...Up to Haunt in Their Masquerade...

With Halloween approaching, it makes me think of a little pet peeve of mine. I've heard people, especially Christians, make comments about not celebrating Halloween because they don't worship the devil or they don't recognize an "evil" holiday or they claim that Halloween is not a "holiday" because the word is derived from "holy day."
Halloween is not a day for worshipping evil or the devil or any such thing. In fact, some of the traditions are to ward OFF evil. Now, I've heard/read different origins, and yes, most of them are originally pagan, so if you want to go that route then no, it's not really Christian, I guess. But considering most traditions for any holiday begin from superstitions and paganism (yes, even Christmas traditions...but I'll touch on that probably closer to the season), why are you complaining?
The biggest tradition of Halloween I would think is dressing up. This is due to the belief that ghosts and goblins and demons and such came around to walk the Earth at this time of year. We dress up to either attempt to scare them off or blend in with them so they don't recognize us as being mortals, depending on which origin you read.
As far as it not being a holiday or "holy" day, another name for it is All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve, the evening before a CHRISTIAN holiday. All Saints' Day or All Hallows' Day is a day to remember loved ones and important Christians whom have passed.
There's much more Christian influence behind this night than I could even think to write about without creating a book...plus I don't want to plagiarize, so I'll just add a link to "Halloween" via Wikipedia.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!