far cry from being the salt and light as we were commanded to be. We are commanded to not take part, or even give the appearance to do so. The lines are simply too blurred. Taking a stand against the encroachment of spiritual darkness is not the popular thing to do and too many have just given in to it. If you can't beat them, join them.
I apologize for the rant. But this is something I feel very strongly about. We have the advantage of years that give us a perspective of how far things have digressed. Maybe someone else needs to read this. Have a great rest of your week fren. God bless.
Rant away…lol. I agree with you.
“We have the advantage of years that give perspective of how far things have digressed.” So true.
Imo, it’s like trying to tell someone that they have been/are being abused but they just can’t see it because it’s normal to them.
Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Blessings back at you.